Archives for 2015

Social Worker Stephanie Robinson, MSW, has been working as a service coordinator at the Regional Children’s Centre (RCC) since 2010. Over the past five years she has helped countless families access the services they need for their child or youth experiencing mental health issues. Earlier this year, Stephanie was handed a case that was extremely severe. It involved an immigrant single mother (who didn’t speak English), and her children, some of which required treatment at the RCC. The children had experienced horrific violence and trauma before coming to Canada and are now dealing with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Stephanie’s job was to assess the family’s needs and coordinate services in the community and at the Regional Children’s Centre to meet those needs. She organized a collection of clothing, household items and food that was overwhelmingly successful and in the end delivered 17 bags and boxes of items to the family. She worked with community agencies to get the family language services, transportation assistance to appointments, and helped find them a family doctor with the Windsor Family Health Team. Stephanie introduced the family to a counsellor from the Sexual Assault Crisis Centre and therapists at the RCC. Even more, she arranged for them to benefit from the United Way Luncheon program which provided mom and the children with lunch when they came for their treatment here. When asked to comment on Stephanie’s involvement with this family, Kerri Ann Cowan, Manager of Intake and Service Planning at the RCC said, “Stephanie Robinson is the consummate professional. Each and every day at the Regional Children’s Centre, Stephanie is faced with challenging scenarios and families in need. Most recently Stephanie has done an exceptional job working with an immigrant family and coordinating their treatment needs. When this family required translation services, Stephanie found them. When the family struggled with transportation, Stephanie accessed rides for them to their appointments. She also provided the family with necessities such as food and clothing. What a perfect example of “Changing Lives Together”. Kudos to you Stephanie! I hope you know how much your work is valued and appreciated.” Stephanie said the family has been great to work with, and that they have made a positive impact on her. “I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with this family. They are a wonderful family, so grateful, polite, and thankful – they have made a difficult job easier just by their sheer resilience. The children are thriving here already, it is just amazing. They are now into sports, have joined clubs and are doing well academically –thanks to the great team we have working with them.” Thanks to Stephanie, our therapists at the RCC and our partners in the community are Changing Lives Together. (from the 2014/2015 HDGH Annual Report)