In this month’s promotional spotlight, allow us to introduce to you Yoseline Ortiz, who is currently the Training Assistant and Mentor Internship Program (MIP) Coordinator at our North Hills location.
Yoseline started her career at Penny Lane in October 2011 right out of college, as she was hired as an Overnight Residential Counselor at our Main Facility. Then in March of 2021, after the SAT houses started closing, she transferred to Case Manager in the Transitional Housing Program in North Hills. She has worked very hard and due to her past achievements in the organization and community, in October 2022, she was promoted to Training Assistant/MIP Mentor Coordinator.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and plans to go to Phillips Graduate Institute for her Master of Marriage and Family Therapy starting Spring 2023 to help further her career at Penny Lane. Please help me congratulate her on her success!
Penny Lane Centers is my first full-time position after graduation from Mount St. Mary’s College.
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and wanted to give back to my community. Therefore, I applied for employment with Penny Lane Centers 11 years ago.
My favorite aspect of working at Penny Lane Centers is making a positive difference in the lives of foster care youth and transitional young adults who need the guidance and support to survive life.
My path to promotion took many years of direct care of clients in the Residential Program. I had to explore other departments within Penny Lane Centers to apply for because the Residential Program closed, and I wanted to continue working for Penny Lane Centers. I have an emotional attachment to Penny Lane Centers because of my dear friend Andrea Prieto who passed on May 23, 2018.
The THP housing supervisor is very supportive and understanding of the staff. The program director encouraged me to get involved and participate in the Marketing Committee. The other case managers are team players and helped me when I first started as a case manager over a year ago.
The benefits that were offered to me to further my education/ career with Penny Lane Centers were facilitating an art expression workshop during the Commerce TAYstock event and offering art activities to families during the AV TAYstock event after completing my certification with the organization Windows Between Worlds. As a Windows Facilitator I use art as a tool to heal trauma. A Window Between Worlds has trained and supported the leadership of many facilitators across the country. I plan on participating in the educational reimbursement program next year when I start graduate school.
I’m currently the Training Assistant and Mentor Coordinator for the MIP Program. I have a lot to learn and I’m still adjusting to my new role. I was an excellent THP Case Manager because of my compassion. Working in the social services field has taught me how caring I am and have found my passion in helping others.
People would be surprised to know that I’m an artist. I studied art and psychology because my interest is art therapy. I want to provide a different view of therapy. Art is a new perspective for people to acknowledge their traumas and heal in a creative way. Art expression has been my journey to self-discovery and my healing from my own traumas.
My divorce shaped me significantly because it taught me how important self-care is and gave me the opportunity for personal development.
The best piece of advice I ever got was to pay attention to my triggers because they are challenging me to grow. Therefore, I should look forward to them and be prepared with my response. “Your external environment does not control your internal response” ~Eddie Villa
I appreciate the relationships that I built during the years working for Penny Lane Centers. My co-workers are part of my PLC family and the clients that I worked with have taught me about myself by helping them discover and believe in themselves.
I’m grateful for the advancement opportunity because I’m highly motivated for the huge need of Spanish speaking clinicians in the mental health field. That is the reason why I have made the decision to advance my education after 13 years. I didn’t have the opportunity to continue my education sooner because I’m a single mother of three wonderful children who depend on me for financial support. Now that they are more independent, it is time for me to return and focus on my career.
