Valerie demonstrates excellence and passion across all areas of her job. For example, our team promotes medication adherence by delivering medications to our client’s homes and in the community. Val has been primarily responsible for overseeing the medication delivery process to 22 clients and an LAI injection schedule for 32 clients. This undertaking requires communication with our psychiatrist, other providers, pharmacies, and insurance companies. Val has a keen eye for detail, which allows her to stay on top of these many moving parts. Even more remarkable are her efforts to ensure that the clients receive their medications. She is relentless. She goes to their homes (often making multiple attempts), and, for our clients who are unsheltered, she will find them on the street, administering an LAI wherever she finds them. Val is also a terrific advocate for our clients with their other medical providers. In addition to having serious mental illness, our clients often have serious physical conditions. Val will arrange those medical appointments and frequently accompanies them. The clients tell me how important it is to have a Val with them, as a second set of ears, to help recall details of their medical history and to ensure that follow-up care is arranged.

Val has a special way of working with some of these most challenging clients. Through her consistent, compassionate, and patient efforts, I have seen tremendous growth. I have a particular memory of a client who declined most interactions and did not see the value in the ACT team. Val visited this client weekly, and at our last holiday party, it was evident that Val’s efforts paid off. This client was smiling, laughing, and interacting with her peers and the rest of the staff. While this may seem like small progress for some programs, in ACT – this is huge. And I attribute this client’s success to Val’s determination and commitment.

In addition to the many strengths listed above, she truly understands what it means to be a team member. She offers to help when there are gaps in coverage. She helps us all stay organized.  She keeps us laughing with her good humor. She checks in with all of us when we need extra support. I am honored and grateful to call her my colleague.