December 9 will be Jeanne Weyens’ last day as Madsen Up Unit Director at Sioux Falls Children’s Home.

And December 12 will be her first day as a therapist for Shelter for Family Safety and Bright Start.

It’s an opportunity for Jeanne to do the work she loves, at the organization that’s captured her heart, while making a change that brings her full circle.

Jeanne started at CHS in 1989, when Rick Weber (now Foundation Director) brought her on. She was a therapist for families impacted by substance abuse, meeting with them in their homes. When she returned to school, she continued the home-based therapy work for CHS on a part-time basis.

After earning her master’s degree in Education, Psychology and Counseling at USD, Jeanne worked in Nebraska at a rural health clinic for several years.

“In 1995, Rick gave me a call one day and asked me if I’d like to apply for a position,” she says. Madsen House had just opened; Jeanne became the first full-time therapist at Madsen Up. “I did that for five years. When the unit director left, I took her position—and I’ve been unit director at Madsen Up for 22 years.”

Why 22 Years?

Madsen Up, which is where children come into residential care for assessment, has suited Jeanne well.

“I have loved the Assessment Unit and being part of that team,” she says. “Kids come and go pretty quickly, but it’s just always amazed me how quickly they change with structure, consistency, relationship and safety. Big changes take place. Miraculous changes, within the first 14 to 45 days.”

It’s gratifying to see the children change, and to watch as they progress even farther in the other residential care units. “I love the mission of CHS. And I love being part of something bigger, part of the whole process of watching people learn, grow and blossom.

Jeanne has also enjoyed her supervisory responsibilities. “It’s been fun getting to know new staff and helping them grow their skills, and for some, make decisions about their paths for the future,” she says.

Why Change?

Although people may idealistically believe that every career step should be upwards, the reality is that most career steps are over, around or sideways. In the post-pandemic workplace, employees are focusing more on finding personal fulfillment in their careers.

“I’m going back to doing what I love the most,” says Jeanne. “And I get to stay with Children’s Home.”

“I had a small caseload as a unit director,” she says. “Now I’ll be able to have a full caseload again, so it will be a lot more therapy. I won’t have the supervisory responsibilities anymore.”

“I just think it’s time for someone else to take the reins. I’m confident that the program will be well taken care of.”

The New Role

Jeanne shares that she waited for a position to open that she felt would be a good fit.

“When I did my internship, right out of my bachelor’s program, I worked in shelter in Minnesota and loved it. I worked there for about nine months and got to understand the dynamics of domestic violence, the cycle, and support women and kids in that program,” she says.

“I’m going to work half-time with the Bright Start program—and that will be some home-based,” says Jeanne. “I’ll get to do therapy with new moms and then I’ll do half-time at the Shelter.”

“I’ll get to use my clinical skills. I’ll still be tied to Children’s Home residential in some ways because, from time to time, I’ll attend clinical therapist meetings.”

“I just feel like it’s good timing,” Jeanne says. “And in some ways, I think it will take me full circle—back to working in shelter, back to making home visits and back to the work I love best.”