Outreach workers welcome residents with open arms

In their joint role as outreach workers for the town’s Department of Elder and Human Services (DEHS), Victoria DiMaria and Alexandra Benjamin are happy to share and always willing to lend a helping hand.

Helping, in fact, is at the crux of their mission. Whether it’s assisting residents with housing and fuel assistance applications, arranging transportation for medical appointments, or providing referrals to state and federal programs, the two colleagues work closely on the front lines of social service.

Vicky DiMaria

Although located at the Canton Senior Center, DEHS, as Canton’s only public social service agency, offers its services to residents of any age who are experiencing economic hardship, health issues, family circumstances, or personal loss. To better reflect this fact while eliminating any confusion, the agency rebranded in 2021, changing its name from the Canton Council on Aging to the Department of Elder and Human Services.

Meanwhile, the department’s outreach team also underwent a significant transition, starting with the addition of DiMaria as a new part-time outreach worker in 2020. This past April, when longtime outreach worker Robin Tobin left her position, DiMaria shifted to a full-time role, with Benjamin joining the staff a few months later.

Both current outreach workers have a master’s degree in social work (MSW), and both came to the job with relevant prior work experience.

DiMaria, who grew up in Norwood, had previously worked for an elder attorney and also spent time as an intake coordinator for a hospice company before focusing on social work.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to help people,” she said. “I always knew I wanted to do that.”

DiMaria loves the people she works with and the clients she assists. “The community is always really welcoming and warm. I love my coworkers. I think they’re the best,” she said. “And I really like the sense of community that Canton has. There’s never been a day I didn’t want to come to work.”

She added that she has seen the supportive ways that people at the Senior Center (and in the town overall) join together to assist anyone who is experiencing difficulties.

During the time that she has worked at the Senior Center, DiMaria has seen an increase in the number of people with mental health needs.

“There need to be more options for people who are dealing with mental health issues,” she said. “While we are able to service clients who are being impacted by a mental health crisis, I would like to see more programs available to assist those individuals and their loved ones.”

According to DiMaria, another area of need includes people who cannot pay their utility bills.

“We are fortunate to have the Canton Helpline, the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, and the Salvation Army in town,” she said.

DiMaria has seen people of all ages who are seeking help. One was a resident who was on the verge of homelessness and contacted DEHS. DiMaria helped the individual submit an emergency Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs (CHAMP), along with the necessary documentation, and the individual was able to secure housing in Canton.

“It’s so nice to see people happy and take away some of their worries, if possible,” she said. “If I can make life a little easier for one person, that just makes me happy.”

While DiMaria was finishing her MSW from Simmons College in 2021, Benjamin was busy working toward the same degree at Bridgewater State University.

Alex Benjamin

She went on to graduate in May 2022, but while enrolled in the program she did internships at the Walpole Council on Aging and Old Colony Elder Services — two experiences that she said helped prepare her for her role with the town of Canton.

As an undergraduate student studying criminology, Benjamin also completed an internship involving child welfare, which piqued her interest in a career in social services.

Her motivation to become a social worker, however, was a very personal one.

“I have a grandmother who has dementia,” she explained. “And before it progressed, we were in the hospital, and one of the social workers came in to talk to us about options.”

At that time, Benjamin’s grandmother was completely competent; but the social worker talked to the family with his back to the older woman. Benjamin finally tapped the man on the shoulder and asked him to involve her grandmother in the discussions about her future.

“I was interested to see how social workers can make an impact, whether it is positive or negative,” Benjamin said. “That kind of drew me in to having a special interest in Alzheimer’s and dementia.”

During her time with DEHS, Benjamin has worked with Canton residents who are applying for senior public housing — either at Hagan Court, Rubin Court or the Hemenway Building — as well as those who are on the brink of experiencing homelessness. “I’ve worked with them on starting the application, understanding the process, and getting all the paperwork that’s required uploaded on the computer,” she said.

She has also shared information about the Canton Food Pantry and assisted people who are applying for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). There are two computers in the lobby of the Senior Center for residents to use in filling out applications.

“We can help them on this end,” Benjamin said, adding that residents can also bring in documents that they need to upload and ask for help, especially if they’re facing a housing application deadline.

Citing the diverse needs of the community and the often urgent nature of many residents’ requests, both DiMaria and Benjamin said that they work hard to stay informed and up to date with all available resources. Examples of resources available through DEHS include a list of mental health practitioners in the area as well as information and eligibility criteria for fuel assistance programs.

If a staff member does not know the answer to a particular question, Benjamin said that she, DiMaria and DEHS Director Diane Tynan will work together to come up with a solution. The three of them meet regularly to keep each other abreast of ongoing situations, and Tynan checks her email often, including at the end of each workday in case a request comes in after hours.

“We really try to reach as many people as we can in the community,” Benjamin said.

“We want people to know that we’re here for them,” DiMaria added.

DiMaria had high praise for Tynan, who is “always very supportive” and is a “wealth of knowledge,” not just for Canton seniors, but for all residents in need and the staff members as well.

Tynan, in turn, considers herself lucky to have not just one, but two highly qualified and compassionate people heading up her outreach team.

“They genuinely care about the people that they service,” Tynan said of DiMaria and Benjamin. “They have a warm and welcoming way about them, which I think is really important in making folks comfortable and then coming back to us if they need help in the future.”

DiMaria and Benjamin strongly urge anyone who is facing a challenge to contact a DEHS staff member as soon as possible. “We work really closely with all the other departments in town. It’s really helpful,” noted DiMaria.

The Department of Elder and Human Services is located at 500 Pleasant Street and the offices are staffed weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 781-828-1323 and all calls are confidential.

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on Sep 23 2022. Filed under Features. Both comments and pings are currently closed.