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Staff Spotlight: Amy Ward

Latest News, ProudToBeUCS

Direct Support Professional, Respite

Amy Ward came to be a respite provider for children through United Counseling Service (UCS) by way of the agency’s administrative side. She started at UCS as office administrator for the Psychiatric Urgent Care for Kids (PUCK) program, within the Children, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) division. After several months in that role, she decided to make a change.

“I wanted to be more hands on with the kids,” says Amy. “I’ve been working in respite since October. I really enjoy it and connect well with the kids.”

Amy now works as a respite provider based at HOPE House, home to PUCK and the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for elementary school aged children. Amy’s job is to support children by providing safe and fun experiences away from their lives at home and school. The kids in her care often shoulder difficult family dynamics and mental health challenges, so her goal is to make their time together as enjoyable as possible—to create a healing space.

“My primary role here is to provide assistance to the family, give the kids and families that break,” says Amy. “I enjoy being able to hang out with the kids and take them to do fun things. I get paid to do fun things. It’s perfect.”

When kids arrive at HOPE House, they can expect time to unwind, do something fun, and learn new things. Amy recently led an educational activity in which kids worked together to make slime, with one partner blindfolded and the other giving instructions. Other activities at HOPE House include playing games on the Wii, ice skating, sledding, going out for ice cream, trips to the movie theater, and much more. Opportunities for fun are as endless as the imagination. A big part of Amy’s job is to find new things that she can offer to kids during respite. She hopes to take them to the indoor play park, Billy Bees, as well as the Wonderfeet museum in Rutland, VT, and a trip to play pinball in Manchester, VT. Though Vermont winter is in full swing, there are still plenty of activities for the kids to enjoy.

Sometimes, the simplest things bring the most joy. “Some kids just want to go through the car wash,” says Amy.

The most important part of respite is for the kids to be engaged in the activities and enjoy their time. “As long as you’re able to have a good time and really connect, that’s the goal,” says Amy. “It’s supposed to be fun. You’re taking them out to enjoy themselves, so as long as you can do that with them and provide that service, I think you’re completing your goal.”

Outside of her work life at UCS, Amy is working toward her associate’s degree in human services and behavioral science. When she achieves her associate’s degree, Amy plans to move on to earning her bachelor’s degree. With three kids, ranging in age from one and a half to eighteen, she says life gets hectic—but that doesn’t stop her from pursuing her education and keeping active by playing indoor soccer.

Whether at work or home, Amy likes to keep moving. This serves her well in her job as a respite provider who constantly thinks of fun opportunities for kids. She found a great career fit at UCS, and also a great culture.

“I like UCS,” she says. “One of my favorite parts about UCS is that people are nonjudgmental. When you’re working in mental health, you can’t be. It’s kind of nice and refreshing to see a workplace that isn’t like that.”

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