Connie Hill, Service Coordinator at Hollybrook Apartments, has also worked at St. Joseph’s Villa as a Clinician providing Intensive In-Home Services. This is a story from those days. By Pamela Willard

Connie Hill provided Intensive In-Home services to a boy who was falling behind in school and in maturation due to his disabilities.  Connie became quite creative in her therapeutic approach to providing services to her client.  And it paid off.

Connie, with strong case management, advocacy, persistence and dedication, was able to work with her client and assist with implementing supplemental IEP goals, while at the same time ensuring that his education was mainstreamed as much as possible.  Slowly but surely, he started to make progress.  He started performing more age appropriate activities of daily living, including keeping his room neat and tidy and his bed made.  Once rapport was established with the family, Connie was able to implement additional strategies in the home, assisting them with their overall functioning as a family system.  Dinner time, as well as morning rush time, became much more pleasant for the family of four. 

Soon, her client’s grades became better, he was able to interact more appropriately, interpersonally, with his peers and communicate his needs much more effectively.  His inappropriate behaviors decreased, and he started to make friends!  All the while, Connie continued to hold her client and his family members accountable for his treatment goals and objectives.  She diligently worked with his treatment team, for continuity of services and to ensure that all of his needs were being addressed. 

The boy’s mother, who at one time had been frustrated with her son’s behavior, began to speak more positively about him.  With praise from his family and Connie, the boy became proud of his accomplishments.  He desired to continue to make strides, as he learned to work around any barriers and build on his strengths. 

Connie provided Intensive In-Home Services for eight months, and then he was successfully discharged.  Connie was thrilled with her client’s success and had grown to know the family quite well.  During her last session, the family treated her to a family dinner; they brought out the best china, they prepared a special meal.  Everyone ate together.  As the time approached for Connie to make discharge recommendations and say her goodbyes, she felt the strength of her commitment to serving the family and her client.  The family was grateful for Connie and thanked her profusely.  Her client, although saddened to say goodbye, held his head up a bit higher, with an air of confidence that he lacked prior to receiving Intensive In-Home services. 

Connie Hill truly served a child and family in need and never stopped believing!  Connie went on to become the Service Coordinator for Hollybrook apartments, here at St. Joseph’s Villa.  Word around Hollybrook is that Connie is just as dedicated to that community and its residents as she was to her Intensive In-Home clients and families.  That’s not surprising!