Back In The Day

Our Agency has grown significantly since its incorporation 30 years ago. "Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us" wrote the late Irish playwright, Oscar Wilde. The Caring Chronicle staff reached out to the several employees who have been with us the longest and asked them what they are carrying with them from their years with DePaul Family Services.

Years ago, the friendly voice that answered the phone when you called the DePaul Family Services' office in Roanoke most likely belonged to Pat Harrison. She joined this agency in February 1986 as a part-time receptionist. So, what was the agency like back then? "Oh so very small compared to today" said Pat. "We had one office with a handful of staff. We had just one program, TFC, and had about 60 children in our care" she says. "We now have over 200 children in just the TFC program alone. Of course, now in addition to the TFC program, we have the Developmental Disabilities Program, Clinical Services and Adoption Program. "

Pat might have started as a part-time but after a few months, she became the full-time receptionist. As the agency grew, so did her responsibilities, which included being made Office Manager and then Office Manager Administrator. Currently she supervises two full-time front office staff, serves as Office Manager Trainer/Consultant and is a member of the agency's Management Team. Over the years she has collected many good memories. According to Pat, "she feels very fortunate to be a part of an agency that has helped so many children and teens by providing them with a home environment, caring foster parents and excellent Social Workers."

Abingdon Branch Director Nancy Wampler started with our agency in 1986 as well. "I began working at DePaul Children's Services (as it was called then) in August, 1986" said Nancy. "I was hired as a Social Worker in the TFC program. A year later I became the Trainer for the Roanoke office, which was the only office we had at that time. I was one of the nine employees. After we opened an office in Lynchburg and later in the New River Valley, my job title officially changed to Resource Coordinator and I helped with the training at all three of those localities. I remained in that position until leaving Roanoke in January 1995 to open the Abingdon office, where I have been Branch Director ever since." Things were quite different then and Nancy reminisces about her early days with this agency. "It was much smaller. With only 10 employees, who were all housed in the same office, it was very much like a family group." Nancy has many memories from the early years of the agency. "I guess one of my favorite humorous moments was the time we set up our first camcorder in the visitation room in Roanoke" said Nancy. "Herb (the Executive Director at the time) was pretending he was the biological family having a visit so we could test the system. He was hilarious!"

Gwen Parr, TFC Social Worker in Lynchburg started working at DePaul in May 1987. "My position was Home Finder and Social Worker. I was the only Social Worker for over a year. I also served as the trainer and special events coordinator." When asked what has been the most exiting change or event during the years for she has been at DePaul, Gwen answers "Growth and new programs. Back then we just had TFC."

This agency has grown, expanded and changed over the years. We have helped many people in difficult, yet different situations. When one is good at something, it is natural that others seek you out. DePaul Family Services' goal is to help people by "Overcoming Challenges and Building Brighter Futures" and the expansion of this agency over these past 30 years shows that we are accomplishing this goal.