Five Questions: Alana Boyd, Assistant Program Director, Adult Services
Alana Boyd, Assistant Program Director, Epiphany Center Adult Services
How did you come to join the team at Epiphany Center?
I’m originally from the North Bay. After earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Cal Lutheran University in Southern California, I worked in treatment centers for traumatized kids. I learned a lot about crisis management. In November 2017, I joined Epiphany Center as a Case Aide after becoming interested in drug and alcohol treatment. And after one year, I was promoted to Program Assistant.
What do you find most rewarding about your work at Epiphany Center?
Epiphany Center staff prepare special lunch for the clients
What I enjoy most is the team aspect. I love that the agency is small enough yet large enough. I can connect with a lot of people in different departments.
What have you found most challenging during the pandemic?
The biggest challenge was that for people in recovery, establishing connections and support systems, ideally in-person is so vital to sustaining sobriety. Zoom meetings do not provide the same level of connection as in-person meetings, so it was a challenge for the women to sustain connections. Allowing them to get to in-person meetings, making that happen when possible was an obstacle that we had to overcome.
What is most inspiring about your work with the women?
Epiphany Step-Down Transitional Housing
Over the last few years, I’ve loved seeing how the women leave here – usually after the full 90 days – and go on to Step-Down, Epiphany Center’s transitional living home, or other supportive housing. Then, to see them one to two years later, celebrating sober anniversaries, or continuing to bring their children to Epiphany’s Parent-Child Center for childcare – it’s so inspiring to see how successful these women and families are.
Epiphany Parent-Child Center
What is your favorite Epiphany Center value (Respect, Compassion, Creativity, Advocacy, Simplicity) to practice and why?
Compassion is my favorite value. The women here have been through unimaginable trauma. No matter what they have been through, no matter how challenging they can be to treat sometimes, it is so important to be able to be compassionate and put yourself in their shoes. It’s important to provide for them. Compassion is one of the most important values to bring to the table. That’s what I love about the work we do here at Epiphany.
We’re so glad to have you on our team at Epiphany, Alana! Thank you for always going above and beyond to ensure our women and children can rebuild their lives and thrive.
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