Mentorship

I'm so excited to have you along today for an important discussion. We will be discussing the value that mentors and leadership training played into what we are doing today. How this piece is crucial in the development of family leaders as they engage in systems change.

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Welcome to Linked Together a family center program. I'm so excited to have you along. As we share our stories I'm excited that you can be with us today as we discuss the importance that mentors and leadership training played into what we are doing today. How this piece is crucial in the development of family leaders. So I've always said no one says I want to be a family leader when they grow up. So I'm wondering what that role of mentorship has served in your careers. How how it got you to where you're at or maybe leadership training, seeing others do this work? For well, for for me, honestly, I can't say I've had any extensive leadership training in in this space of family leadership, parent leadership or genetics but I do come from a health care background. So professionally, I was in health care administration and patient access. And my mentor was the most amazing woman, Amy Carr. She was actually the department manager for our clinic. And she just poured herself into to all of us, but she poured herself into me and she gave me opportunities that that most managers may not have. You know, she if somebody was out sick or something and and I would say, well, can I help? And she would say, oh, well, for this job, you need to be you know, you have to be trained for this or that. And and then she would take that extra step and train me. And so if somebody was out sick, I was able to step in and help with that role. So she was just always the best, best leader. And and and mentor. And to this day, I still just value everything that that she poured into me. I still talk about her just a few weeks ago, I was just talking about things that I learned from her, from her leadership. And then, of course, you know, you have your leadership courses and and stuff that you take. But again, that was all corporate health care. So but in this space, it really it really started with being in here you know, being in the room and living that that journey and that life. And and over the course of several years now, I've had opportunities to connect with with other folks and other organizations to, number one, learn what it is and then to really see how I can be better at it so I can help other folks. And so. Yeah, absolutely. Well, and again, so when I, I kind of, you know, started this conversation, I do think that there's a couple of different ways of looking at mentors or that leadership trainings. There's that formal like you kind of talked about some courses and stuff like that. But I also think that there's those informal relationships and those maybe we didn't say, hey, I want to be your mentor or whatever, right? And you be or I'll be your mentee. But it's really that there are some of those formal and informal and I've kind of done some of both and stuff like that. But I would just was wondering. Totally agree that and I had the honor and pleasure of working with a gentleman and he and his wife for some years older and their one of their sons was exactly my age. And their son had significant disability challenges of their four boys. And then when we had both of our children, they were some of the first people at our hospital bedside because we knew that there was going to be struggles and they were there providing that support and mentorship from the very beginning. And it was through friendship and care and concern about our families, but also always having a little recommendation, a little idea. They knew the next step that was going to be coming down the road. All through the years. And to this day, although the gentleman has passed away, his wife is still we are dear friends and she still is mentoring me and she's well into her eighties now. But just that wisdom of being able to have that that far distance and helping on that So it was a wonderful informal process. But, you know, I found mentorship opportunities both for me to be a mentor as well as receive that mentorship in so many different spaces, in so many different ways. I started a support group for families and had it in my home and felt like that was my time to be able to help and support other families. And so that was my giving back and a and a mentoring kind of conversations that we would have a group mentoring process. So it's just that's been a part of this whole journey as well. And I've really enjoyed having that kind of shared activity in that way. Yeah. Mm. I would agree with you definitely Linda, and I have some similar experiences too. I would say that my first mentor, the person I would consider my first mentor was not a formal mentor like you mentioned. She was actually my child's therapist. Her my our first speech language pathologist. She was my fairy godmother. I think I said that before she connected with me and she saw something in me that really gave me the empowerment that I needed. You know, she not only gave me strategies for helping my child, but she encouraged me and recognized what I was doing with that playgroup that I started for moms. And and then referred me to the program for that position that came available. So I would say and she was a parent as well. She had an older child who was on the spectrum as well. So she connected with me on that level. And I think the encouragement is what really what I needed at that time. So she didn't give me the knowledge of the systems and things that I needed to be involved in, but she gave me the power to say, you know, I, I am a leader. I can help families, I can take what I've learned and my experiences to use and help families with that. So she would be my first. And then along the way, I met other families, other parents who were leaders who've who've helped me. In fact, the the woman who was in my previous position where I am now, I would definitely say she was a mentor. And she gave me the tools to think bigger, to think beyond where I was. Yeah. But leaning on other families, I feel like I've learned that's where I've got my mentorship mostly. I think that's been the most impactful. And then trainings, trainings give me that gives me the the knowledge that I need to know what I'm talking about to to understand what the systems are that I'm working with. But I guess I agree mentorship does come in different forms. It's not just that educational knowledge aspect, but also that personal touch. Yeah. And I think I know you know, something that you said, I think even Molly, about the formal versus the informal pieces of it, you know, I think some of the best some of the best pieces of advice or what I would consider mentorship, it came from unexpected people at unexpected times, you know, and I think that's what's great about, you know, mentorship. It doesn't have to be, you know, like that example, like Amy for me, I never asked her to be a mentor. I just I saw the qualities and I was absorbing them we relocated. I did reach out to someone and say, you know, hey, I'm new in this area. I always like to have a mentor. I was still working in in health care. I always like to have a mentor, somebody I can bounce different things off. And and she was actually the CEO at one of the hospitals in the area. She told me first that I was very bold. To just reach out to her directly. But I saw something in her just in passing, and I was like, she would be a great mentor. And she was always available whenever I reached out. But I think too like you were just saying, your therapist. For me in this current space, I don't have anybody that I feel like I'm resting on with Trisomy 18, but Linda has been huge for me, and you just don't realize it until you realize it. Like her stories and the different things that that she's shared about her family and her journey and, and, and how they're so different. But, but hearing that she's gone through it like I see and feel that potential for Elijah, to me that's, that's mentoring me. So how do I get there? And what are those what are those next steps and and I'm figuring out like, what does she do when I'm listening when she speaks to me there's mentorship and so and so I take them with me. I was actually talking about her at home. Not something she knew until I told her, but but to me, that's mentorship. So I think it is important you know, recognizing when those nuggets and those pearls are being dropped and given for you and picking them up and running with them and using them and and recognizing the value that people bring to your circles here. And I think modeling. I've also considered Linda a mentor since the day we met how many years ago? Six years ago or so, right? Yeah. I think that modeling of the behaviors of the experiences that you've had and knowing that the opportunities are there for me to reach other families, for me to advance and and in my career, I think, well, thank you. And for my children. Thank you. Well, and I will say, too, I mean, thank you for that and didn't realize that. But so as I got to know Molly and all of the work with Molly was doing and how how I was brought into Molly's circle and world and this opportunity came up for a community of practice. And I told Molly, you know, there's somebody that I know down in Florida that I think she would really benefit from this. She's a wonderful family leader. She's much younger than me. And so she's coming through. And that's how you met Molly is because and so that helping that network recognizing these folks. And if I had known Sarita. Right. I would have been saying grab Sarita too! But I think I think that's so it's just networking and building those relationships and and and sometimes I think that's probably the best scope of mentorship, you know, just just really building the relationships and not just looking for somebody to just give you advice, but that relationship building, I think is so important. Yeah. I mean, again, I agree. I think over the years, like I said, I've had so many informal type mentors and and watching others do things and think, oh, yeah, I like how they do that, you know? And then taking that piece for me, it's sort of like you said, like having those nuggets and you watch for them and you pick them up and it's been going to family leadership trainings, whether it's at Family Voices or whether it's at the Hands of Voices, leadership training. But really those leadership trainings put on by family based organizations that really understand that family leadership journey. So being part of that and networking there. But then I really have had some really good experience with some really what I would call formal mentorship. I know that AMCHP, the Association of Maternal Child Health Programs, does a family leadership cohort. So it's really geared towards family leadership and those that are working in the Title Five world that children and youth with special health care needs and so I participated in that as both a mentee for first and then a mentor. And so I think that's really great because the way that was set up was really taking some of the issues that we work around. And then you would watch a webinar or participate in some sort of activity, and then you talk about it as a group, or then you would talk about it with your small, with your mentor, maybe with, you know, they split it up with a couple of people. And I have some very dear friends of mine that I went through that program together and yes, I've loved that. But then I've also loved the opportunity to mentor someone. I say honestly, I learn probably more talking with individuals and helping them kind of think about where their goals were, because then it makes you examine your own right. Right. And I, I agree. I have completely loved being able to serve in that space, you know, to, to fill that void for someone who was looking for something and I was able to, to pour in to them. That was one thing that I loved about my job prior to getting into genetics and rare disease space and nonprofit work you know, I managed a department, I had 23 employees, but I felt like I was individually connected to each and every one of them. And to hear feedback about something that I've given them or something that I've said or, you know, a way or a process that I've shared, that was just it was gratifying because, you know, that you are investing into other people and and it's not something that you sought out. It just kind of it just kind of fell and it happened and it just I don't know, I just it's I'm really grateful I don't take opportunities like that lightly. It's a it's a really humbling experience for me. And, and, and I choose to, to walk in it, you know, and do it well. It means a lot that people look up to you and value what you bring to conversations and to their lives. And so, yeah, that just it means a lot to me. Mm hmm. Go ahead. Go ahead, go ahead. I was just thinking back to what you're saying, and that was something that I didn't expect right when I first started. And in working in early intervention, I wasn't thinking I was ever going to be a mentor for anyone that wasn't a path that I ever considered. But it is amazing. It's it's wonderful. It's such a good feeling to see the families that I have worked with in the past and what they're doing now, the different groups that they're involved with. I have one mother who's just amazing. She is a state leader in her child's disability area. And not just that. She just got a position in the national organization for that disability. And you know, I don't have permission to mention her anything, so I don't. But she is one that I am so proud because I learned from her when she was going through her situation and early intervention. I gave her support. I gave her the resources she need. I provided her with the links to education. I have helped fund her her participation in a conference. I did not realize what a leader she would become, and that makes me feel proud yeah. Because I feel like, yeah, I did something good, right? Yeah. And I've seen that in other families that I've been able to work with. Definitely not something I considered, but something I want to continue to do. Absolutely. And I think in the position that I'm in now, I am able to do that. And and not just for other parents who are working in our program because we have other parent leaders who are working in our local offices, but giving them the tools that they can then inspire other families, educate other families, and bring them along into parent leadership as well. I think it's really and you know, I think when when you think about it, when you start just letting your mind process the whole concept of mentorship, you just start thinking about all the opportunities. You know, people you've connected to me, I find myself if I really evaluated, I'm mentoring, something that they have going on, right? Like that's, that's mentorship. I think about, you know, even when organizations, you know, send you folks and say, hey, Sarita is the person that you need to talk to that's mentorship, right? Like, I think it's just it's just such a huge, huge opportunity to to help people find and explore different paths that they are personally looking for. I just I don't know. I love it. And it well, and I will say, like Molly, I've had that opportunity with Leadership Lab, with AMCHP, the Association for Maternal and Child Health Programs. AMCHP And that that was a wonderful formal opportunity. And interestingly enough, where I work now and I'm in the Department of Health and, you know, again, I'm here just as a parent, but it just so happens this job is affording me they have just started an inaugural mentorship program because in public health, they're realizing this as it is in many of our workforce spaces. That is such an important component to have. And so now we've got this whole new mentorship program, and I'm able to compare notes between the two of what works well. And then I'm very proud of our Department of Health because and Title Five office, because they are the funding partner for a relatively new organization in our state. Called The Family Florida Leaders Network. And Marisol and I are a part of that as well. And that seeing that that kind of that pipeline of moving from teaching parents about individual engagement and partnering at that level to the clinical level, to the systems level and building a leadership pipeline is very important for our state. And I would wish that for any states that they recognize, this is this is needed. It's worth the money and return on investment that you're creating those pipelines of training and mentorship for those families and the network and connecting, I think the network and connecting and the formal mentorship is is is an important piece of helping you grow, helping you get stronger in your in your process of parent leadership. Family leadership. And I'm going to compliment Molly and her organization because that's what they're all about at the national level and connecting organizations that that are under their umbrella, so to speak. But also out to the external organizations. And you all do such a great job of that and bringing opportunity for learning to families. So thank you. Yeah, no, thank you for that. Yeah, we really do strive for that. Like, again, I do feel that it's not really the individual story that's going to change things, but it is this collective and I think it is this ability to have conversations, even if we have different opinions. About them or different viewpoints. But it's really this place that we can have these discussions that maybe aren't happening elsewhere. Right. And so I do appreciate you guys joining us. I'm really excited to let you know the Family Center is coming up with its own leadership training that we're trying to provide on online. So again, we do things at a national level so it won't be really that individual, but that will all be coming out. And yeah, I can't wait to continue all these conversations. So thank you for being part of my group of mentors that that I learned something from. And I look forward to our next topic thank you. Thank you. The great conversations that we had today is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services. As part of the work of the National Genetics, Education and Family Support Program, the contents or those of the participants and did not necessarily represent the official views of nor an endorsement by the HRSA, HHS, or the US government.