Fern Johnson
Independent Living Coordinator
written by Heidi Venture, Coordinated Services Manager
When Fern Johnson started working for the Independent Living Program, I didn’t worry about whether she could do the job. I knew she had a passion to help these foster teens become healthy, independent adults. She had experience working successfully with very difficult teens as a teacher, and she had worked for The Next Door before, at Mountain Orchard Academy. I knew she would do a great job, and she has not disappointed me.
But I did worry that she would try to do too much, and, sure enough, she has. It turns out, doing too much seems to work for Fern. She started a cooking class, instituted a repeating annual calendar of subjects to cover, started writing a monthly newsletter (which I get a lot out of, too!), and set very lofty goals for herself. She began correcting problems with the way we were doing things, and did it with great tactfulness.
She recruited two great interns who are very helpful. One of them recently wrote and won a grant from Wal-Mart.
Fern works well with DHS caseworkers, who are often overwhelmed with their responsibilities to the children they serve. The foster teens in the program enjoy working with her. And she gets along well with Bill Marick and me!
I love the way she gets so excited when a teenager shares good news or makes good choices, and the way she lets go of worry when a student makes bad choices.
I also appreciate how upset she gets when a school or state or family is failing to protect, nurture or encourage a young person she is working with. She doesn’t give up, though. She just makes a plan for getting around whatever roadblocks are impeding progress, and then patiently pursues success.
That’s why Fern Johnson deserves to be The Next Door’s April Employee of the Month. She’s Great!
Comments from her co-workers:
"I have to agree with everything said here about Fern. She has a genuine interest in her clients and really goes into battle when needed to advocate for them. Her exuberance about her job is contagious and I’m sure that’s why the kids like working with her as well. Great job, Fern, and you deserve the recognition!"
~Leslie Ball
"I agree! Fern is passionate about her work and it shows. It's great to have you back, Fern. Enjoy your month! You truly deserve it!
~Barbara Blair
"I do have to say that it has been fabulously refreshing to work with Fern! She plays fantastically with others, and is great with the kids. If a youth and their family may not be getting the attention and services that they need, Fern is more than willing to help however she can to make sure that the barriers are removed. We are lucky to have Fern on the team."
Yay Fern!
~Melissa Reger-Furler