“I really like having a front row seat to people’s healing,” says Clinical Services Coordinator Sarah Turner.
A Hopewell Journey
Sarah always knew she wanted to work with and help people, not just hold a 9-5 desk job. Her Hopewell journey began in 2014 when she came onboard as a PRN program facilitator; she then worked her way into her current role.
Families first encounter Sarah when they consider Hopewell as an option for their loved one’s residential mental health care. “Talking to families in crisis makes this a tough job on some days,” Sarah said. “These conversations are crucial to determine whether the potential residents would be a good fit for Hopewell, and to be sure we can meet their needs.
“Hopewell is never the first go-to for residents,” she continued. “Listening to families, I hear about numerous hospitalizations, suicide attempts, and more. People call to talk about very heavy things. I listen empathetically, take notes, and talk them through the admissions process.”
Talking to families can make it a tough day and it’s necessary to process those emotions. “The stories that I hear are often difficult. It can really play on my emotions. There are times that I feel the need to decompress. We are lucky to have a gym here at Hopewell as well as a track to walk. Getting away from my desk and going for a quick walk is helpful. Talking with coworkers is also very helpful.”
By the time someone is admitted to Hopewell, Sarah and the admissions team know their whole story. Sarah shared, “I love it when I get to meet someone face to face and admit them, and they are so grateful for what we have done to get them here. Then over time it’s very satisfying so see their success.”
Some aspects of Sarah’s job are administrative in nature. She helps residents qualify for Medicaid to cover the cost of prescriptions and other medical services. She also assesses residents for disability benefits, which assures that they will have some funds coming in. As residents begin to look for options after Hopewell, she works on discharge planning with the clinical team and helps to ensure that residents are set up for success when they leave. “All of these parts of my job are self-taught. I did a lot of research, took some classes and found that I really enjoy it!”
Family Time and a Passion Project
Sarah finds a lot of joy in family time with her grown children and her youngest, a four-year-old. “She keeps me busy! Being with her brings a lot of kid-like wonder and joy that you lose when your kids get older. I have regained that through her.” She also enjoys metalworking with her dad, who is teaching her how to weld in his metal shop.
But Sarah’s real passion project is somewhat surprising. She devotes spare time to being a resource for families of children who have cleft lip or cleft palate. “I belong to a lot of online forums for parents of these children, where I try to answer questions from the standpoint of someone with experience.”
Sarah was born in 1981 when there was no ultrasound technology to show that she had a cleft. This shocked her young parents, barely out of their teens – here was a baby with a facial deformity. The only person available to talk to her mother was the surgeon, as there were no other support resources. “My parents had an unusual approach to my surgeries,” Sarah remembered. “They always planned them around the holidays so there was something to look forward to while I was recuperating.”
Sadly, Sarah was bullied at school and things were difficult. “This affected my mental health – I just did not feel good about myself and I became depressed. A turning point came after I graduated high school and I felt empowered to say I was done after roughly 25 surgeries. I chose to accept how I looked and start moving forward with life rather than focusing on what surgery would happen next.”
Talk about turning pain into promise!
Sarah pursued a double major in sociology and psychology at Youngstown State University. Eventually she accepted a position with Comprehensive Children & Family Services in Pennsylvania, where she did wraparound work with children who had autism and other mental health and behavioral issues. She worked with kids in school, at home, and in community settings, and developed treatment plans for them. This was very rewarding.
When her middle daughter started kindergarten, Sarah became a substitute teacher. She loved teaching and found working with kids with different abilities enjoyable.
Motivation and Meaning
When asked about what motivates her to work with people with mental illness, she mentioned, “I have a desire to help make a positive impact on the lives of those with mental health issues and find fulfillment in witnessing their progress and healing.”
The family environment at Hopewell means a lot to Sarah. “My favorite memory is when we had a Family Fun Day on campus. Residents, staff, and their families came together, made apple cider and s’mores. It was a neat feeling to watch my little girl interact with everyone. Hopewell is home for many residents, and they aren’t around children often. Seeing how they interested they were was heartwarming. That day wasn’t about their illnesses – it was about having fun. I was so happy to see joy on their faces as they all ran around to different activities together with their families.”
Some of Sarah’s future plans include traveling out west. She would love to do a family RV trip where they can stop whenever they want to look around. Given her energy and drive, we have no doubt that will happen someday soon.
Thank you, Sarah for everything you do!
