social work – 91��Ƭ

Harmony House Relocation Case Manager Started as a Volunteer with 91��Ƭ

Michelle Lang — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:27:14 +0000

Emily Coote has a passion for helping others which she has turned into a career. She first came to 91��Ƭ as a volunteer while in college, assisting at the Family Resource Success Center. She continued volunteering even after graduation and became a temporary Case Manager at Harmony House, 91��Ƭ’s transitional housing facility for homeless families, on July 11, 2022. She was made a full-time employee and currently serves as a Relocation Case Manager at Harmony House.

Coote focuses on finding permanent housing for Harmony House residents in her current role. She goes out in the field to find apartments and researches as much information as possible about subsidized housing, low-income housing, affordable housing and market rent rates in the area. In addition, she provides resources to help clients obtain employment and creates individual service plans for them.

Finding permanent housing that clients can afford is challenging.

“It’s very difficult because we’re in an era where the demand is so high but the supply is extremely low,” Coote said.

She doesn’t let the circumstances discourage her, however. She is continuously looking for ways to help her clients move to self-sufficiency and has helped several move into permanent housing.

Harmony House Director Yonette Fredericks said Coote came to the department with optimism and an eagerness to help clients overcome their barriers to obtaining permanent housing.

“Ms. Coote, willing to pitch in wherever she is needed, continues to be a beacon of hope for the clients and, ultimately, her peers,” Fredericks said. “The Harmony House team is pleased to have such a bright and tenacious Relocation Case Manager who continues to demonstrate the passion and commitment to aiding the fight against homelessness.”

Coote has always been passionate about helping others. In her free time, she fed the homeless and hosted clothing drives. She grew fond of 91��Ƭ and its mission when she began volunteering at the Family Resource Success Center. Director Joann Williams-Swiney suggested that she apply for a job with the organization and provided her with a recommendation.

“Emily was and is courteous and kind to every client she encounters. She is straightforward in a respectful way which fosters a connection with the clients she works with. She is a go-getter and a determined young woman who cares about those in her community,” Williams-Swiney said. “Emily truly embodies the mission of NCC.”

Coote decided she wanted a career in social work shortly after starting her post-secondary education at Essex County College. Coote’s mother, who passed away when she was born, was a social worker. When she was 19, Coote learned about her mother’s career and the passion she had for helping others. She was told firsthand accounts of how her mother had helped people and made a positive difference in their lives. It was then she decided to pursue social work as a career. After , Coote attended and graduated with a major in social work and a minor in women and gender studies.

Coote previously worked at in Summit in an administrative role. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she took a job as a tool rental associate at , where she rented out equipment and demonstrated how it worked to customers. She enjoyed the position but wanted to find a role to use her social work degree.

The best part of the job for Coote happens when a client thanks her and understands the services she is providing.

Coote is grateful that Harmony House exists in the area because it offers private space for families, which is rare. Most shelters have communal areas instead of individual units with private kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms.

“I tell the clients all day that this shelter is considered the W [Hotel] to any other shelter in this city and in this county,” she said.

In addition to privacy, Harmony House residents also have access to all the other services 91��Ƭ provides, including mental health counseling from Family Service Bureau of Newark (FSB); free tax prep, furniture assistance and energy bill assistance at the Family Resource Success Center; and educational services from .

Coote doesn’t limit her contributions at Harmony House to her official duties as a Relocation Case Manager. She also pitches ideas for events that she coordinates if they get approved. Right before Valentine’s Day she arranged for licensed individuals to provide haircuts and hair braiding for Harmony House children.

“I like that Ms. Fredericks allows me to bring in some ideas and actually execute them,” she said. “It was a real success.”

Family Service Bureau of Newark Promotes Employee to Director Role

Michelle Lang — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 18:21:29 +0000

Family Service Bureau of Newark (FSB) has promoted its new leader from within. Christina Ward, who previously served as the Director of Clinical Services, became FSB Director on July 16.

Ward first joined FSB in February 2021 as Director of Clinical Services for both the Newark and Kearny locations. She initially wanted to work at FSB to have a supervisory role. When the opportunity arose to lead the agency, she decided to apply for that position.

“I am really excited to promote Christina Ward to FSB Director. She previously served as the Director of Clinical Services and now will have the overall responsibility for FSB,” said 91��Ƭ Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter. “Christina has a lot of mental health and substance abuse experience and I am looking forward to FSB’s continued community impact under her leadership.”

As FSB Director, Ward oversees both the Newark and Kearny offices. Her responsibilities include running staff meetings, correspondence with state agencies, grant reporting, grant research and signing progress notes.

Ward previously worked as a corrections officer where she was introduced to social work. An injury forced her to leave that position. She then worked at a halfway house and decided to pursue a master’s degree in social work.

“I ended up just really enjoying it and being very good at it,” she said. “So then I got an internship at Integrity House, and that’s where I got basically all of my training.”

Ward interned at Integrity House while in school and was then hired as a counselor, which helped propel her career forward. After Integrity House, she worked at New Jersey Reentry Corporation due to her unique experience with law enforcement and social work. She then moved on to Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center as a Team Lead, which provided her with more on-the-job training and prepared her for the move to FSB. She had worked in managerial roles in previous industries, like retail, before entering the Health and Human Services field and decided to combine the two skills.

Ward finds her work rewarding.

“My favorite part of the field is watching people grow,” she said. “Having them come to you with an issue and then actually seeing them work through the issue and then leaving with hope for their future.”

Ward grew up in Newark and only recently moved out of the city. That has helped her in her roles at FSB.

“I relate to a lot of the people from this area,” she said.

After graduating high school in Newark, Ward earned her bachelor’s degree in Technical Management from DeVry University and is a member of the Sigma Beta Delta honor society. She earned her master’s degree in Social Work at Rutgers University and is a member of the Phi Alpha honor society.

Ward got married in April and moved to Lyndhurst with her wife.

She is an artist and creates work with spray paint. When she was young, she attended Arts High School in Newark for its summer arts program and attended high school there for communications. She initially was an art major in college but decided to keep it as a hobby instead of a career. In her spare time, she also enjoys playing video games.

Former Intern Now a Supervisor at 91��Ƭ

Michelle Lang — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 19:59:17 +0000

When Flavia Pinheiro was attending Seton Hall University, she didn’t know a summer internship would lead to a full-time job. But that’s what happened.

In the summer of 2016, Pinheiro interned at Douglas Homes, 15 Hill St., Newark, under the supervision of the Resident Services Coordinator at the time, Luz Toro. She participated in the internship for the experience, not knowing it would serve as training for her future position.

Pinheiro graduated from Seton Hall University in May 2017 with a major in Social and Behavioral Science and a minor in Social Work. For three months before graduation, she interned at Spectrum Works in Secaucus, a nonprofit organization that provides job training for young adults with autism. When Pinheiro graduated, Spectrum Works hired her for a part-time position. When not working there, she babysat.

She was looking for full-time work when she saw a job opening at 91��Ƭ. She reached out to Director of Resident Services Donnette Burrowes-Williams and landed the job of Resident Services Coordinator at Associates, 180 South Orange Ave., Newark, in October 2017.

Then in December 2018, Burrowes-Williams asked her to consider taking on the role of Home Friend Program Coordinator and Food Pantry Representative following a resignation.

Pinheiro accepted the role on an interim basis. After about one month, she took over the position permanently.

“She was an employee who was committed and dedicated to the 91��Ƭ mission and she built a long-lasting rapport with the residents,” Burrowes-Williams said. “Flavia showed tremendous growth and was thus promoted to Home Friend Program Coordinator for which she kept the same momentum and tenacity going with her staff and residents making sure that our inner-city residents improve the quality of their lives.”

The Home Friend Program provides services, including light housekeeping and small errands, to seniors 60 years and older residing in Newark’s Central Ward that have Medicare only. Pinheiro manages the program and makes sure the six full-time Home Friends are providing appropriate services to the 44 clients currently in the program. She also conducts an initial assessment of clients and yearly reassessments to ensure they are still eligible to participate.

Pinheiro manages 91��Ƭ’s Emergency Food Pantry by accepting the allocations that come in. She also manages volunteers that come monthly, ensures clients are eligible before servicing them and oversees the distribution process.

Pinheiro’s favorite part of her job is getting positive feedback from the people being served.

“When the clients call and are grateful for the service, I think that’s the most rewarding part of it,” she said.

Pinheiro is appreciative to have moved up within 91��Ƭ.

“I enjoy what I do. It’s very rewarding,” she said. “And I really do thank Donnette, especially for seeing the potential.”

Burrowes-Williams is happy with the decision to promote Pinheiro.

“Flavia is a hard worker, she makes work fun and always has a smile on her face,” Burrowes-Williams said. “She’s an employee you can count on to get the job done.”

Pinheiro was born in Portugal and moved to Newark when she was 2.5, where she has lived ever since. She remains fluent in Portuguese and also knows Spanish at an intermediate level, which allows her to help with translations for the Resident Services Department.

She has relatives in Portugal, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. She enjoys going back to her home country for visits.

In addition to traveling, Pinheiro likes to go hiking in Pennsylvania and Ramapo and enjoys shopping. She currently lives in Newark with her husband.

Credit Union Member Helps Others After Overcoming Struggles

Michelle Lang — Tue, 01 May 2018 14:24:04 +0000

Rev. Dr. Miles S. Callender, AAS, BSW, CSW, MSW, Ph.D., at the window of 91��Ƭ Federal Credit Union with NCFCU Director Mulu Gebreyesus.

Miles Callender has completed an impressive amount of education: two associate degrees, two bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees and a doctorate. He currently works at Bethel Counseling Services in Newark as a substance abuse and mental health specialist. But it wasn’t always obvious that he would end up on this path.

What’s not surprising is that Callender entered a career path helping others. From the time he was young, he looked up to people who were making a difference in the world. He met Martin Luther King Jr. a week before his assassination and took part in the Walk for Understanding that took place after his death. He was 6 at the time.

91��Ƭ Founder Monsignor William J. Linder was Callender’s pastor at one time. His whole family attended Queen of Angels Church until its closing.

“That’s the history I come from: social justice, civil rights and to advocate for the less fortunate,” Callender said.

He spent 15 years in the military, serving in the Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserves and United States Marine Corps. He received an honorable discharge from all.

Callender lived at 91��Ƭ Gardens Senior, 265 Morris Ave., Newark, for a time until he was removed from the building about 15 years ago for substance abuse. While he was a resident, he opened an account at 91��Ƭ Federal Credit Union. He remained a credit union member even after his departure and still uses its services today.

“Even in my worst state, they were always very, very supportive,” Callender said of 91��Ƭ personnel. “Mulu always said, ‘Miles, you’re living beneath your potential. Just stop doing the drugs.’”

Mulu Gebreyesus is the director of the 91��Ƭ Federal Credit Union. She always encouraged Callender to get sober and he has. Once he was free of drugs, he was able to focus on education, which has led to multiple degrees and certifications.

Callender has an Associate of Applied Science degree, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, a Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) and a Ph.D. in theology and ministry. He has studied at Essex County College, Eastern Bible Institute and Seton Hall University. He is a Certified Social Worker, Licensed Certified Social Worker and Licensed Substance Abuse Addiction Specialist. He is a member of the national social work honor society Alpha Delta Mu. He also has a certification in anger management and is an HIV specialist.

“The first time I met Miles as a young man, he did not take any directions or follow anyone’s rules other than his own. Today Miles has accomplished the goals he has set for himself, and that made him an exemplary within his community,” Gebreyesus said. “Miles’ achievements show that one can dream and make the dream come true with hard work and dedication.”

In addition to meeting his own goals by completing his education, his career in social work is very fulfilling to him.

“It’s in giving that we receive. And that’s why social work is so gratifying,” Callender said.

He uses his own past experiences to help with his work as a substance abuse counselor, though he said disclosure of his past is only necessary when it helps the client.

Callender is happy to be drug free and helping others but hasn’t forgotten all his experiences.

“I’m not ashamed of my past,” he said. “Those that don’t acknowledge their past are doomed to repeat it.”