Community Support in Time of Crisis
June 18, 2021
2020/21 Community Partnership Award Toronto Police Service: Focusing on Success
October 28, 2021
Every year, Yorktown Family Services honours the contributions of a staff member through the peer-nominated Staff Award of Excellence. Any staff member can nominate a colleague that they feel embodies the mission and values of the agency through their interactions with clients, community partners, and other staff. The recipient of this award demonstrates innovative thinking, leadership qualities, and dedication to excellence.
Tammy Scanlan, Family, Child, and Youth Therapist is the very deserving recipient of the 2019/20 Staff Award of Excellence. From her ability to think creatively and take on new challenges, to her calm, cheerful disposition and willingness to go above and beyond, Tammy exemplifies what the award represents. Always ready to lend a hand; whether taking a last-minute client at the end of the day, encouraging new staff, or volunteering her time to help out at agency events, Tammy can always be counted on.
Tammy was pleasantly surprised to find out she had won the award, “It speaks to me of my work values and integrity and I feel honoured. My eyes are welled with tears, I am overwhelmed!”, she says.
Before working at Yorktown, Tammy was unfulfilled working in administrative roles. She decided to go back to school to take the Assaulted Women Counsellor Advocate Program. Shortly after graduating, Tammy was hired at Yorktown Shelter for Women as a Residential Woman’s Advocate, a role she felt was the perfect match for her.
That was 17 years ago. Over the years, Tammy has continued to grow and develop her skills. She worked full-time as a Counsellor and Transitional Support Worker while completing her Masters in Counselling Psychology part-time. While completing her placement hours at Yorktown’s What’s Up Walk-in Clinic®, Tammy discovered that she enjoyed working with children and youth and stayed on at the clinic as a volunteer. She credits Yorktown’s flexibility and commitment to professional development for providing her the opportunities to learn from other therapists on the Clinical Team.
In the Summer of 2018, Yorktown launched an exciting pilot project. By introducing a second walk-in at the West Toronto Youth Hub, the agency could address the gap in mental health services for youth and young adults in the community. Yorktown needed a therapist to take the lead and Tammy felt it was the perfect opportunity to truly immerse herself in her passion to work with youth and young adults. “I think part of the allure of this project is that it is an essential addition to the existing integrated care model at the West Toronto Youth Hub. Having a walk-in clinic on-site where other youth/young adult programs are based makes mental health supports much more accessible to a group that often falls through the cracks. I was excited to have a role in developing this program and ensuring it aligns with the needs of the youth and young adults.”
Andrew McKenzie, the Manager of Clinical, System Services, credits Tammy with turning a small pilot initiative into a successful community program, “Tammy has helped make our walk-in psychotherapy at the West Toronto Youth Hub a successful community program. Her insightful and patient nature is an asset in our fast-paced work environment.”
Tammy learns a lot from the clients she interacts with at the West Toronto Youth Hub and feels that this helps her to be a better therapist. To Tammy, excellence is doing the absolute best that you can; it brings a sense of accomplishment which feels good at the end of the day.
When asked what she believes makes Yorktown the right place for clients to come for support, Tammy’s response is, “It’s the people. Clients come in feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders, but after interacting with our staff who go out of their way to make them feel comfortable and safe, their seemingly unsurmountable problems become manageable. They can then do the important internal work necessary to bring about positive change.
Tammy believes that every single person at Yorktown helps create a welcoming, safe environment. “It’s a part of the culture and the reason people feel that when they come to Yorktown, they have come to the right place.”
Since March 2020, due to the Stay at Home requirement of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yorktown switched from a mental health walk-in service to a Rapid Access counselling service, offered for free over the phone or secure web conferencing 6 days a week. Mental health support for children, youth, young adults and families is just a phone call away. To be connected to one of the therapists on our team, call 416-669-3521.
What others have to say about Tammy…
“Tammy is an experienced and compassionate therapist, always willing to work with clients who have very complex needs. She supports them in a way that meets them where they are at and helps them identify where they would like to be.”—Chantal Sénéchal; Care Navigator, West Toronto Youth Hub
“It’s an absolute pleasure to know Tammy. Her dedication is part of the reason I am where I am today, alive and thriving. She is one of the most kind-hearted, open-minded, straightforward, and empathetic people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. This award represents her true excellence.”—Stephanie; West Toronto Youth Hub Walk-in client.
“Tammy is an asset to the team; knowledgeable and open to share. She is a bright and warm light lifting the mood in every room she enters and is always there when you need a shift covered or a friendly ear! A deserving winner of this award!”—Melanie Stitt, Family, Child and Youth Therapist
“Tammy is driven, creative and caring; she makes a tremendous impact on her clients. She makes herself available to debrief, brainstorm or just laugh to lighten the mood. I can’t thank Tammy enough for all she has provided to me, to the team, and to our clients!”—Madelaine Shane; Family, Child and Youth Therapist
“Tammy is very skilled in her work. A natural at building rapport, her clients feel comfortable to approach and trust her. Her creativity and critical thinking come through in group sessions, or events; she always thinks outside the box.”—Ashleigh Bronson; Resident Women Advocate Worker at VAWS
“Tammy has an air of genuine warmth and engagement that makes others feel immediately at ease. I think this aura is what families feel when she meets with them; her gentle and warm personality, and calm nature help them feel supported. She possesses the qualities of a solid therapist and a great colleague and friend who shares laughs openly and easily.”—Ena Burbano; Family, Child and Youth Therapist
To access the hours of our Rapid Access counselling services, please click here.