Internship Leads to Full-time Career With United Helpers

OGDENSBURG – Like many college students Taylor Elliott, of Gouverneur wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life after graduating from high school.

Taylor Elliott

“Even during my senior year in college, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my degree,” she said, adding she began her college career as a Vet Tech major before ultimately majoring in Applied Psychology.

While taking courses towards her degree in applied psychology Ms. Elliott met Jennifer Waite, who works as a licensed social worker with United Helpers’ ACT Team and Angela Doe, who serves as the behavioral health services coordinator. Both women also teach courses at SUNY Canton.

“I knew Jennifer worked with the ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) Team so I spoke with her and then asked Angela about internship opportunities. She asked if I was ready to work with the persistently mentally ill, and I replied, ‘I think so. It should be an experience.’”

That conversation took place last summer with Ms. Elliott beginning an internship with the ACT Team in August. She completed that internship in November, but even before her internship was over, Ms. Elliott had found a full-time job with United Helpers.

“I was hired before I even graduated, but I had no idea this was going to lead to a job,” Ms. Elliott said. “I was shocked when Angela and Meg asked me to come in for an interview.”

Ms. Elliott now works full-time as a Health Home Care Coordinator traveling the county and meeting with people in their homes to help coordinate things such as medical appointments, mental health appointments, education and employment opportunities and more.

“It’s been awesome. I really like the atmosphere and I really enjoy helping others,” she said. “I don’t even feel like I’m coming to work.”

Ms. Elliott said another of her classmates is also currently doing an internship with United Helpers and is actually the first intern the Care Coordination Department has ever had.

“It’s been a really great experience. During my internship I learned more than I ever thought I would and now I have a full-time career too,” she said.

United Helpers employs more than 1,000 people and is one of the largest health care and human service providers in St. Lawrence County, offering a wide variety of employment opportunities for everything from nursing and marketing to accounting and behavior health counseling.

If you think an internship or career at United Helpers may be right for you, please visit www.unitedhelpers.org or contact the United Helpers Human Resources Department at (315) 393-3074.