Meet Don Don Smith is a Behavioral Health Specialist in the Hudson Valley home and community based services programs. Don works with youth who have a behavioral health diagnosis and are experiencing social and/or emotional challenges. He works in collaboration with the children’s families, therapists, and other team members to support them by providing opportunities for the children to learn and practice skills in the community in real time.
During COVID, Don did not miss a beat. While there was a two-month period of not being in the field during the height of COVID, he was eager to move back out into the community as he knows the importance of being face-to-face with the population he serves. Don had to be creative in how he was to meet with his families during this period while following all the new guidelines, but he managed to do so and continued his work.
Don supports youth in developing new skills to help them build self-esteem, solve problems, and connect to a future. He gives them oneon-one support to use those tools in a “fun” way. For example, if a child likes arts, sports, outdoors, hiking, etc., he will find and plan for opportunities and activities that reflect their interests so that they can develop relationships and make connections to resources in their own communities.
As a father of a toddler, Don often talks of his love and commitment to his son; and those of us who know him see that he brings that same energy to the children he works with at Astor.
Don has a genuine desire to help children and to help them develop the skillsets they need to be successful.
Don’s approach to working with children is to make them feel safe and heard; he is a wonderful role model who truly believes in each one of them. When speaking of Don, one 13-year-old boy told us that he did not have a father in his life, but “Now I have Don, who is like a father to me.” Don’s colleagues describe him as kind and gentle, and a colleague who tirelessly serves the children and their families to ensure they are getting the skills and services they need.
8 FY 2020-2021 Annual Report
Don is truly a dedicated and caring person and we are grateful to have him aboard the Astor Team.
