Garden Place: A Staff Member's Perspective

ShelterCare's Garden Place program is housed in an unassuming but well-kept remodeled duplex in a quiet neighborhood in Eugene. Inside, it is a bustling place. A couple of residents relax on mismatched yet comfortable and welcoming armchairs. Kitchen staff prepare the midday meal, which staff and residents take together. Pictures of smiling people riding horseback, dressed in Halloween costumes, and taking part in community activities adorn the walls, along with more general portraits. It really feels like home.

And it really is home, to 12 ShelterCare residents with psychiatric disabilities. They live here, working with staff and each other, to achieve the goal of more personal independence. Jose Soto is one of several members of the dedicated Garden Place team. His small, yet inviting office is revealing. Objects such as a fishing reel (for client outings, since many like to fish), and a small collection of painting supplies (for the recently painted therapy room) indicate that Jose is someone who plays many roles. I had the opportunity to speak with Jose about some of his experiences at Garden Place.

CD-"What is your role at Garden Place?"

JS-"My title is Resident Services Coordinator. My role here is really pretty varied, out of necessity. Soon after I took the position, we experienced significant turnover at the senior staff levels, and it was necessary to adapt quickly to that. Some of the things I do include staff training and scheduling, ensuring we have appropriate transportation for consumers to get to appointments, and helping locate volunteer opportunities for consumers. There are a lot of miscellaneous tasks that appear constantly. It definitely requires flexibility and creativity."

CD-"What are some of the challenges of working in the field of mental health?"

JS-"A lot of people's understanding of mental health is full of stigma. People may think of folks locked up in facilities that simply warehouse them, straitjackets, and so forth. So these stigmas go back 50 years or so, even though how we (in the field) approach mental health has really undergone revolutionary changes. In the past decade alone, there have been tremendous advancements in the field. It is very hard to overcome these stigma, and it is unlikely that they will completely go away any time soon. 

CD-"What are some examples of how the mental health field has changed?"

JS-"There are many ways. Well, for one, we no longer simply warehouse people in group homes. We also work with the consumers to develop individualized treatment programs. Consumers now take an active role in their own healing process. It's much more empowering."

CD-"Are there any things that you feel you've learned in your experience with the agency and at Garden Place in particular?"

JS-"Sure. One thing is that I was initially a bit nervous about a job with ShelterCare. I admit, I was affected by some of the stigmatizing messages surrounding mental health. I quickly realized that they weren't really any different from people I'd worked with in the past (in other nonprofit roles). A lot of them were simply people who'd experienced significant trauma in their lives and needed some support to address their issues.

 My experience has been very rewarding. I work in the field I work in because I want to help. I enjoy knowing I'm helping and it's gratifying to know I'm making a  difference-maybe not in a huge way, but it does have an effect. And that, to me is significant."

Thank you Jose, and all Garden Place staff for the difference you make for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. I am sure they would agree that it is indeed significant.

-CD