(Posted 2024 February)
Meet Shirell!
Position: Social Services Specialist III, Aging, Disability, and Caregiver Resources hotline
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I am a social worker who responds to calls on the Aging, Disability, and Caregiver Resources (ADCR) line, providing information about services and resources for older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers. I also handle calls to the Adult Protective Services hotline.
After I earned a Master of Science in psychology from the University of the District of Columbia, I spent the early part of my career working in mental health in different settings including in the community, at a hospital, and in state and local government. I grew more interested in learning more about local government and social work, so I decided to pursue a Master of Science in social work from the University of Maryland in Baltimore.
I came to Fairfax County nine years ago and have been working in ADCR for nearly three years. I find that educating and informing callers about the services and resources we have available is the most rewarding aspect of my work.
People call everyday seeking help. The thought that I am a piece of the puzzle to help them achieve their goals is priceless to me. It’s very rewarding and it’s one of the reasons I decided to work for the Department of Family Services.
Recently a co-worker revealed that she overheard me talking to a caller. She shared that my 15- minute chat with the caller was professional and uplifting to her. She said it brought her so much comfort and had impacted her perception of social services. It makes me feel good to know I am helping to make a positive impact in the community and on my team.
When I’m not at work, I love to relax and watch old black and white movies from the 1940s and 1950s. It puts me in my peaceful place. When I was a child, I loved the movie Charlotte’s Web. As a result, I have always loved pigs! I’m not able to own a potbelly pig, so those who know me well are aware of my indulgence of collecting pig figurines. I’m very lucky that my family and friends happily help add to my collection too!