Bekah Hansen
Responsibilities
My main role was to supervise youth ages 10-17 in a shelter setting. These kids have been removed from the home and the majority of the time have been court-ordered to the shelter. I led recreation time, group discussions, assisted them with chores and daily activities, kept detailed logs of their behaviors and activities, made meals, cleaned the house, etc. A huge aspect of my job was interacting and forming relationships with the kids, as well as providing crisis intervention during client escalations.
Accomplishments
The greatest accomplishment from the experience was forming relationships with the kids. I bonded with these kids and was able to effectively prevent escalations several different times. Having these kids open up to me was one of the best feelings!
What advice would you give?
My advice would be to take chances even if they scare you. Going into this I had no idea what this job would be or if I could do it, but I am so glad I did!