Investing in our staff is an investment in the young people we serve. It leads to better outcomes, stronger support, and an atmosphere of growth for all who interact with Huckleberry House. Recognizing this, in spring 2024, we created a new role ensuring ongoing training and support for our team – Director of Professional Development.
Melanie Glenn, a 25-year Huckleberry House leader, was a natural fit for the role. Known among her peers as a “de-escalation queen,” Melanie has the expertise and passion to help our staff navigate challenging situations and grow in their roles.
Meet Melanie: Leading Professional Growth
Melanie began her journey at Huckleberry House in 2000 as a Community Support Assistant and has held several key leadership positions. Melanie remains deeply committed in a field where burnout—sometimes called moral injury—often drives professionals to leave. When asked what keeps her going, she shared:
“My passion for assisting youth and families as they navigate challenges has motivated me to continue this hard but rewarding work. Although we may not always see the fruit, I know if I have planted some seeds along the way, life will water them, and they will grow.”
Strengthening Our Team
As the first Director of Professional Development, Melanie is focused on creating meaningful growth opportunities for our staff. Her top priorities include:
- Supporting individual growth goals for every team member
- Building relationships with staff to assess training needs
- Establishing foundational training for all new hires
- Streamlining onboarding for consistency
The first official training module is already on the horizon! With materials arriving this month, Melanie is excited to introduce EQ2 training to Huckleberry House in the coming months.
EQ2 Training: Investing in Staff Resilience
EQ2 training is unique because it focuses on staff resilience and emotional regulation. Unlike traditional youth-centered training, EQ2 equips our team with skills to manage their responses to stress. “This training will help our team sustain their work while improving responses to youth in crisis,” Melanie explains.
Looking ahead, she aims to expand training initiatives to strengthen staff effectiveness and retention—critical for sustaining high-quality services that directly affect outcomes.
Why Professional Development Matters
Huckleberry House is the only youth shelter in the region dedicated to youth experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. Rising challenges like teen violence and mental health crises require a well-prepared team. Investing in professional development ensures our staff remain strong, confident, and ready to help young people thrive. As we celebrate Huckleberry House Day, we’re proud of our progress and excited for the future—because investing in our team means building a stronger foundation, together.
Support the Huckleberry House Day Fund
This Huckleberry House Day (3/6) you can help ensure our staff receive the training and support they need to make a lasting impact. Your gift to the Huckleberry House Day Fund directly supports professional development opportunities that strengthen our team and enhance the services we provide to young people.
Please help us reach our goal of $3,600 and donate today to invest in our mission and the future of the youth we serve.
