Students in the Spotlight

Mark Welsh

Abingdon Virginia

Class of 2001

I currently live in Abingdon and work in the Bristol office of Highlands Community Services. Outside of work, I like to go camping, throw horseshoes, go bowling and go on picnics.

My job is at Lighthouse Clubhouse, working 21 hours each week as a case manager assistant. My main duties include working with specific clients, helping them meet their life goals, as well as charting, answering the phones, etc. Since I’ve been doing this job, my most rewarding experience was helping a consumer who cannot read as he tried to get his driver’s license. I helped him learn how to recognize street and safety signs.

My coworkers are friendly and supportive. My supervisor gives me advice as well as telling me when I’m doing a good job. The whole team helps keep me up to date with the changing requirements for our work as well as helping me develop alternative approaches to working with specific people.

The hardest part of working regularly is feeling anxious about losing my (SSDI) check after my trial work period is over. I am trying hard to protect my health insurance. The most enjoyable part of having this job is knowing that I can count on getting my paycheck, that I have some job security.

I haven’t really kept in touch much with other graduates from my class because I’m not much of a letter writer. My roommate has been in touch several times, though.

As I look back at our training at VHST, I think that all of the program was helpful, that it takes the whole package of classes to get the skills we needed.

As far as future goals, I want to stay at my current job. Abingdon is a good place to live and I have good friends. I like doing something worthwhile, but as least for now, I know I don’t want to have any more responsibility at work. I like my job. The pay is not great, but money isn’t everything, you know.

In addition to my co-workers and friends, I get a lot of support from my next door neighbor and from the other consumers who are my peers at Highlands House.

Overall, when I think about the training program, I think that it was complete. The instruction and supports were good – the support groups, phone cards, and living arrangements were good. The Consumer Provider Training Program made me feel like I had a career for the first time in my life, not just a job or getting through the day.

Work is demanding but it is worth it. It makes me feel good, spending time, helping people with SMI. Sometimes, I even feel that what I do makes a difference in their lives.

Annette Maasho

Pulaski Virginia

Class of 2001

I live in Pulaski, Virginia, and work with PACT with the New River Valley Community Services in Radford. Outside of work, my interests include going to church, reading, and eating out on Sundays.

My job title is Peer Specialist, and although my work schedule varies, I usually work close to 20 hours each week. In my job, I transport clients and go with them to the bank, to the doctors' office, grocery shopping, to get lab work - things like that. Usually I am trying to help them get things done. I go to a daily team meeting with my co-workers, where we update each other about the clients we serve and plan what we will do to help them stay out of the hospital.

My biggest success was in convincing one of our clients to go to Social Services to get her new food stamp card. Everybody on the team had been trying to get her to do that, but she refused. I guess I flattered her a lot, but I persuaded her to go. She kept her food stamps, and so is able to continue eating well.

I had a difficult experience when once, I went to pick up someone and didn't lock the van. Another client got in the van and refused to get out. I had forgotten my cell phone, so I had to go into another person's house to call the office to get advice, and when I did that, the client followed me and pushed me down. Eventually, the police were called and the client who pushed me was charged with assault. What I learned from that was to always carry my cell phone when I leave the office, to keep the van or car doors locked, and to be more alert to what goes on around me, to be more on the look-out.

I feel like my co-workers on the PACT team are supportive of me. An example of that - many of the clients we work with are kind of difficult. Once, I took this lady grocery shopping and she was really slow. After over an hour, I asked her to try and hurry things up a little bit so we could get her to her next appointment. She got really mad, went to a phone and called the PACT office. She was yelling and complaining about me, and told one of the staff that I had yelled at her. The staff person told her that probably wasn't true, since I was a patient person, and also told her that she needed to hurry up and finish her shopping. I felt like I was backed up.

The hardest part of my job is learning to work with and be around people with so many different personalities and problems. I'm continuing to learn many things - the most important for me is to try and be flexible. The most enjoyable part of working is my regular paycheck. For the first time in a long time, I have the money to live more the way I want.

I haven't really stayed in touch with anyone from the program. My roommate Stephanie has tried to call me a couple of times.

When I think back to our training program, I think that the practicum experience, where we got to shadow mental health workers as they did their regular jobs, was the best part - it brings the schooling into reality.

As far as future goals, I want to keep doing what I'm doing and save up money so that I can go back to school. I want to go to seminary at Emory and Henry and then enter the ministry. I think that my training at VHST and my job experience is helping me to set realistic goals and to have increased self-confidence.

In addition to my co-workers, my family continues to be a big support for me. I know also that I will need the support of more financial aid when I go back to school.

I guess I would just like to tell people that the Consumer Provider Training Program is a good program. Work is really beneficial - you just have to stick with it.