We were lucky to catch up with Stephany Campos recently and have shared our conversation below.
Stephany, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
Growing up as a first generation Mexican-American person one could say I had a unique upbringing, however, growing up in southern CA my childhood experiences were relatable to many people living in the area. And perhaps, a reflection of where the country has headed, symbolic of the melting pot we are viewed as globally. I had traditional parents who ran a traditional household – my father was the breadwinner, leaving for work at 4 AM every morning to make the commute from Chino to an East Los Angeles butcher’s warehouse. He would make it home by 6 PM for our family of five to enjoy a home cooked meal my mother made. We did not go out to eat and we did not take vacations. I never gave it a second thought and had a happy childhood surrounded by parents and siblings I knew loved me. And such is the case still. A perpetual theme my parents instilled aside from their unconditional love was the significance of education. They did not tell me what kind of career to have, they simply wanted me to have one. They stressed the value of education early on, so I knew I would be going off to college after high school. They supported me in wanting to study abroad, they supported me in my choices for college and major, they supported me in my decision to pursue a graduate degree. And they continue to encourage and support me today and everyday.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have always worked in the nonprofit or public sector, so naturally, after receiving my undergrad and graduate degrees, I ventured further down this path. Growing up in Chino, CA I had a job with the City in the after school programs and also worked with cancer patients for a nonprofit. One constant was my need to feel I am making an impact, on some scale.
After obtaining my Master’s in Public Administration, I started at Homeless Health Care Los Angeles (HHCLA) – over eight years ago now. I have experienced several iterations of agency evolution and growth. When I began, there were about 50 staff members and are now at over 150. We operate county-wide, offering services from permanent supportive housing placement, behavioral health care, encampment outreach, trainings for this rapidly growing workforce, a syringe/safer supply distribution center in Skid Row, substance use treatment, and the ReFresh Spot – a site I have overseen since its inception in 2017, so will speak a bit more about it.
The ReFresh Spot, known as an “oasis in Skid Row,” offers the community access to showers, restrooms, laundry services, drinking water, a little library, phone/device charging, and WiFi connectivity. It is a low barrier, public space open 24/7 with no discrimination for entry. Much-needed supplies are distributed, including: hygiene and wound care kits, socks, undergarments, overdose prevention kits, pet supplies, and more. Over a dozen community partners collaborate with the ReFresh Spot to provide additional health, housing, legal, and other services. The ReFresh Spot is a place for people to get their basic needs met with dignity. Every year, the site sees 200,000 service utilizations.
One takeaway to leave readers with would be to emphasize that the ReFresh Spot was created for the community by the community. Like all of our service provision at HHCLA, it is 100% client driven and approached through a harm reduction, non judgemental compassionate, and person-first lens.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
The homelessness sector can be challenging for folks to work in, especially without prior knowledge of what has led us to where we are here in Los Angeles. One needs to understand this field intersects with so much on a local level – the cost of living, lack of affordable housing, lack of treatment beds, behavioral and mental health issues, exacerbation of physical health conditions, substance use and addiction, the stigmatization of the aforementioned topics, and much more.
It is mutually beneficial for the workforce and those being served for staff to have an open mind, be patient, and practice active listening. The people being served let their caseworkers know what they need and want. It is crucial for staff in this field to lead with a harm reduction approach, practice trauma informed care, and be able to de-escalate whenever doing direct services.
Additionally, there needs to be a willingness to be innovative, push the envelope, and always advocate for the people you serve. One example where I feel HHCLA excels in this area is our ongoing and dedicated advocacy for overdose prevention sites. Towards this end, HHCLA is opening a facility in the new year that will be equipped to serve and function as an overdose prevention site. We have been positioning ourselves to create innovative service provision and be at the forefront in the implementation of overdose prevention sites. Albeit they are not sanctioned yet, we know we have our work cut out for us to make it so – our clients’ lives are depending on it.
As an extension of this advocacy and lifesaving work, earlier this year HHCLA launched roaming customized golf carts in Skid Row equipped with cylinders of oxygen to prevent, intervene, and respond to overdoses. The administration of concentrated oxygen is an invaluable tool in overdose prevention and response. Teams also carry naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. The significance of administration of pure oxygen is imperative, as is the need for overdose prevention sites.
Any advice for managing a team?
A combination of approaches can be applied to manage a team, department, facility, organization, etc. I remember a few years ago, HHCLA had upper management take the CliftonStrengths Assessment, a tool developed by The Gallup Organization to help employees recognize their top five strengths. This can also help agencies improve company culture, performance, employee-manager relationship, and overall employee engagement. I found my results to be very insightful and intuitive. It also led and helped frame conversations with my boss about my present and future roles within the agency. It is constructive for staff to perform duties within their strengths and build from what motivates them.
Other forms of effective team management incorporate a feedback loop where team members are asked for their thoughts, concerns, insights, and overall feedback on an ongoing basis. Something I ask team members individually and collectively is how can I support you? How can HHCLA make you feel supported at work? We want to ensure staff are comfortable enough to come forward with ideas or concerns in the workplace and feel appreciated at the end of the day. We also want to ensure we schedule opportunities for team members to enjoy time together outside of the typical work environment. These activities should always be on company time, include meal(s), and not always be the same, to try and offer experiences everyone can appreciate.
Finally, is it vital to cultivate working relationships and express support for growth inside and outside of the agency. This can mean going back to school, needing time off due to family, health, or other reasons, applying for another position within or outside of the agency, or pursuing a different career path altogether. With this said, one must keep in mind each team will have different needs and motivators for promoting and maintaining a high morale. At the end of the day, it matters if staff support the mission and feel the impact of their hard work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hhcla.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hhcla/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomelessHealthCareLosAngeles/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanycampos/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHHCLA
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@homelesshealthcarelosangel295/featured