By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
Despite facing a whole new world from her first day in the office, Suzi Schoenhoft, the new Executive Director of New Beginnings/Association for the Prevention of Family Violence is pushing forward, ensuring that those in need receive help during these trying times.
Schoenhoft started the new position on March 16, the first day the office was physically closed to the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was selected to fill the role following the retirement of former long-time executive director Heidi Lloyd.
Schoenhoft, the former executive director at CASA of McHenry County, Ill. said she’s worked in social services for the past 30 years.
“It’s just my thing; it’s what I do. I’m just as passionate now as I ever have been in the past,” she said.
When a colleague at CASA forwarded the job posting for New Beginnings to Schoenhoft, she said she didn’t hesitate in applying.
“I’m thrilled to have gone through that process, and I’m thrilled to have been selected,” she said. “I’m grateful for this position … I am just so proud and privileged to be here, and I’m looking forward to my future as well as the future of New Beginnings.”
Schoenhoft said she was pleasantly surprised by her shift to Wisconsin, noting the peer organizations and leadership here are organized and willing to help one another.
“Everyone is just so willing and helpful to share their knowledge. It’s just been a gift. Everyone’s been so welcoming and so wonderful, and I can’t say enough good about everyone I’ve had the pleasure of meeting via Zoom meetings or phone so far,” she said.
Schoenhoft said with Lloyd sticking around to help out the first few days, the transition has been pretty seamless thanks to Lloyd’s input and her close connection with the organization.
With Schoenhoft already finding “new normals” for with the shift to a new job, the COVID-19 pandemic meant she was also tasked with finding a new normal for APFV. She said one of her first goals was to make it clear that staff is still working to ensure that services push forward as normal as possible, despite the office being physically closed temporarily.
“I haven’t really known what normal is here, so to speak, because we have been on lockdown since I started. But, we’re still here working 5 days a week in the office, and then we have our crisis line, our hotline, so all of our services continue, which is fantastic,” she explained.
Schoenhoft said it’s evident the work of Lloyd has had an incredible effect on the greater community, and is work Schoenhoft looks to continue to build on as the association’s new director.
“My plan is to work with the board and the New Beginnings team to strategically continue to develop services based around the current needs and changing needs in our community,” she said.
“The most important thing is not to waver the excellent services that we provide, and I will do whatever I can to respond to the current and changing needs. And now, with COVID, those changing needs are almost daily,” she added.
Schoenhoft said programs like what New Beginnings offers are often life-changing in a literal sense for many of the clients they serve, helping them to change their environment, their choices and behaviors, and ultimately helping them to escape the cycle of abuse.
“I think the impact is tremendous, letting them know that there are people here who understand and are offering to support them in a variety of areas,” she said.
“That is sometimes enough to give someone the push to go and get the help that they need.”
COVID-19 response
Schoenhoft said nationally, rates of domestic violence have gone up during the pandemic, which is often common during times of peril. However, she noted, staff at APFV has responded well.
“My predecessor paved the way for success, that’s for sure. I inherited a fantastic team. Everyone here is extremely dedicated, and we continue to serve all of our clients,” she said. “It looks a little different and it sounds a little different, but we continue to offer all our services… it’s been fantastic to be able to do that.”
Schoenhoft said they’ve primarily been working with clients via email, phone and other remote means, such as Skype, and while atypical, they are prepared to meet with clients in person for significant and extreme cases if needed. And if that need arose, PPE would be used and social distancing guidelines followed.
Going with the flow
“Every day’s kind of a new plan, a new game plan as to how we’re going to respond to the specific calls that we’re getting now. It certainly has affected us, but just about everybody I’ve talked to from supermarkets all the way on up, it’s affecting everybody,” Schoenhoft said.
For example, she said they’ve been focusing on working on self-care, wellness and balance, and, in the office, she’s encouraging staff to be aware and mindful of their own situations, taking a break when it’s needed. Schoenhoft is also offering flex hours and scheduling to meet the individual needs of her team, she said.
Schoenhoft said while they are receiving the types of calls that would be deemed “normal” for the association, they’ve also had clients looking for other types of assistance.
“People are calling us saying ‘I have no food, can you help me with food, I don’t have household goods or personal care items.’ That’s not the core of what we do, however, we’ve been helping them because we can,” she said.
“If someone calls us and needs help even if it’s outside the boundaries of what is typical and usual for us, we’ve been extending a hand… We’re fortunate that structurally, we’re a sound foundation and a sound agency that we have the ability to help them,” she added.
For more information call 262-723-4653, visit newbeginningswalworth.com or send an email to newbeginningswalworth@gmail.com or follow New Beginnings APFV on Facebook.
