Name and Position at Region Ten: Vince Sweeney, Healthy Transitions Case Manager. I also work Part-Time as a Case Coordinator with Region Ten Emergency Services.
Where are you from? I was born in Charlottesville and grew up in Greene County.
What drew you to the mental health field? After beginning college I realized I wanted to work with people in a position that would allow me to use my communication skills to improve people’s lives and assist them with finding the resources they need to work toward their goals and wellbeing.
What are some of the highlights in your professional career? I have worked in many different areas of mental health and the healthcare field. I feel fortunate to have gained a wide range of experience and I believe I’ve learned valuable skills and knowledge in each position. In 2020-2021 I held a position as a Mental Health Worker on a residential campus for children in need of behavioral and mental health support, and I learned so much from this position that I still carry with me today. I also think that providing services during the COVID pandemic was a highlight of my career since I was one of the few people who would still come to work in person at the campus. I liked that I was able to provide services to children that were greatly needed at the time.
What do you enjoy about your work at Region Ten? I really enjoy the positive impact that my current role has on the community, and also the opportunity to meet people where they are in the places where they live. My grandfather was a volunteer firefighter in Earlysville for decades and his service to the community inspired me to seek a position where I could do something similar. It’s neat to see the way that community-based mental health comes together to support the people we serve.
What does Pride Month mean to you? Pride Month means so much to me, especially when it comes to visibility and acceptance. LGBTQIA+ people exist and live their lives each day and Pride Month provides an opportunity to see and acknowledge the valuable contributions they make. Activism is another important of Pride Month, especially since LGBTQIA+ people are among the most victimized and discriminated groups in the world. Pride Month can and should be the time of year that these inequalities are brought to life and acknowledged.