Where you're meant to be.
Transitional Living Counselor | Memphis
Degrees: BA in liberal studies
School: University of Memphis
Hometown: Bolivar, Tenn.
First-ever job: Burger King cashier
Hobbies: Basketball, reading, short story writing, learning
Favorite movie: “Sex and the City”
Favorite snack: Popcorn
Personal goal: To maintain a healthy life style by eating nutritious meals and exercising regularly.
You may not know about Brittney: I practice karate and yoga in my spare time.
Brittney finds rewarding: Realizing that I made a significant change in someone’s life by smiling and being cordial, no matter the situation.
Fact: I review the dictionary often.
A success at work is: Loving your job and not being stressed about going to work everyday.
Why did you choose to work at Youth Villages?
I wanted to work with youth and heard that Youth Villages has great opportunities for career advancement.
What positions have you held?
I started out in January of 2008 as an Overnight Teacher Counselor. I am currently a Transitional Living specialist.
What do you enjoy about being a Transitional Living counselor?
I love being out in the community and acting as an advocate and mentor for young adults who have grown up in state custody or foster care. Assisting them with obtaining independent living skills is rewarding for me because you see these young adults achieve their goals with your help, and they reach them rather quickly.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day is filled with driving to meet clients around town, making phone calls, scheduling and completing sessions, and corresponding with other agencies. Our days as TL specialists are fast-paced, and every minute counts.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in your first year at Youth Villages and how did you overcome them?
I have had to overcome wanting to see immediate progress. It takes time for the children to work on their treatment goals, and sometimes, frustration builds due to a stand-still in treatment. I have dealt with this by continuing to work hard and model the behaviors I want the young adults to adapt to. Being patient and allowing the young adults to have time to grow is challenging, yet is important and essential for them to achieve success.
What benefits are you enrolled in?
I am enrolled in the medical insurance, which provides great coverage. This is not strictly a benefit, but Youth Villages also sends out job postings in the organization to its current employees. That’s how I found out about an opening in the Transitional Living program and applied for it.
Do you have any advice for someone who is considering working for Youth Villages?
Be patient and learn to grow with the clients we serve. The organization not only has great advancement opportunities for your career, but the experience you get also is personally enriching.
What has been the most rewarding experience so far at Youth Villages?
Seeing clients’ behavior improve and seeing them successfully complete their programs at Youth Villages to move on to live their lives in the community.