One of the more difficult tasks that clients at Saint Luke’s House must periodically face is how to adjust to new staff; whether the staff members are LSP counselors, job coaches, residential staff, or rehabilitation coordinators. Many clients remain for several decades; whereas, staff rarely remain that long. Staff must consider their long term career goals, including potential salary, when deciding how long to remain employed at Saint Luke’s House. Although there are ways a counselor can advance within Saint Luke’s House, these advancements are limited and not available to all staff members. There are some exceptions such as Elaine Byergo and Helen Tyson who have made Saint Luke’s House their life-long careers. Megan Flynn’s departure causes us to consider the difficult realization that clients must learn to rely on more than one staff member during their rehabilitation. Saint Luke’s House in some ways can be an extended family for some clients; but, unlike a more traditional extended family, the Saint Luke’s House extended family must occasionally change leadership.
Megan Flynn has been one part of the Saint Luke’s House extended family leadership for more than six years. Her departure will abruptly end with a good-bye party on Friday, February 3, 2012. She has accepted a job working with foster kids in downtown Washington DC. She will leave behind three other LSP counselor’s, and will be replaced by one more new LSP counselor. The clients, as well as the other Saint Luke’s House extended family, will surely miss Megan after her departure. Megan has been instrumental in organizing the Saint Luke’s House Beacon, and has contributed to so many of the LSP activities that it would be impossible to list them all. She has displayed extreme dedication while pursuing her career here at Saint Luke’s House, far beyond the requirements of her job. She has shown skills as a therapist, counselor, and friend; not only to the two hundred or so clients of Saint Luke’s House, but also to many clients who have graduated from Saint Luke’s House. Megan’s efforts will be appreciated for years to come.
Michael K.
Mike, thank you for your kind words. As others who have gone before me, I will forever hold dear the experiences & interactions at I had St. Luke's House.
ReplyDeleteYour description of the community makes me wonder how readers have learned over the years to cope with this task of "Adjusting to New Staff". Perhaps this would be a good blog discussion...