After seven years serving the community, Elizabeth “Kami” Lucas has decided it’s time to leave her job as Victim Services program coordinator to let some fresh energy come in.
Lucas said her departure, while a difficult decision, had to be done for personal reasons. “Right now the focus is on being closer to my family and kids.”
Victim Services is a Federal Government mandated program that helps victims of crime and assault from the beginning to the end of the process from closure to healing. Victim Services offers emotional support through victim advocate volunteers, referrals to other support agencies, as well as helps to explain the court system and process with the help of a Court Support Worker. Other ways that Victims Services helps people is by going over people’s individual case files and explaining things they may not understand, as well as providing information on crisis intervention.
Lucas’ replacement, who will be undertaking the task of coordinating all the services that Victims Services has to offer, is Melody Littell, who was the assistant program coordinator. Although the application was opened up to the public, Littell applied and was the most successful candidate, partly because she already knows the ins and outs of the program, Lucas said, adding the transition should be seamless.
“This job has a lot to know about it and since Melody has been with us for the past three years, it makes it an easier transition,” Lucas said. “ She’s been training for this for the past year whether she knows it or not.”
Littell initially started with the program as a practicum Social Work student from Portage College three years ago. She has been in the role of Assistant Coordinator for the past two years and doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon.
“I love this job and I love what I do,” Littell said. “This job flows and changes everyday. Nothing is static.”
Part of the reason the job is ever-changing is that, according to Lucas, she has never had a job that utilizes as many of the social work skills she learned in school as this one. Victim Services, especially as program coordinator, deals with front-line community client service delivery, community development, group work, funding, statistics and a lot more.
“This is the kind of job for people that are very flexible and Melody is very flexible so she’ll do great,” said Lucas.
When her new role comes into effect on Nov. 11, Littell hopes to continue to build awareness within the community through presentations and partnerships with other organizations like the RCMP, as well as new media ventures into things such as Facebook and Twitter.
For now, however, she plans to stick to what has already been laid out as she transitions into the new position.
“Right now there is a lot going on, so sticking to what is already laid out is easier,” Littell said. “Learning risk management and the real in and out of program coordinating is what I need to do.”
Although Littell plans to take some time to transition into her new role, she notes that a program that Lucas created for victims of sexual assault is something that the community definitely needs, and she plans to continue with it in the future. The program is called Foundations and it involves a 14-session support group that Lucas created in partnership with Victim Services offices in Bonnyville, St. Paul and Cold Lake. The program is funded by the Alberta Association of Sexual Assault Services.
“I do believe that programs like this have an impact on community. It’s a cycle that can start with violence and addiction and we need to find a way to heal and halt it to create a healthier community.”
Ultimately, Littell hopes to not only continue with the programs that Lucas has started but also bring in fresh ideas in the time that she spends as coordinator. Lucas has no doubt in her replacement’s ability to bring something new to the program.
“Wellness is very key to being able to stay here at this job. It has a high turnover and people come and offer up fresh ideas and what they can and then they move on,” Lucas said. “Each new person brings something new to the Victim Services Unit, but it’s not a job you retire in.”
As for Lucas, it’s part of her own wellness to take the opportunity to leave now and look into new endeavours.
“I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in northern communities like Lac La Biche that I probably wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. I will take knowledge with me and it has broadened my horizons,” Lucas said. “It’s part of my own wellness as a social worker to change lines of work every few years. It’s time to move on.”
Some things that Lucas has to look forward to in the future are the possibility of doing social work in Africa or going back to school as well. In the mean time, Lucas would like to show her appreciation for volunteers who help to support the program.
“It’s too heavy a burden for only the two to three staff members to carry. It takes a special kind of person to be an advocate. It’s more like a job than a volunteer position and it’s giving a lot of yourself emotionally. We couldn’t run the program without them,” Lucas said.
Lastly, before she leaves for Edmonton, Lucas would like to say goodbye to the community that has been a large part of her life for so many years.
“This is a position that can take an emotional toll on an individual and I would like to thank all the individuals who allowed me to be part of their lives when they were perhaps going through one of the most difficult times in their own lives. It’s an honour to be asked to be able to walk along side them at that point in their lives,” Lucas said.
