Emily works at Pathways to Independance, a developmental service organization for adults with mental health challenges and / or brain injuries. He family including grandparents, parents and some aunts and uncles share the profession. Her parents met at Prince Edward Heights in Picton where they both worked.

 

Emily went to Loyalist College earning a diploma in Developmental Services. She worked for Pathways after graduating. Pathways took over Prince Edward Heights and client services moved from living in an institution to smaller individual homes and group homes. Emily found her first working experience at Pathways difficult with a young son, particularly the shift work. So she went back to school, Trent University and obtained a degree in Psychology. She has a passion for adult education, we should all learn to read and write. She worked in adult education in Lindsay for a few years before coming back to Belleville and Pathways. First as a supervisor, and now a manager of 3 group homes.

 

Pathways has facilities from the Quinte Region to Ottawa. Most are in the Belleville area. They have about 400 clients. Some live on their own with supports, some in group homes. They also have family homes, like foster care. They are always looking for more people willing to share their home and take in a person.

 

They used to hire many of the people but didn't pay minimum wage because they could not do all of the job. Bill 148 took that away. The ability to work and earn some additional cash gave people some dignity and self esteem because they had a job and earned money like the rest of us. They are looking for employers who are willing to hire, they provide job coaches but are not able to offer wage subsidy anymore.

 

In addition to managing 3 group homes, Emily is the 'rights' program manager, educating the residents about their rights not to be violated.

 

Very recently she has started a 'Diversity' project.

 

They are in a housing crisis. Hard to find safe and affordable housing. Pathways has started to build their own with a 6 plex on North Park in Belleville to open in October. They are also working with other agencies to build another building to provide housing.

 

Emily will be selling Poinsetta's soon as a fund raiser with delivery in November. They get most of their funding from various ministries and insurance companies.

 

R Jeff W thanked Emily for sharing her story with us.