Hi – I’m Alyssa!
My friends would describe me as silly and outgoing, though I can be reserved at times. I’m a social worker and a mom. I love knitting, bringing my daughters to do fun activities, and spending time with friends. I’m also a member of the Swanton Fire Auxiliary—my husband is on the fire department, so supporting them is something that’s really important to me.
I am a Level II Family Supportive Housing Service Coordinator working in Franklin County.
I started this role about four and a half years ago after I received my master’s in social work and was looking for a job. My work covers a lot of ground: I help train incoming staff, support onboarding and intake, assist with discharges, connect clients to services, support them through DCF cases, assist with housing and voucher access, communicate with landlords, and support program participants to stay successfully housed. I like to think of myself as a jack of all trades—and honestly, you might as well call me a unicorn!
One of the things I love most about this job is how much each day varies. No two days are ever the same. I usually start my mornings with notes and an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) meeting, where I connect with coworkers and the team. After that, I begin checking in with program participants to see what they need and how I can help.
I come from a family that experienced housing instability and financial hardship. That experience shaped me, and it’s a big part of why I chose this field. I want to help other children and families have better experiences than I did growing up. I am motivated to come to work every day knowing that there is always someone I can help and I can always make a difference. It can be stressful work, and you can feel defeated by the end of the day, but ultimately, some things are out of our control, and we just have to keep showing up and trying our best to make a difference.
Some of my most memorable moments at Pathways have been when I’ve helped a family reunify with their children. Those moments stay with me. Pathways is a great organization to work for. It’s clear that mental health and staff retention are priorities here. My supervisors, Dan and Megan, are always looking for ways to build connection and morale within our team, and that really makes a difference.
