Rachel has been working at The Arc for a very short period, but if you have been in contact with her, you would think she has been here much longer. Rachel is a Peer Support Professional (PSP). A PSP supports those with acquired brain injuries to be independent, integrated, and productive by assisting in community engagement and skill-building. For Rachel, this was all new. She had never done this type of work before. What she possesses are qualities that made her perfect for this role. She is positive, has an eagerness to learn, and a drive to make an impact. In the first month, she has done just that.
Rachel works with a young woman in her mid-twenties with a passion for animals and the desire to reconnect with her friends. Rachel listens generously and helps her to do this and much more. Every week Rachel takes her to a horse barn where she volunteers to help clean the stalls. If you have ever been to a horse stall, you know that they can be a little messy and cold in the month of December. Through it all, Rachel stays positive and keeps things fun by providing conversation and jokes. During the holidays, Rachel assisted her in picking out the perfect gifts for her family, friends, and boyfriend and helped to wrap them. For the family Christmas party, they worked together to bake something for it. When this young woman got a hamster, she helped her to pick out the perfect cage and set it up. For New Year’s Eve, the two spent the afternoon in Walpole so that this young woman could hang out with one of her friends.
Rachel continues to improve this young woman’s quality of life by not only providing support and conversation but also attempting to help her make healthier lifestyle choices. Each week Rachel introduces a new healthy food for her to try. They have not been successful, but with time, she hopes that they will find something she likes. Besides this, she has empowered her to take ownership of cleaning her room, doing her laundry, and other house tasks. In this short period, there have been positive impacts seen by the clinician, house manager, and the young woman herself. Day in and day out, Rachel continues to deliver legendary service while keeping things fun and positive. For these reasons and more, I want to celebrate her success and nominate her for The Way of The Arc Champion for the month of December.