TEAM ADMIN, ADMISSIONS, MARKETING, FINANCE
Tigi Taloa, Behavioral Health Data Analyst - Administration
Tigi has been integral in the changes to and from Cerner. He jumps in wherever he is needed with the most positive attitude. He asks great questions and pivots quickly. He has been such an asset to the agency.  

‍TEAM ADULT RESIDENTIAL - DOWNTOWN
Stacie Pett, BHT Supervisor 
1. Downtown aside, Stacie Pett is the GOAT Behavioral Health Tech Supervisor!!! Why? Stacie is exemplary in modeling the highest level of decorum for staff and clients alike. Stacie has been a linchpin in keeping this house together in the hardest of times, including, but not limited to everything that came with the COVID area of Odyssey. She is always willing to step in and step up, not just when she is asked, but when she sees there is a gap in the hard work that needs to be done.

Stacie has worked at Odyssey House for a total of four years and has been supervising for almost the entire time. She started as a part time staff at lighthouse and was promoted to shift lead at downtown in less than a month. She was then promoted again to shift supervisor and has cultivated our part time staff since. Known as "The Muscle" Downtown, Stacie can ALWAYS be counted on to run groups with the respect clients deserve, while at the same time ensuring learning opportunities through therapeutic and relevant interventions when appropriate.

In recent months, Stacie has taken on being the point person for the discovery level group. She is chiefly responsible for providing invaluable insight to the clinical team on our discoveries functioning within the TC, in org, and level group. What we expect of our Discoveries is mastery and competency of interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance (the four pillars of DBT). It is comforting to know that under her watch we don’t have to fret about subpar clinical assignments being passed off. We can rest assure the biz, as well as strokes and encounters are handled in an appropriate manner. Stacie ensures quality and high standards are upheld in this level and it subsequently transforms the health of the TC for the better. Thank you for your service, Stacie! “Stacie, very kind & considerate, and patient… Stern, but fair.” -DT client (09/17/24).

2. Staci is always doing something to help someone or is doing multiple jobs at once! She holds her boundaries with every client no matter who they are. I love working with her. She is a great coworker and most importantly a great friend.  

TEAM ADULT RESIDENTIAL – LIGHTHOUSE
Erica Bylund, Case Manager
1. Erica Bylund is a Super Hero, no other word describes her. Back in June one of our 3 Case Managers went on medical leave for 3 months. During this time Erica stepped up to the plate and handle covering for this person. She had almost double the client load and she was meeting all task and legal issues to help our client during this time. She went above and beyond in showing staff and client support. She maintained her emotions related to being overwhelmed and still assisted the clients with compassion. She relates to our clients and understands their fears and needs of each one. She also was helping with the facility being short of staff in other departments and showed up where she could. When you see her ask her to show you her cape, because she is our Hero.

2. Erica has been a wonder since she began case management, and this month was no exception. She works beyond expectations and has been tireless in working with our clients to ensure their success in recovery. I'm proud to have her on the team and happy to know her, too!  

‍TEAM ADULT RESIDENTIAL – MEADOWBROOK
Val Jeerings, Medication Technician
‍Val has been an invaluable addition to the medical team at Meadowbrook. Val continues to put her heart and soul into her work, while also identifying any short comings in the med room. Val continues to work on herself while being supportive, kind and understanding to our clients. Val continues to work hard, show up and help her peers whenever possible. Val has been a very intuitive and sympathetic ear to our clients and staff. Val continues to help the medical team by being a trainer of the new med techs while they navigate the role of Med Technician. Val keeps her commitments and does everything she can to be impeccable with her word, and when she doesn't know the answer, she commits to finding the correct answer. Val has been amazing to work with, and I would be so lost without her! Thank you, Val!

TEAM ADULT RESIDENTIAL – MILLCREEK
Jennifer Larson, Behavioral Health Tech
Jenn has really stepped up her game with a lot of extra duties with recent changes. Jenn has really come out of her shell since she has started and you can tell how much more comfortable, she is with her position today compared to when she started. Jenn makes every effort to learn new things, try new things and ask lots of questions to always be sure she is learning the correct ways and not jeopardizing anything already in place. Jenn has really blossomed around the clients as well. She really has taken on a role that the clients all know they can turn to her for help and trust her decisions when needed. Her position here with us at Millcreek is one of total value. GREAT JOB JEN, YOUR DOIGN GREAT!  

‍TEAM CLINIC
Megan Van Staden, Medical Assistant
Megan is an absolute dream! She is always so helpful every time she walks in the door. She is always on top of completing medical records and taking any phone calls related to that. She is always willing to help on a provider schedule when we are short on MAs. She has also been helping out at the front desk when they have been short. She is so selfless and does anything that is asked of her. Not only does she work hard, but she completes it well! We are so grateful to have her on our team. Our patients also enjoy seeing her at the clinic. She brings a positive attitude to work that her coworkers and the patients feed off of. Thank you for being a great example to us Megan!
‍
TEAM MENTAL HEALTH; WOMEN’S / MEN’S, FACT, CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Edward Jones, Peer Support Specialist – Men’s Mental Health
Edward is an incredible asset to our team. I believe this for multiple reasons: He is one of our CPSS's, and brings an incredible wealth of knowledge, both from personal experience and education/work history. He comes into situations with clients wit a nonjudgmental, comforting, and accepting attitude. Clients can feel safe to come and speak with him, because they know how he will respond. Additionally, before becoming a CPSS, Edward was a successful lawyer. He has often helped our team better understand things such as social security with his knowledge base.

Edward leads multiple groups for Men's Mental Health, and he is always trying to find fun activities for our clients. He puts so much work into finding activities that would be fun the guys inside and outside of treatment. Yesterday, he drove 30 minutes back and forth to allow our clients to take a hike around a lake. Finding fun activities that our clients will be able to do outside of treatment (often on a fixed income) has been a goal for him.

We are very blessed to have Edward on our team!‍

TEAM OUTPATIENT - SUGARHOUSE / REDWOOD
Rachel Evans, Program Manager – Sugarhouse
Rachel has been indispensable at Sugarhouse. She helps hold the team together, keeps us organized and on task, and she's always willing to help. She did excellent work helping with the gala and she has been very busy with the recent changes in leadership. She connects to each staff member in a way that demonstrates her caring and positive attitude and even when she gets tired or isn't feeling well, she will work hard and take care of her responsibilities. It's excellent to work with Rachel every week. I know she has days that are difficult, but she deserves to know her work is appreciated and makes the work of the leadership and clinical team much easier.  

‍TEAM PARENTS & CHILDREN SERVICES
Kelsie Goggia, Child Development Specialist – Children Services
1. Kelsey is an amazing employee and coworker. She has an inviting presence and is trusted by her team, the parents, and the children. She steps up to help whenever and wherever she can in a kind and helpful manner. When the company was trying to save Cerner documentation and billing she was right at Jaime's side to help her through it. She's put so much time and effort into building relationships with the children that they ask to talk to her when they're having a hard day. She is relatable to the parents as she's a graduate herself and is often the best person for them to talk to when they are having a hard time wanting to leave the program because she validates their feelings while still encouraging them to stick with their treatment.

2. The staff member Kelsey has helped in numerous ways to our cs team. Especially with the new uwits program and training she has done exponentially great at teaching new people on the team (including myself) as well as talking to clients when they’re having a hard time with the program. She has gotten many to stay and push through the program while telling her story of how she did it. She is awesome and is constantly helping out when she can.

3. When asked to jump in and help with the Cerner stuff Kelsey didn't hesitate. She was more than willing to take any training and do anything she could have to help. She really showed up for her Odyssey Family.  

‍TEAM SCHOOL BASED SERVICES & YOUTH EXPEDITION
Treshain Elerson, Therapist – School Based Services
1. Treshain is a great person to work with. She is always smiling and has a positive attitude.  During our struggle with Cerner, she took on a leadership role. She taught us how to navigate the program and was patient with everyone’s questions. She also took time out of her day to meet with some of us individually to answer questions. This week, after moving back to uwits, she continues supporting the team by guiding us on the next steps. Treshain, I appreciate your help these past few weeks. You maintained calm and spread positive vibes during these stressful days. That is one reason we got through it as a team, considering we are all at different locations.

2. Treshain has always been incredibly approachable and supportive to the whole team, and she has been even more needed and relied on during the chaos of transitioning to Cerner and back to UWITs. Treshain has taken a leadership role in teaching, listening, and support staff with learning the program and being available to answer questions (and somehow she has maintained a smile the whole time). I am in awe of how she has taken everything in stride with additional responsibilities all while continuing to provide exceptional care to her clients.

3. Where do I start with the accolades for someone who had the initiative to go beyond the Cerner basic training to really understand the program. She stepped in to help when the Super Learner on our team had emergency responsibilities. She helped to answer questions and guide us through the craziness of Cerner. She had our backs when we were stuck or questioning ourselves. I never heard a complaint from her. School Based Program is better because of her commitment and willingness to share her knowledge. She makes our team stronger by encouraging us and boosts our confidence. Because of that, I am so grateful to her!

4. Treshain has been a lifesaver during these stressful times.

5. Treshain has worked so hard at keeping our team calm throughout the storm that has been Cerner. She has taken lead in various occasions and did great at doing so, she was very helpful and responsive when it came to our questions. She deserves to receive the recognition for all the extra work she had to add to her days.  

‍TEAM TRANSITIONAL SERVICES, BOARDING HOMES & FACT
Shyanne Young, Behavioral Health Tech – Boarding Homes
Shyanne has been working for Odyssey for 3 years! She is reliable and shows up for her shifts as well as goes the extra mile at work to make sure clients are okay, she is very smart and is passionate about the work she does. Not only does she work full time graves but she also manages being a wonderful parent to 3 kids- and goes out of her way for others constantly at work and in her personal time. You have a heart of gold. We dearly appreciate you and your efforts Shy!  

‍TEAM YOUTH RESIDENTIAL
Hollie Hancock, Clinical Director
1. Hollie is an AWESOME coworker. She is willing to go out of her way to help her team even if she doesn't have all the answers. She is the prime example of a great boss, she hears you, communicates with you, and is flexible when it comes to any situation. Hollie has been working so hard the last month or so to get Cerner where it needs to be, and then when the news about the transition came out, she made sure she gave an open space and communicated clearly. There was no waiver in confidence, just full fledged willpower to do what needed to be done. This is not just shown this last month, but always! Thank you Hollie, for everything!

2. Hollie is an amazing clinical director. She is always there when she is needed, both on a professional and personal level. She is always willing to listen, and treats all staff as equals. She cares deeply for our clients, and it shows in the work she does. She holds clients and staff to high standards, and communicates in a very clear way to help the program run smoothly. Hollie is very compassionate, understanding, and will always be willing to work with you. I and other staff members are incredibly thankful for Hollie and everything that she has done and continues to do for our clients, staff members, and the program overall.