Compassion has always been at the heart of Heather Landry’s career. With a bachelor’s degree in special education and a passion for helping vulnerable populations, Heather joined Lakeview Center nearly three years ago, beginning her work in children’s residential services.
“I’ve always kind of had a heart for community service,” she said. “I used to volunteer a lot in high school, and I started to see what Lakeview did for the community. I wanted to be a part of that.”
While she thrived working with children, Heather felt called to broaden her experience and challenge herself in a new way. When the Central Receiving Facility (CRF) opened at Lakeview Center, she seized the opportunity to transition into adult services, where she now serves as a Senior Screening Specialist.
In this role, Heather is often the first point of contact for individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. She describes the CRF as a “beehive”—a busy, interconnected hub where screeners must quickly assess needs and determine the right level of care.
From voluntary admissions to court-ordered evaluations, Heather approaches each case with the same three guiding principles she’s developed: composure, confidence and compassion.
“Composure is being able to not have my own personal breakdown when people come in with these heart-wrenching stories,” she explained. “Confidence means trusting my ability to make decisions on behalf of the clients that need it. And compassion is having an overall better understanding of the struggles people face.”
Along the way, she has embraced opportunities to collaborate across departments, connect clients with critical resources and strengthen the organization’s reputation as a trusted partner in the community.
April Millender, director of Recruiting and Employment services, shadowed Heather for a day and noted, “Heather’s ability to stay calm under pressure, de-escalate crises and show genuine empathy exemplifies the mission of Lakeview Center.”
Looking ahead, Heather is pursuing her master’s degree in social work, with aspirations of moving into a leadership role where she can grow her impact and advocate for the clients and community she serves.
For now, Heather remains dedicated to being what she calls “a light” for people in their darkest times.
To work with compassionate team members like Heather, visit our Careers site.