Meet the Staff of Integrated Day Services

Vickie, Program Manager

Vickie heard about Goodwill by browsing through the employment section in the local newspaper. Goodwill was hiring for a Respite Provider and Vickie was needing a position with more solid hours. Vickie interviewed and accepted the job offer.

Vickie has a variety of different responsibilities that include: overseeing the Integrated Day Services program, helping with participants goals, taking attendance for billing and resolving staff issues. The participants make the job fulfilling for Vickie. “I like seeing their smiles. You make their day by stopping and talking to them. I like helping turn their bad day into a good day,” Vickie grinned.

  • Who is your hero?
    • My mom. From the time I was in high school she had medical issues, but she always pushed on and persevered.
  • What is your dream vacation?
    • Germany. I spent 3 years when my husband was in the military. I loved it. I would love to go back to Germany during Christmas time.
  • What are a couple of interesting facts about you?
    • I have 12 grandchildren.
    • I love race car driving and NASCAR.

Integrated Day Services Spotlight

Integrated Day Services builds independence and improve quality of life for individuals. They participate in many community activities and are focused on enhancing the lives of special needs adults and their families. Trained, caring staff use the resources available to help the participants with their goals in a safe, fun environment where they are treated like family. 

The activities that Integrated Day Services have recently participated in include: volunteering for the 2019 Litter Dash, Support Siouxland Soldiers, visiting the Orange City Tulip Festival, and sightseeing at Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

Interested in helping support Integrated Day Services?  

Integrated Day Services is always looking for free or low-cost activities to participate in the community. If you have suggestions for activities or would like to make a monetary (tax deductible) donation for Integrated Day Services to participate in more activities, contact Vickie at 712-293-1488.

If you would like to donate supplies, Integrated Day Services needs: books, adult coloring books, canvases, paint, colored pencils, DIY craft boxes, and board games.

Meet the Program Managers-Maggie

 

Hello! My name is Maggie. I manage our Pre-Vocational Program for adults with Mental Illness and Brain Injury.  Individuals who have a desire to work but struggle with mental illness or a brain injury come to me and I work with them for 2 years to prepare them to transition into community employment.  I work with them on many different skills that are needed for anyone to be able to maintain employment at any location.  I truly enjoy watching people come to me with struggles and barriers and grow over the two years I work with them.  It is so rewarding to see how people can succeed when they never thought they could.

What do you wish you knew more about?

  • I wish I could expand my knowledge on Mental Illness and Abnormal Psychology. I have learned so much working in the job I do, but my desire to continue learning is strong.

What would be your ideal way to spend the weekend?

  • My ideal way to spend a weekend would be to take a trip and see a new place I have never been. I love meeting new people, exploring new places, and experiencing new cultures.

What is something you think everyone should do once in their lives?

  • I believe everyone should take at least one trip outside of the country to a place they have never been.  It is truly amazing to experience other cultures and to be able to live the way they do for a small period of time.  My travels have opened my eyes to so much and I believe everyone should experience that feeling at least once during their lifetime.

Meet the Skills Trainers-Molly

Hello! My name is Molly and I am a skills trainer at Goodwill.  I am so blessed because I love my job and look forward to coming to work every day.  Working for Goodwill means I have an impact in people’s lives; people who face physical, emotional or mental challenges.

As a skills trainer, I support and teach our participants a variety of things they will need to be employable such as job skills, coping skills, behavior modification, and how to communicate appropriately and many other things. What I love most about my job is developing relationships with our participants and watching them reach their goals and gain confidence in themselves and their work.

What brings you the greatest joy?

  • My greatest joys are my family, my fur babies and traveling.   A few places on my bucket list include traveling to Ireland, Italy, and Greece as well as every national park in the United States

What is your greatest fear?

  • My greatest fear is my son, who is a police officer, getting hurt or killed or losing any of my kids.

What are some interesting facts about you?

  • I desperately love animals and could easily be a crazy old cat or dog lady.
  • I have a sarcastic, warped sense of humor.
  • I love watching the TV show “Hoarders” because it inspires me to clean my house.
  • I love historic architecture and I am one of the founders of SiouxLandmark a local historic preservation group.

 

Meet the Program Managers-Jill

 

Jill has been with Goodwill for 6 years as the program manager and ETO administrator in Rapid City, SD. She leads the Rapid City Missions Services department and has been involved in disability services work for 30 years. Let’s learn more about Jill!

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Being able to be a part of teaching people the tools they need to succeed and accomplish things they didn’t think they could accomplish.

What do you wish you knew more about?

  • I wish I was better at sign language (ASL)

What would be your idea way to spend the weekend?

  • Lazy clothes, relaxing, watching my history documentaries, not having any errands to run.

What is something you think everyone should do once in their lives?

  • Learn something new, something they’ve always wanted to learn but haven’t taken the time or didn’t think they could. Travel to a place they’ve never been, and not be in a hurry.