Nonotuck's Neighborhood: April 2025 by Joshua Murray

Nonotuck’s Neighborhood APRIL 2025

We're celebrating Sue Robichaud's retirement this Spring! Click through to read part 1 of our Q and A with Sue as she reflects upon her more than 20 year career at Nonotuck.

Get to Know: Sue Robichaud (Part 1) To say that Suzanne (Sue) Robichaud is leaving behind a sizable legacy at Nonotuck would be an understatement. After starting as a part-time consultant at Nonotuck in December 2000, Sue has spent the bulk of her career at Nonotuck as a placement specialist, facilitating the connection between shared living providers and people receiving services from Nonotuck. In many ways, Sue’s hiring represents an important moment in Nonotuck’s history, as she was at the forefront of our expansion from Western Massachusetts into Central Massachusetts. All of this equates to a tremendous set of shoes to fill when Sue leaves Nonotuck for retirement this Spring. Reflecting on Sue’s profound influence at Nonotuck, President/CEO George H. Fleischner says: “Sue Robichaud’s impact on Nonotuck cannot be overstated. She was the right person, at the right time, with the right values, with the right skills and the right vision to lead our expansion into Central Massachusetts—at a time when shared living was not yet recognized as a viable residential service. Yet it was her strong belief in the power of relationships, that brought legitimacy to shared living, earning the trust of professionals, families, and—most importantly—the people we serve.” “For 25 years, I have valued my relationship with Sue, not only as a respected colleague but as a person of kindness and integrity. Her gift for connecting the right people has transformed lives, creating bonds of love and care that will endure long beyond her and my tenure,” he adds. Vice President of Operations Debra Schnare mirrors this sentiment, saying Sue’s impact on Nonotuck is “Immeasurable,” adding: “Sue set an exceptionally high standard for referral, assessment, matching, and personalized transition practices, establishing a foundation for excellence in Shared Living. Her deep ties to the local and surrounding communities allowed her to cultivate a rich network of providers, offering meaningful choices to people and their families.” We recently sat down with Sue to discuss her career at Nonotuck and subsequent post-retirement plans. What attracted you to Nonotuck? I had done a similar job for another agency. I worked in shared living for about 12 years, then became a program director. I left that job to stay home with my three-year-old and wasn’t sure for how long. The area director of Worcester Department of Developmental Services (DDS) connected me with George {Fleischner, Nonotuck CEO & President}. At the time, Nonotuck was expanding from Western MA to Central MA and needed someone local. What attracted me, besides talking to George, was that when I worked in shared living with the other agency, I had crossed paths with other Western MA agencies. I thought their values were different—in a good way. I was never going to move to Western MA, so this was the best of both worlds: I got to stay where I was, while working for an agency based in Western MA. The flexibility worked out for everyone since they didn’t need a full-time person.

Get to Know: Sue Robichaud (Part 1 Continued) You’re a Placement Specialist now—have you filled other roles at Nonotuck? Placement Specialist has always been my title. George and I came up with it when I started and figured out what my role would be. My role initially involved screening providers, attending all intakes, and assisting with transitions. I was involved in some capacity in moving people in. We don’t say “placement” anymore—we say transition. I facilitate transition meetings, plan the transitions, and take the person to the initial visit with the shared living provider. I’ve always been very involved with DDS, and that has never really changed. The way we do things has changed slightly due to additional paperwork. That’s when clinicians and nurses became involved in the assessment. But I’ve always been part of the transition team.

What are the specific talents you’ve brought to this position? What has suited me to the job is that I like working with people—I’m very much a relationship person. Since I was not a program director or assistant program director, I was able to focus on the people, the providers, and those referred to us, without getting caught up in paperwork. Paperwork is not my strongest skill—talking to people is.

What has changed in your 25 years here? The paperwork requirements and licensing requirements have changed. The job of the care manager has evolved. At the core of it, though, our values haven’t changed. People are the most important thing. The relationships you develop and figuring out what the person referred to us needs—and then finding the best provider to meet that need—hasn’t changed. Our provider pool continues to grow. It’s really almost all word of mouth. I get anywhere between three and six calls a week from people who got our information from someone they know who’s a provider. Providers are out in the community with the people they support. Many work in nursing homes and group homes, so the information spreads organically.

READ PART 2

Shared Living Profile: Shay and Brett For Shaylynn (Shay) Filiault and Brett Jaskot, “shared living” truly lives up to its name. Over the past five years, Shay, her family, and Brett have embarked on adventures both big and small—from daily walks and trips to Six Flags to out-of-state travels, including visits to New York and Washington, D.C.“Brett has a great time on these trips, fully participating in everything we do,” Shay shares. For events that are less compatible with Brett’s mobility—he uses a wheelchair—he spends quality “man time” at home with Shay’s husband, Nick. (Nick was already familiar with Brett before he moved in, thanks to his previous work at a Department of Developmental Services group home in the Berkshires.) At home in Pittsfield, MA, or on the road, Brett is beloved by the family, growing alongside them throughout their years together. “When we started, my youngest was four, and my oldest was 15. Now, my oldest helps out with Brett as a CNA, providing respite care,” Shay explains. When he’s not traveling, Brett enjoys relaxing, listening to music, spending time in the outdoor cabana, and taking day trips to enjoy what the Berkshires have to offer. Shay and her family have worked hard to create a warm and welcoming environment for Brett. “All of these efforts are to ensure Brett feels comfortable, and happy” she says. In addition to her role as Brett’s shared living provider, Shay recently joined our Lee office in the Berkshires as a Care Manager.

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Watch: Women’s History Month Panel Nonotuck Resource Associates, Inc. was honored to recently highlight the accomplishments of two of our employees in celebration of Women’s History Month. Placement Specialist Suzanne (“Sue”) Robichaud and Clinician Serah Muiruri delighted Nonotuck staff with stories about their career journeys, challenges faced as women in the workforce, and the importance of self-care, mentorship, and resilience. Both speakers emphasized the transformative power of relationships in their work, particularly within shared living models. Serah and Sue both talked extensively about their professional journeys as women, focusing on career inspiration, overcoming challenges, leadership development, work-life balance, and mentorship. Serah, who is a shared living provider as well as a three-times published author, spoke about how the experience profoundly influenced her career. ”It keeps things in perspective—it’s a real microcosm of what I do as a Clinician and what I did as a Care Manager. It gives me humility and empathy when I work with others in the same role because I understand the day-to-day challenges they face,” she says. “It’s also helped me advocate more thoughtfully—not just for the person I live with and support, but for other providers too. These dual experiences feed into each other. At the end of the day, we’re all trying to do our best, and I’ve learned that empathy, balance, and perspective are everything in making this work sustainable and meaningful.” Sue, who is slated to retire after more than twenty years at Nonotuck this spring, talked about the satisfaction of doing seemingly impossible tasks as a Placement Specialist, facilitating shared living arrangements for people in need. “I think what I’m most proud of are the matches that seemed impossible at first—the people who came to us in crisis, with long histories of instability or unmet needs, and somehow, together, we made it work. It wasn’t just me—it was the whole team,” she says. “But I look at the list of all the providers and people I helped bring together, and I think, ‘We pulled that off.’ And that makes me proud. It’s about being open-minded, moving slowly when we can, and never saying no right away. You just never know when a placement is going to become something beautiful.” “Listening to Serah and Sue speak reminded me why Nonotuck is such a special place,” said Nonotuck CEO and President George H. Fleischner. “Their stories were deeply personal, full of heart, and grounded in the kind of wisdom that only comes from doing the work with love and integrity over many years. They reminded all of us that our relationships—with the people we support, with each other—are at the center of everything we do. That’s what makes our work meaningful, and that’s what makes it last.”

Watch: Women’s History Month Panel About the Presenters Serah Muiruri (Clinician, Auburn) Serah Muiruri brings a wealth of experience to Nonotuck, having worked in the human services field since the early 1990s. She began her career as a direct care professional and has since held various roles across Massachusetts, working with people with developmental disabilities and dual diagnoses. Serah earned a double major in psychology and health sciences from Worcester State College in 1996, followed by a master’s in rehabilitation counseling from Springfield College in 1998. She is a certified rehabilitation counselor/clinician and has extensive knowledge of both institutional and community-based services. As a longtime advocate and shared living provider, Serah’s passion lies in person-centered treatment and fostering meaningful connections. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, hiking, traveling, and volunteering in the community. Serah is a published author, and is in the process of earning her PhD in Behavioral Health.

Suzanne “Sue” Robichaud (Placement Specialist, Auburn) Suzanne Robichaud has devoted her career to shared living services and believes deeply in the power of well-matched supports. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social and rehabilitation services (1981) and a master’s in rehabilitation counseling (1982) from Assumption College. Throughout her career, Sue has championed the shared living model, finding joy in seeing how people thrive in their new homes. Beyond her professional life, she enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and running (though she jokes that she enjoys the feeling after more than the activity itself!).

WATCH VIDEO

Supporting Women-Owned Businesses Across Massachusetts In celebration of Women’s History Month this March, we’re encouraging you to shop at businesses owned by women! Massachusetts is home to an incredible array of women-owned businesses, from retail and hospitality to creative arts and pet care. Whether you’re looking to shop locally, support small businesses, or discover new services, this guide highlights some of the inspiring women-led enterprises across the state. If you know of a woman-owned business that should be included, please submit details to Joshua Murray at murray@nonotuck.com

SEE LISTINGS

Work Anniversaries

1 Year of Service

3 Years of Service

Elorm Gozey – Care Manager – Auburn – 04/01/2024

Lauren Bianco – Assistant Program Director – Auburn – 05/01/2020 – Rehired 04/04/2022

Malika Ortiz-Palacios – Staff Accountant – Admin – 04/08/2024 Melissa Bohning – Direct Support Professional – Plymouth – 04/11/2024 Donald Richard – Direct Support Professional – Harvard – 04/22/2024 Johnslee Dyer – Direct Support Professional – Brockton – 04/23/2024

Newton Muriithi – Registered Nurse – Lynn – 04/11/2022

4 Years of Service Helen Kamau – Registered Nurse – Auburn – 04/26/2021

7 Years of Service Soklark Hong – Care Manager – Lowell – 04/17/2018

2 Years of Service Matthew Winters – Care Manager – Plymouth – 04/03/2023 Jay Webster – Direct Support Professional – Harvard – 04/04/2023 Swalha Kibodya – Direct Support Professional – Noho2 – 04/05/2023 Nicole Elser – Registered Nurse – Lee – 04/10/2023

Evelyn Rodriguez – AFC Community Support Specialist – Lowell – 04/26/2018 Amanda Stanislas – Executive Support Specialist – Admin – 04/30/2018

8 Years of Service Shirley Whittaker – Registered Nurse – Brockton – 04/03/2017

Mark Patenaude – Integration Specialist – Lee – 04/10/2023 Ana Lobo – Care Manager – Brockton – 04/24/2023 Irene Obutu – Assistant Program Director – Harvard – 04/24/2023

Nonotuck’s Neighborhood Now Hiring We’re hiring across Massachusetts! Human resources, shared living caregivers, direct support professionals, registered nurses, and more! APPLY TODAY!

Like what you read? Email Murray@nonotuck.com with your favorite story this month and you could win a gift card!

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