At My Choice Wisconsin, our employees are passionate about the work we do. We come from all walks of life but are united by a dedication to serving our members and helping them find ways to live their healthiest, most independent lives. Read on to learn WHY we come to work every day!

Years ago, I got the call to the nursing vocation after seeing a transport van flip over on the highway at high speeds. I pulled over to help and at the scene, I came upon a nurse who had also pulled over. I remember being in awe at how she took charge to delegate tasks to other good Samaritans who had also stopped. She was calm, collected, in charge, and a complete “superhero” in my eyes. That was it for me. It was right then and there that I made the decision to change careers and pursue becoming a nurse.

Almost four years ago, I fell into Family Care, not knowing that my desire to prioritize both advocacy and education would be a key part of care management. In this challenging work, we sometimes deal with heartbreaking stories and extremely challenging situations. In those cases, we have to think creatively and problem solve as a team. There are also times when we have to navigate complex conversations based on members making what can seem to be unsafe or unhealthy choices. It can be stressful. As you read this maybe you’re thinking, “With all of that, then why do you still do what you do?”

I won’t lie and tell you that I don’t sometimes ask myself the very same question. The answer is simple yet complicated. I love puzzles and our work is sometimes like a giant puzzle screaming to be solved. Autonomy is a big benefit in care management. I really get to put my experience and my degree to work in ways I couldn’t anywhere else. My role allows me to collaborate with many different departments, share my gifts, and learn from some amazingly talented individuals. This helps me to feel like I’m continually growing and my new knowledge benefits the members I interact with. Lifelong learning has always been important to me and there’s no greater sense of accomplishment than seeing a member thriving in ways they never thought possible.

When the pandemic forced a shut down, we all felt isolated. As I struggled with my own feelings of isolation and fear and hearing the same from our members, it was easy to lose sight of our mission. We were all stuck at home unable see anyone. As the pandemic surged and I continued to make weekly calls to my members, I realized even more what an impact we make on their lives. It made me realize that – if Family Care didn’t exist – people might have fallen through the cracks. For some of our members, we were the only people consistently checking in with them, ensuring they had access to their medications, food, and shelter, and educating them on how to protect themselves and others. Sometimes, just listening to the members express their fears and giving them a safe space to do so truly makes a difference. I think it’s easy to forget and not realize the impact we have every, but I like to try and remind myself of one step even if it’s small. I took each day to help improve someone’s life. Never would I have imagined that, nearly four years ago when I jumped headfirst into Family Care, I would feel as blessed to do this work within such a great organization.