The Caring Force is honored to announce Sabrina Stiles as our TCF August 2025 Workforce Hero Spotlight honoree. Stiles is a program director at The Brien Center.
1. Tell us about your background. How did you decide to pursue a career in human services?
My decision to pursue a career in human services—and specifically in social work—comes from a deeply personal place. I am a person in recovery, and my journey has given me firsthand insight into the challenges faced by individuals struggling with mental health and substance use. I’ve experienced many of the same growing pains, setbacks, and moments of hope that the people I now support are working through themselves.
During my recovery, I encountered professionals who saw me as a whole person, not just my struggles. Their compassion, honesty, and belief in my potential had a lasting impact on me. It was through these interactions that I realized I wanted to give back in the same way. I wanted to be that person for someone else—the one who listens without judgment, walks alongside people through their pain, and helps them reconnect with their strength and worth.
My lived experience has shaped how I show up in this work. It keeps me grounded in empathy, guided by harm reduction, and committed to trauma-informed care. Social work allows me to blend professional skills with personal understanding, and it’s a privilege to support others on their path toward healing and growth.
2. What does a typical day look like for you at your organization?
My day begins by collaborating with an incredible team of triage counselors, crisis clinicians, program directors, shift supervisors, and outpatient therapists, all of whom make the community work we do possible. What I love about crisis work is that no two days are ever the same. Each day might include developing and refining crisis intervention protocols (e.g., suicide risk assessments, involuntary holds), ensuring adherence to evidence-based practices, and promoting trauma-informed, culturally responsive care.
I regularly evaluate and adjust program goals based on client needs, data, and stakeholder feedback. My daily responsibilities also include tracking key program metrics such as response times, outcomes, and follow-up rates. Additionally, I develop a training curriculum, provide case consultation, facilitate groups, conduct outpatient therapy, and assist local police departments on calls to support individuals in the community who are experiencing suicidality. This dynamic blend of tasks is what a typical day in crisis looks like—and it’s what keeps the work both meaningful and impactful.
3. What is your favorite professional memory?
One of my favorite professional memories was being offered the opportunity to teach Crisis Intervention and Diversity and Social Justice at Westfield State University. This role allows me to educate future social workers while also creating a potential pipeline for recruiting triage counselors and masters level clinicians. I strongly believe that being an educator not only enhances my ability to mentor others but also deepens my own knowledge and skill set as a program director.
4. This question is from our July Workforce Hero, Mary Gregorio: What have you personally learned about yourself while working in your current job?
In my current role, I’ve learned that I’m able to remain grounded and think clearly even in fast-moving, high-stress situations. I’ve discovered how much I value collaborative problem-solving, especially when supporting my team through complex client crises. This work has deepened my commitment to trauma-informed care, reminding me that flexibility and empathy are as important as structure and protocol. I’ve also learned to recognize my own limits, set healthy boundaries, and model self-care for the team, knowing that our well-being directly impacts the quality of care we provide.
On those especially challenging days, I draw from my professional resilience—what I like to call my “resilience fund.” It’s what allows me to refill my own cup so I’m never pouring from an empty one. I’m also deeply inspired by the work I do in providing case consultation for adult and youth risk assessments, as well as training clinicians. I firmly believe that social workers thrive when they are continuously learning and growing. Supporting the development of others while enhancing my own knowledge base is a powerful motivator for me.
5. Do you have a question for the next person we spotlight?
This question is to explore your problem-solving skills. If there is a 747 airplane and it is filled with marbles, how would you get all the marbles off the plane?
Thank you so much to Sabrina and all of our wonderful human service workers across the Commonwealth who bring joy, positivity and passion to work every day! We are so thankful for you and your efforts to make Massachusetts a better place.
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