What do you do?
I am the Executive Director of Whatcom County's Support Officer Community Care. Support Officer Community Care is a non-profit organization founded in Whatcom County in 1982. A Support Officer is a volunteer specially trained in crisis intervention and grief response. Support Officers respond with law enforcement, fire and EMS, 24 hours a day, ensuring families are not left to deal with tragedy alone. Their role involves responding to a sudden, unexpected death such as a suicide, homicide, traffic fatality, a death of a child, or notifying family a loved one has died. In addition to providing on scene support, they offer resource materials, connect survivors to community resources, provide meals, send cards, and offer follow up, for weeks, months, or years after a death. Support Officers also assist and support our first responders. We provide ongoing training and have established a website as a resource to provide informational support and referral for emotional trauma and grief issues. I love my work. It's a privilege to walk alongside families at their most difficult time. It's heavy work but I cannot think of anything I would rather do. It's incredibly rewarding and I am so grateful for the relationships I have built over the last 15 years. Through my work I have made many forever friends, that began as a stranger on their doorstep.
Advice/words of wisdom that affected your life you’d like to pass on?
I believe showing genuine care and compassion to another human being will benefit you both. Share your gifts!