Staff Spotlight – Laurie Sallisky

Therapeutic Case Manager

Laurie Sallisky’s career at UCS started 14 years ago with a position as a Behavior Interventionist at Manchester Elementary Middle School (MEMS). Since then, she has worked as the Program Coordinator for the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program in the Northshire and Bennington areas, administered by UCS, as well as in case management for both adults and youth.

“I’ve worn a lot of hats and been in a lot of different roles,” says Laurie. “I quickly learned I really had this passion for the whole mentoring thing. I’m hoping we can bring that back, because there is such a need for that.”

Though UCS no longer manages Big Brothers Big Sisters, there is no shortage of opportunities for Laurie to effect positive change in her community. Through running therapeutic groups, Laurie creates environments where clients can encourage and support each other while developing skills and tools to use in the real world. One group close to her heart is Chickens for Change (C4C), an opportunity for elementary through high school-age youth to raise, care for, and sell chickens and eggs in order to promote business, social, and life skills. Laurie came up with the idea after learning about chickens from her husband, who grew up raising them. She saw the potential for this program to provide the right space for group members to meet many of their goals while getting outside in nature. The group was born in 2014, and after taking a pause for a few years, it returned and is now held once a week at the Martha Canfield Library in Arlington, VT.

C4C partners with local organizations such as Smokey House Center in Danby, VT, and North Meadow Farm and Hildene Farm in Manchester, VT. Participants in the group take part in community service opportunities, fundraising efforts, crafts, science projects, and volunteer at local events such as the recent the UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash on November 8 in downtown Bennington, VT. The group celebrates chickens with activities like chicken charades and chicken jeopardy, and cooking meals that include chickens and eggs. Vegetarian dishes are of course also on rotation.

One of the goals of C4C is to teach young people to support and care for each other, as well as themselves. With bullying continuing on an upward trend, youth in C4C learn how to help others when they witness bullying in school and anywhere.

“Most of these kids are bullied,” says Laurie. “I tell them, ‘you’re a team, you’re a pack.”

What Laurie teaches kids in C4C works—they return to the group with stories of protecting someone who was mistreated. She also notices that the older youth in the group take on mentoring roles for the younger kids, teaching them things they’ve learned and offering guidance. This benefits the younger kids by providing them with helpful insights and boosts the confidence of the older mentors. This mutually beneficial support comes at a crucial time, as young people in Bennington County and their families face social and economic challenges. Two of the biggest hardships faced by community members are food and housing insecurity, as many are not confident in their access to these basic needs from month to month. Waiting lists for apartments can be a year-long—a disheartening fact for families living without hot water.” A lot of days, you come home really heavy, especially right now, with so many families in crisis,” says Laurie. “You try to take away, every day, that you’ve made a difference somewhere. You’ve helped someone, you’ve made somebody feel better. You’ve provided them with skills to help them in their everyday life.”

Laurie finds joy in every triumph along the way and celebrates the unique successes and journeys of every client she’s worked at UCS. The first group of kids in C4C are all adults now, possessing the knowledge and experiences earned during their time in the program. Laurie still keeps the first dollar bill they ever made from raising chickens, signed by all group members.

The group continues to evolve and is now open to all UCS youth clients. Chickens remain at the forefront, with Laurie caring for the small flock at her home. Reflecting on her work at UCS, she is thankful for the creative freedom and support her job has provided. C4C was one project that was bigger than just one person—its success and meaning came to be by the many staff members who nurtured it over the years. This platform to dream and create is one of the reasons Laurie loves what she does.

“I love this job—I’m a lifer.”