Meet Shannon! Shannon has been at Shiloh House for the last 22 years and is our Manager of Family Engagement and Internal Coordination. Shannon’s passion for her work is unwavering and she is committed to helping youth and families in our community.
“When I was a very young child, I learned a little song in church. My family would sometimes sing it at home. There was a verse for each family member. It was called “Happy, Happy, Home”. One day, as I was walking down the sidewalk of our Commerce City campus, that song popped into my head as I passed a group of 7-8 year old clients in the play area. “With (your name) in the family, happy, happy home”. Suddenly, it was as though I’d lost my breath. The thought came to me that perhaps not one of those little ones had ever heard someone say that home was a happier place because of them. Much of our profession focuses on the work of providing trauma informed care, but at Shiloh House, that focus also includes efforts to create new experiences for children, youth, and families that can increase the understanding that happiness and well-being are not beyond their reach.”
Every job has its challenges and within our agency there are sometimes obstacles and hardships that our staff deal with daily while trying to serve our youth and families. These challenges have never stopped Shannon! “As a society, we often lament increases in crime, unmet mental health needs, and the changes that seem to make the world more unkind, and more hostile. Not one of us can cure the world of all its ills, but neither can we just sit on the sidelines and complain about what we don’t like. I believe each of us has a responsibility to do the small things we can do to make our communities a place where it’s possible to thrive. Keeping up with changes within our industry is always a challenge, and can create obstacles to meeting the daily needs of clients. When those obstacles are presented, I find it a help to know that I and other managers, directors, and chiefs share a common goal of resolving those obstacles so that we can continue to fulfill our mission, live our values, and pursue our shared vision.”
At Shiloh House, when we find people that share a passion for our vision, we encourage them to reach their full potential to better serve our community. “My favorite thing about Shiloh House is that throughout my career here I have been able to pursue opportunities that enhance existing skills, as well as build new skills. When I began employment at Shiloh House in 2001, I was a part time overnight staff in one of our residential programs. Today, I work with the Adams County Department of Human Services to facilitate Family Team Meetings, Family Permanency Team Meetings, and other types of Family Engagement. I also supervise a full time Shiloh House Facilitator and assist with training new Facilitators with Adams County. Within Shiloh House, I help create policies and procedures which are part of the bid process that enables us to partner with Colorado counties to provide services that support our vision, mission, and values. I currently chair the Accreditation, Licensing And Risk Management (ALARM) committee, and I serve as a member of the Administrator On Call group. Regardless of the position one has at Shiloh House, there are opportunities for professional growth.”
“For close to 40 years, Shiloh House has consistently sought to create services for children, youth, and families that meet the needs of our local communities. I believe in Shiloh’s vision for every youth and family to flourish, and I am proud to be associated with a mission of offering youth and families support and services to overcome challenges, enhancing their success in the community.”