What's a fun fact about you?

Hilda Ann: A fun-fact about me is I strive to be a quadralingual individual speaking four languages: Dutch, English, Spanish, ASL. My hope is to one day provide fluent services in all four languages.

What is your favorite part about volunteering with A Home Within?

Hilda Ann: My favorite part about volunteering for A Home Within is getting to talk to prospective volunteers and answering their questions. I love doing intake interviews / clinical assessments and helping individuals obtain needed mental health services. I love connecting clients and clinicians. I also love helping to raise awareness about AHome Within and the work that is being done. I love building relationships with partner organizations and helping to expand A Home Within client and volunteer bases.

Why did you decide to volunteer with A Home Within?

Hilda Ann: I joined A Home Within as a Volunteer Clinician/Recruitment Director’s Assistant because I want to give back in a meaningful way. I love that everyone is so warm and really cares about the foster care community. I am also a A Home Within client whose volunteer clinician has given me hope and empowers me to be bold and to be authentic self which includes acknowledging that I am a person who has experienced foster care and to not be ashamed of having a foster care experience. My volunteer clinician helped me to see that I have choices and opportunities for my life. My volunteer clinician has helped me to find my voice and give voice to my younger self who did not have a voice and who survived unspeakable abuse and cruelty as an infant.

What would you say to someone considering volunteering with A Home Within?

Hilda Ann: To anyone considering volunteering please do it because you have no idea the profound impact that you can have on an individual in your therapeutic relationship. The volunteer clinicians I have met have been the most humble and passionate individuals.

What do you think would surprise people most about the work A Home Within does?

Hilda Ann: As a volunteer, what surprises me is the sense of community and belonging which has been great and much appreciated! From the perspective of a client what has surprised me most is that my volunteer clinician genuinely cares about my wellbeing and that my volunteer clinician is there for me for the long-term and willing to go at my pace.