Serving the vulnerable. Improving quality of life. Donate
Search
-
December 22, 2021In 1993, Debi started out as a Youth Worker at the Triangle Elementary after-school program working with about 40 children. After two years of hard work and success, Debi was promoted to Site Coordinator and was responsible for overseeing the Triangle after-school program in addition to supervising the on-site staff. Debi helped implement the full-day summer program offered at Triangle School and was able to increase her enrollment over the years to almost 92 children.
Miss Debi was highlighted with her program in the local newspaper after accomplishing National School Age Accreditation in 1997 as part of a pilot in which only 3 programs in Somerset County participated. While the typical after-school program at that time was mostly recreational, this showed the commitment Catholic Charities had on increasing quality child care and implementing high standards.
Debi always included community service projects into her after-school program. She was involved in the 4-H program and offered many educational and enrichment activities for the kids to participate in. In 2008, Debi was involved in the national accreditation of all of the Catholic Charities’ Somerset County Child Care programs, another great accomplishment during her career.
As Debi looks back at her time in the Child Care Program at Catholic Charities, she reflects on many fond memories of the relationships she has built. To this day, she communicates with families who attended her program back in 1993. As the Service Area Director of Child Care, I, Krista Glynn, wanted to ask her about her time at Catholic Charities as she prepares to move onto another chapter of her life. Here are some thoughts she shared with me:- Question: How far have the child care program and the after-school program come?
- “It has come far. After school originally started out as more of a recreational program, but I always made sure that we had an activity plan and that the kids were involved in community service projects. I do feel it is really important to have social, emotional learning in the programs, and I am happy to see that incorporated more now. After this difficult period of the pandemic, the kids are so happy to be back. They really are happy to be back and with their friends.”
- Question: What did you like most about working for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen?
- “I loved talking with the kids and being with the families. I still keep in touch with families who were in my program and even former staff. It made me feel good that the kids were comfortable talking to me and confiding in me with things that they were having difficulty with. I do feel it made a difference with kids that were struggling.”
- Question: What advice would you give to new employees in Child Care?
- “You have to do this job because you love it, not just for the pay check. You have to commit to the job for the kids. It isn’t fair to them if you don’t.”
- Question: How far have the child care program and the after-school program come?
