Her Story
About Dana
I've been working in human services since 2016, and I currently serve as a residential coordinator for Unity Bay of South Carolina, a position I've held for 2 years. In my role, I oversee residential homes for adults with autism, ensuring they are fully staffed around the clock from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., and then again when residents return from their day programs. My homes serve adults ranging from their 20s to their 80s, many of whom are nonverbal or use wheelchairs, so I work to ensure each home is specifically designed for each individual's unique needs. I started my journey in this field 10 years ago as a program director with Mentors of South Carolina, where I was responsible for 22 homes for adults with autism. Throughout my career, I've worked in various capacities within human services, including licensing foster care homes, interviewing prospective foster parents, working as a behavior interventionist with children, and supporting families through the school system. My educational background includes a bachelor's degree in engineering and organizational management, and I earned my master's degree in organizational management in 2021 during the pandemic. I'm also a licensed cosmetologist instructor since 1986 and a master barber since 1993, and I use these skills to serve individuals in our homes who may not have the resources to visit salons, and I teach classes so they can learn to do their own hair. The biggest challenge in my field is finding workers who understand their assignment and recognize that we become family to these individuals, many of whom have been dropped off and never see their families again. I believe in the importance of self-care, as my supervisor always reminds us that you cannot give out something you're not getting, and we must take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dana
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my grandmother. She never saw a bad spark or anything in anyone. She taught me that if somebody's having a bad day, it's because something triggered it. She said to look past what they're going through and bring them back to where they should be. That lesson has guided me throughout my career, especially in working with individuals who need care and understanding. It's helped me see beyond behaviors and challenges to recognize the person underneath and help them return to a place of calm and peace.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received comes from my supervisor right now, who always says that you cannot give out something you're not getting. What she means is that she believes in self-care. You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of somebody else. She makes sure that we take time for ourselves. At least once a week, we write down self-care techniques, because you deal with a lot of mental and physical pressure sometimes in this work. She tells us that self-care is the best thing that will take you through this kind of job, and I've found that to be absolutely true.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The first thing I would tell a young woman entering this field is to do an internship. An internship is the best thing because you get to see and understand that this work requires patience. You're working with individuals who need care, and you're also working with co-workers, so you have to learn to cross over between both of them. It's important to experience the reality of the work firsthand before you commit, because it will show you what the job truly demands and whether you have the patience and dedication it requires.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is finding workers who understand their assignment. What I mean by that is you have to understand that you need to love these individuals, because sometimes once their family drops them off, they never see them again. So we become their family. You have to understand that you have to give them the love that they're not getting from their families who have never come back to see them. When they see you, you are the smile that brightens their day. You can take them from having a behavior and bring them back to becoming calm again. Finding people who truly understand this responsibility and can provide that level of care and compassion is the greatest challenge we face.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are caring and faith in God. Caring is essential because you have to have care in this work. You're going to be tried and tested, so you have to understand that caring, no matter what you're going through, has to be the light in your darkest time. And my faith, my love of God, is equally important because you have to understand why He put you where you are and what you need to go further. You need to recognize all that He has instilled in you and blessed you with to help you go through your assignment. These two values guide everything I do, both professionally and personally.
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