Gina (right) accepting the SA Value Award for Excellence from Troy (left).

Meet Gina Tilley! Gina has been with SA since last October. She started out as a Parent/Child Visitation Monitor and now, she has transitioned to working out of our Spokane office as the Evidence-Based Practice Therapist.

What Gina enjoys most about working for SA are her co-workers. They are an amazing group of women who care unconditionally for everyone they interact with. They laugh a lot and are an amazing support system for one-another.

When someone asks, “What do you do for work?” What do you say?  
“I typically say that I work with families that are experiencing a crisis or conflict. I  help them overcome the problems that they face and provide them with resources to have the best possible outcome for their family.”

What does a typical work day look like for you? 
“I meet up with my clients for a couple of hours at a time, usually at their homes. I follow up on goals and tasks from the previous week, and make sure that plans are in place for the future. I also contact the social workers and keep them updated on the families. I also contact new clients to set up services and provide them more information.”

What do you like most about your job? 
“I enjoy helping people keep their families together and helping kids achieve peace of mind in their own homes. I also provide safety and help people gain independence.”

What three words would you use to describe your role? 
“Patience, Understanding, and Collaboration.”

What personal quality or skill do you think has helped you most in your job? 
“Communication. I’m a very communicative person and keeping everyone updated on what’s going on and being able to communicate with the team is important.”

Given your experience, what would you say to someone who has just started in the field? (and/or) What about someone who is interested in a job like yours? 
“For someone who has just started: things aren’t always as they seem. Give every situation time to let things unfold with the clients and the families you’re helping. Don’t judge a scene before understanding it. You can’t fit an entire person’s life on a referral page!
For someone interested in a job like mine: be patient with yourself and the families and kids in your work. And again, don’t ever judge a situation by what is on the reference card. It’s also important to recognize that you will learn as much from your families as they will learn from you. Be open.”

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