Job direction change
In 1998 I was head of housekeeping at an anchor store at a local mall. I took the job, leaving a call center job, because I followed a gut feeling. It didn’t matter I’d make $1.50 less per hour, I felt very strongly I should take the job. I was only there three months, but it changed the direction of my life. There was a disabled woman who worked for me. She had a job coach who assisted in her training for the job. While she worked for me, she excelled. Her job coach suggested I apply for a job coaching position where she was employed. I did and I got the job. I’ve been working with disabled adults and children ever since!
My experience
- Job coaching
- enclave of 4-8 hotel housekeeping
- Day program
- support staff
- Group home
- support staff
- assistant house manager
- lead staff
- house manger
- recreation technician
- relief staff
- Community living services
- photographer
- newsletter
- Types of residents
- adults
- children
- developmentally disabled
- mentally ill
- physically disabled
- aggressive
- high functioning
- low functioning
- high medical needs
- Independent living assistance for a brain injured adult
The inpiration
When I was a relief staff and a rec tech, I was able to work in a lot of different homes. I saw the isolation of the staff and the desire for more support, training, and resources. The need is greater than what most companies can provide. When I first researched the need, I found there is information spread out all over on the internet, but no one place to start. When I searched for group home staff support, it was mainly geared towards assisted living homes for the elderly.
I naturally want to help and do what I can to connect people with the resources and information they need. It didn’t take much to spark this idea! I tried to find someone to teach me website basics or to do it as a project and be compensated at a later date. Not surprisingly……no takers! In the spring of 2006 my son introduced me to blogging. I knew this was the answer. I got started and graduated to using WordPress. I knew it a time to get Jan’s Group Home Help started.
The master plan
My long term goals include having a passive income from several internet ventures. Many of my ideas for websites would provide resources for group home staff.