Blog
Staff Spotlight: Alana Tollett
Posted by Taylor Engel on July 14, 2010 at 3:10 pm
This past week I had the privilege of interviewing Alana Tollett, Residential Maternity Caseworker for Christian Homes & Family Services. Through her answers I think it will be very easy to see why we’re pleased as punch to have Alana on our team.
How long have you worked for Christian Homes? I have worked here since January 6th, 2009.
Why did you decide to work here? I decided to work at Christian Homes & Family Services because of the opportunity to mentor and work with young women. I also thought the staff was more like a family and we always had some type of celebration that involved food! I love that CHFS is a ministry rather than a job or agency. I love that the name and focus is “Christian.”
Describe your job to me… I work as the Residential Maternity Caseworker. I provide care, counseling and support for the women who reside at our residential facility during their pregnancy. I provide grief and loss counseling and counseling surrounding the adoption. I have weekly contact with the birthmothers to meet their needs. I help them develop a plan of service including goals they would like to accomplish while they are here and help them work through their emotions, feelings and expectations of the adoption. We process the adoption and focus on their desire for their future and what they desire for the future of their child.
What is something that has surprised you about working here? I am surprised at how many times I’ve been in the labor and delivery room with a birthmother because she wanted me to be with her, holding her hand and I was her support system. I am surprised at all the many things that I have learned from the birthmothers that I have had the pleasure of knowing. I am also surprised at how much each person here at CHFS truly cares for one another and for the people we serve. There is a strong bond and a tie that you don’t find just anywhere!
What has been one of your most difficult experiences? My most difficult experience is trying to find the right things to say to a birthmother to ease her pain after relinquishment. I realize that there’s not necessarily a right thing to say but this has been one of the harder things for me.
Happiest? The happiest moment is to see God work through people and how he never stops caring and loving you because of your background or what you have done. It makes me happy to put smiles on the faces around me whether that be co-workers, people I see often at the hospitals when taking a birthmother for a checkup and the birthmothers that I have been involved with. It also makes me happy to see the babies after placement and see how they have grown and to see and hear from birthmothers that I have worked with in the past!
From the time Alana began working for Christian Homes in January of last year, she has truly brought spark and life to this ministry. She has diligently made changes to our residential apartments to be able to give the young women a place they can be proud to call home. If you are ever in the Abilene area and would like to meet Alana and see these apartments, just give us a call! We would love to show you around.
An Abilene area native, Alana graduated in December of 2008 from Abilene Christian University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work. She is happily married to Chris who works for Tatum Motors and she plans to work for Christian Homes for the rest of her life. (Ok so I added that last part in but we hope that is the case!)
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