1 Behavioral Health Career Chyanne Kitson Behavioral Health Support, MACC BHS100: Intro to Behavioral Health Support Stanek 07/23/2021 2 Behavioral Health Career My name is Chyanne Kitson. I was born July 22, 1994, in Jefferson City, Missouri, but I've lived in a lot of different places. I chose Behavioral Health for many reasons, mostly because I want to help people so they don’t have to go through the things I did, or if they are, to no they are not alone, and that life can be better. There is hope! To explain better, I think it would be best to give you some background about my life and what has made me who I am and directed me towards my career goals. Growing up I was in and out of foster care, group homes, and juvenile when I wasn't "living with my mother" and by that, I mean living on my own unless DFS came knocking. Later that would escalate to jail and prison, which is a different story all in its own. I always knew I would end up in prison one day. At a real young age, I was the one everyone turned to for help. From paying the bills and supporting my family, to going above and beyond for friends or even strangers; and it was normal, and almost honourable, for someone to sell drugs to support themselves and their family where I lived. So, after my dad passed away in 2001, I was 7, that quickly became my life. I mean bills had to be paid and my family and I had to eat. For some reason they always look to me for help even though I’m the youngest. I never did the drugs though, not at first. That didn’t happen until ironically, I stopped selling them for a short time. Sadly, by 9 years old I was addicted to meth, and by 10 I was an IV user. This all started when I started getting beat on and "tricked out", as people call it, by my sister’s husband. I dealt with this for years. Once in grade school I even went and told the school councillor, and after school that day was met outside my house by a sheriff, caseworker, my mother, sister, and her husband. My mom and sister said it was a lie that I just wanted attention and he said nothing, just stood there with a smirk. I was terrified. So, when the sheriff asked me if it was true, I lied and said no. 3 A couple days later I woke up in the hospital from a “fall” that I took down the stairs. I felt helpless, and soon started believing all the things I was told about myself were true. Maybe that was how my life deserved to be and I wasn’t anything else but a dope wh***. So, I stopped fighting and started numbing myself how he showed me that very first day he forced me to hit a pipe. After that I only got worse. By 15 I was selling big boy weight, as they call it, and had dropped out of school. But I also owned my own car, paid all my moms bills and my sisters, and took care of her kids. But I wanted more out of life and didn’t want the things I was told to be true. Later I found out that they are not, I can live a different life and I deserve to. I am better than that. I realized one day that the way things had been handled when I was a kid were wrong. I realized how corrupted our legal system is and how many people don’t go to them for help because they feel like they either won’t receive it or don’t have trust. That’s when I decided I wanted to help. So, after my second release from prison in 2018, when I realized my worth, I decided to turn my life around and start over. Then lend a helping hand to others. Show them, teach them, and encourage them to the right path. If I can do it, they can do it. I guess you could say I've been through a lot, but I survived it and I wouldn't change a thing! Those hard times have given me the strength to help others carry their hard times and turn them around so they too can lighten the load and become successful. I want to own my own center were people of all ages, adults, and children, can come for help with all different things. Such as help with homework, filing taxes, creating a resume to even more complex situations such as problems at home, bullying, addiction, etc. I want to help teens and adults learn a different way of life other than the streets. I always knew there was a different way of life, but I didn’t know how to get there, and didn’t think I really deserved it. Sadly, many kids, teens, young adults, and adults feel and think this way. That’s 4 why I want to change that and help people realize they can do better and deserve a better life. That also is why I want to offer a program for felons. I, like I always knew I would be, am a felon. I have been to prison twice and jail uncountable times. I didn’t think I deserved better, so I stayed on the path I knew. Once I became a felon, I felt hopeless because how hard it is to overcome a felony in the work force and even society. Ironically, when you are released from prison you are told you are a reformed member of society and that you are to act as a law-abiding member of society. Just to be told and treated like you’re not a member of society. When places don’t want to hire you, you turn back to the one thing you know and can survive from, criminal activity. There are centers out there that help people like I want and programs that help keep the initial felony off peoples records but there are no programs for the ones that have went to prison and served their time to society and honestly a lot of the centers that offer help like I want to are all in different places or the ones that actually need them feel too intimidated by them or feel they would be judged if they went. So, I feel like if someone who’s been there and understands was the one offering the help people would be more willing to reach out to them. And even just somewhere safe and welcoming, some were to go to talk to someone or just hang out without being judged or feeling less of themselves. So my ultimate goal is to eventually offer a program that felons can take to have the opportunity at a real second chance. Meaning that once they complete the program, the felonies will be expunged from their records, giving them a real second chance at life. Prison and jail are always thought to be the lowest point in someone’s life. But not for me, prison gave me the time to think and the advantage to focus on myself. In other words, it’s not always the places or the people we encounter but how we perceive those places and people that really matter. 5 So, after receiving my BHS and my certificate in office management, I plan on transferring to MU for my master’s in psychology with a minor in criminal law. I want to start off slowly and work my way into my own center, learn hands on basically. So I feel like working in the Behavioral health department, until I complete my Masters, is what would be best. I want to work as a councillor eventually. I feel that would help me become more educated on techniques and connections and other programs that could later be beneficial for my clients. The types of jobs that I could see are limited when you have just an associates degree though. I did happen to find a couple that looked interesting though. One was for an Addiction Recovery Technician with Compass Health out of Columbia, Missouri. It is just part time or as needed so it wouldn’t interfere with my schooling to much and it pays 15 an hour which isn’t bad for starting out. They are responsible for supervision of consumers to ensure their safety and wellbeing. That includes doing things such as: Provide group education. Transport consumers as necessary. Log new medications and store appropriately on unit. Observe self-administration of medicine on unit. Assist with orientation of new consumers. Complete paper and electronic documentation within required time frames. Attend staff meetings Conduct disaster drill on each shift Observe Unit Manual Policies and maintain high standards of professional behaviour. The requirements are simple. They include: Have a high school diploma or GED Be available nights and weekends 6 Be at least 18 years old Have a driver’s licence and ability to get your class E licence Good verbal and written communication skills Ability to attend a 2-day orientation Comfortable working with people with addictions Desire to provide excellent client care They are an equal opportunity employer and even provide on-site training.
