Come as you are and move your purpose forward
Emily Kienzle’s clients tell her: “You are a ‘come as you are’ person. You simply show up to help.”
Emily has worked a St. David’s for four years. She joined St. David’s in 2021 when she joined the organization as a full time Children’s Mental Health Case Manager (CMHCM). Today she is completing her Master of Social Work from Simmons University.
A typical day for Emily is split in two. In the morning, she is an intern at the Harman Center in the Family Place program-transition room. The Transition room allows clients access to services earlier and eases the transition to the 5-day room. Emily and other clinical staff support clients in a 3-day format, while on the waitlist for a 5-day spot. In the afternoon she meets with clients and supports them through our Children’s Mental Health Case management program. This allows clients access to services through referrals, connecting them with resources, and helping with many other things.
Her passion for work is deeply personal. Growing up with a sibling who has an Autism diagnosis she saw firsthand how challenging it can be for families to navigate available support. Now she loves empowering caregivers with information that can set their children on the right developmental path as early as possible.
“Bringing that knowledge to people and assisting parents with their child’s diagnosis journey gives me a lot of joy,” Emily said. “Being able to bring a change into people’s lives, helping those with diverse backgrounds in culturally relevant ways, while assisting those who are underserved and providing people with that awareness is really wonderful.”
As Emily progressed further in her career, she felt called to pursue advanced education and her team encouraged her every step of the way.
“There’s been so much support in figuring out the logistics of working full time and pursuing further education,” Emily said. “There’s been a lot of support from my supervisor in managing my schedule. They’ve helped so much that I can’t put it into words. I’ve been very well cared for and appreciated as I’ve moved my career ahead.”
Emily is grateful for the opportunity to grow her clinical knowledge and build confidence – learning to lead, adapt and handle the unexpected challenges of the workday. “I’m learning when to step-up and lean on what I’ve learned, and it has taught me to be a better leader” she said.
Finding a workplace that supports both her education, purpose, and career trajectory has been a meaningful part of her journey at St. David’s.