Social Worker Spotlight: Battle Creek Homeless Program
The above picture includes: Allyson Bolt, Maria Bosnak, Amanda Briggs, Jordan Brinker, Regina Dukes-Noble, Margaret Everett, Centhia Fleming, Laura Gilley, Reginald Howard, John Koch, Cheryl Krzeminski, Tyler Langoni, Emily MacDonald, Lisa Mathis, Samantha Meadows, Kendra O’Keelean, Tiyanna Payne, Alicia Prentler, Suzanne Reynolds, Cecilia Rush, Scott Slizewski, Lauren Tarkiewicz, Jessica Walker, Darryl Weekley, Brenden Wright
“We would like to highlight our Homeless Program team during Social Work Month for the outstanding work they do to support our homeless Veteran population. This dedicated team consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that one of our most vulnerable populations receives the care they deserve. They are strong advocates for the Veterans they serve and utilize a “no wrong door” approach. Their commitment to serving homeless Veterans is admirable.”
—Kirsten Dzialo, Battle Creek, Chief, Social Work Services
Battle Creek Homeless Program
Social Workers
Workplace & VISN
Battle Creek VAMC, VISN 10
How long have you been employed by the VA?
Team members have been working at VA between 10 months and 15 years.
Branch of Service:
Many branches of the military are represented on the homeless program team, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
Why did you become a social worker? What do you like about working in VHA homeless programs?
For intrinsic value, and the desire to serve individuals and groups who are marginalized and underserved. Working within the homeless program allows the team to provide hope and support for the mental health and well-being of the Veterans we serve, resulting in the procurement of permanent housing and employment. It is a joy and privilege to see our Veterans achieve their individual goals and have a place they can call “home.”
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many were challenged to provide direct service to our Veterans, the homeless program team rose to the occasion by spearheading the use of VVC to provide services across our continuum of care. Contributions include providing VVC groups through the Battle Creek VA Medical Center’s Mental Health VA University programming. Many of those group offerings continue, and many more have been added. This has effectively allowed Veterans to connect across settings and sites, with many of them developing and maintaining relationships with each other. This was especially true with our Peer Support Groups, particularly the Weekend Check-In Group.
In addition, at the request of the National HUD-VASH Homeless Program Office, our homeless program leadership presented on a national call on the clinical applications and effective use of VVC to transition care from in-person to virtual during the pandemic. The use of telehealth has become one of the effective methods by which we continue to provide care, and we expect that it will be sustained, providing us with the greater flexibilities to serve our Veterans.
What else would you like to share about yourself?
Team members enjoy varied leisure activities that promote work-life balance and whole health principles. The homeless program team won the MH Field Day Trophy in 2021. This day is a day that is filled with fun, food, laughter, and camaraderie that brings the staff across the Mental Health Care Line for a friendly competition each year. We expect to successfully defend our title in FY22.
