Amy Vance is a programs specialist at the San Diego Workforce Partnership. Here she tells a little bit about herself, both personally and professionally.
What professional moment or project are you most proud of?
I am most proud of recently obtaining my master’s degree in business management and leadership from Western Governors University. It was challenging balancing a family, work life and school assignments. My final project was directly related to my work here at the Workforce Partnership in working with the County of San Diego Behavioral Health. Helping clients with serious mental illness connect with job opportunities and provide ongoing wrap around services has been proven through research to produce stronger clinical outcomes including increased adherence to medication management and longer periods of stability in their recovery. Continuing on the mission to help community members connect with employment is of strong interest to me.
If you had $30,000 to donate to a workforce development program, what would you want done with it?
If I had $30,000 to donate to a program I would want to use it to help people with mental health diagnoses connect with employers through paid internship opportunities. There is a lot of work to be done around reducing stigma and helping employers understand and accommodate people with various mental health challenges. Once employers get a chance to meet with the perspective employees and utilize their skills on the job, they would be able to clearly see the positive impact, skills and passion that people bring to the positions. Connecting to the community and driving recovery through purpose through work is very important to help engage these clients. With one in five of us anticipated to have a mental health challenge at some point in our life, it is important to tackle these misconceptions now.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
I love hanging out with my 12-year-old son on the weekends and after work. We are always on adventures including the beach, local parks and exploring our neighborhood in Talmadge. My oldest son is in his last year at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I enjoy spending the holidays with him when he is here visiting. I am an avid podcast fan and love true crime and social justice—wrongful incarceration themes. I also love true crime mysteries and documentaries.