Hannah Grace Russo

I attribute a lot of my success to hard work, good communication, and genuinely caring about the work that I do. That makes a huge impact, especially within the therapeutic relationship

The best career advice I have received is treat every conversation like an opportunity for growth and advancement. The way you speak about yourself to others in low pressure situations translates over into your interviews or more professional contexts, because you have already had the practice!!

I think coming in with an open mind to every new client is very important. In starting my career at Spectrum, I worked within the MCI Shirley Correctional Facility in Shirley Massachusetts. I learned a lot about what the clients need as well as what I need out of a career path. Challenging yourself in new environments can be what leads to the most growth!

The biggest challenge is the stigma that associates working within a secure facility and working in men’s mental health in general. The first question I got asked when I said I work in a prison is “Do you feel safe there?” The short answer is yes. The long answer is that the DOC works very hard to ensure vendor staff safety as well as the institution safety, and I think they do a fantastic job of making sure our priority is our role in helping others. Within that being said, working within a correctional facility takes a certain level of situational awareness to be cognizant of where you are and taking individual precautions. With the individuals we serve, most generally want to take something out of the programs we do, no matter how small. It is great to see individual growth overtime.

I strongly value hard work and committment. I was raised in a way that was instilled in me at a young age by my wonderful parents that if I worked hard, I would be successful in whatever I chose. I feel like I embody that with everything I do, whether it is within the workplace with clients or peers, or when I am at home training for my next half marathon. When I commit to something, I do it and I try my absolute best. It may not always be perfect, but I will never do something halfway.