Matthew Dyck

As a service coordinator for the Missouri First Steps program, I am responsible for enabling access to vital services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays. In addition to managing a caseload of over forty families, I am responsible for conducting intakes and assisting in the eligibility process for children that are newly referred to First Steps. Perhaps my most important duty is the development, implementation, and review of Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP), ensuring that every child is receiving the quality services that they deserve.

As community support specialist, I managed a caseload of over 30 clients, all of whom struggled with some sort of severe mental health disorder. I conducted regular home visits with my clients, monitoring mental health symptoms and addressing issues such as suicidal ideation with empathy and compassion. I provided personalized psychoeducation to clients, empowering them with knowledge about their conditions and equipping them with practical coping skills to navigate their daily challenges. I facilitated clients' access to community resources and assisted them in scheduling and maintaining all necessary medical appointments to ensure their holistic well-being.

As the lead case manager at a domestic violence shelter, I was directly responsible for providing assistance to women who were victims of domestic violence and sexual assault as they attempted to resolve the practical problems of living that result from experiencing abuse: lack of housing, financial strain, unemployment, lack of child care, need for mental and physical health care, and more. I supported all individuals who contacted our domestic violence hotline or who entered our shelter to create a viable safety plan. I helped my clients create goals, provided crisis intervention and case management services, and provided general support by fostering a warm, welcoming environment free of violence.

As an academic tutor for five years, I worked with young children ages six to eighteen and helped them improve their English and mathematic skills. In my fourth year at the company, I was promoted to the role of SAT and ACT tutor, in which I was responsible for creating lesson plans for individual students as well as leading group sessions.