Fall Newsletter 2022 | bridgeotw.org
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Profile: Jade Shaughnessy, Associate Director of Clinical Services 9 AM: I start the day by reviewing notes from yesterday’s clinician sessions. This allows me to catch up on what’s happening with different youth, note any progress or setbacks, and decide how to best guide my team of clinicians. A big part of my job involves leading supervision for the Behavioral Health team. 10 AM: I’m finishing up when there is a knock on my door. A Bridge Intake team member has walked a new youth to my office, and they appear anxious and upset. I welcome them and try to figure out what’s going on. I do a safety check and teach them a coping skill to handle stress. We set up an appointment with the counselor who I think will be the best fit for their ongoing care. Because they expressed interest, I also arrange for them to see one of our visiting psychiatrists from MGH. 11 AM: I meet with the Coordinator of the Emergency Residence program, who has noticed one youth selfisolating and seeming down. We discuss ideas for providing support, including Collaborative Problem Solving and reinforcing skills learned in therapy. Everyone involved in a youth’s care needs to be on the same page, so these cross-team meetings are vital.
12 PM: I head to the Transitional Day Program for lunch, where I get to spend time with the youth outside of therapy. This helps them feel more comfortable with me and see me as approachable, rather than an authority figure who sits in an office. 1 PM: I chat with a representative from the Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) Homeless Outreach Team. One youth, who has some mental health challenges, is aging out of our programs and needs a plan for next steps. I discuss options with the DMH representative, including residential facilities with clinical support, case manager assignments, group living situations, etc. I feel optimistic about the youth’s ability to live as independently as possible while still getting the help they need.
continued in blue column on p. 3 Enjoying our Day in the Life piece? Check out last month’s at bridgeotw.org/rrh-anthony-samuel
“Housing is a part of health care. I see my job and the work I do as putting together a piece of the puzzle to help people and families become self-sufficient.” — Associate Director of Rapid Re-housing, Anthony Samuel bridgeotw.org | 1