When a single mom named Beatrice took a part time job as a cook at Bay City Residence, a residential healthcare program in Perth Amboy, New Jersey in 1999, she had no idea that she was starting on a path that would allow her to help not just her family, but also countless adults who need support regaining their independence after psychiatric hospitalizations.
Nearly 30 years ago, Beatrice Jones enrolled in culinary school while living in a transitional housing program with her two young children. A Trenton native, Beatrice had previously been living in a local substance use treatment program, which she credits for her more than 37 years of sobriety. She graduated from culinary school with the goal of becoming a chef and landed the job at VOA-GNY soon after.
Within just a few months, Beatrice was promoted to being the program’s full-time cook, a position she held for four years. She was especially renowned for her macaroni and cheese, which she’ll still occasionally make for special events like family day.
In 2004, after growing close with one of the counselors at Bay City Residence, who noticed that Beatrice had a way with the program’s clients, Beatrice began working as a counselor for Bay City Residence and some of VOA-GNY’s other New Jersey-based Community Support Services (CSS) programs. These programs help individuals with behavioral health or other co-occurring disabilities develop self-reliance and achieve goals such as employment, education, and independent living. Though she started as a part-time counselor, she once again proved herself indispensable and was hired full time within just a few months.
“I love working here,” Beatrice says of Bay City Residence. “You can learn from anybody, and I’ve learned a lot here.”
While continuing to work full time as a counselor, Beatrice decided to go back to school, earning a degree in Psychosocial Rehabilitation and a certificate in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling from Middlesex College. Today, she is the program’s beloved Senior Residential Counselor, a source of support for both program residents and program staff.
One of her proudest achievements is being repeatedly thanked by a young woman who had arrived at Bay City after being hospitalized multiple times because her mother convinced her to stop taking her psychiatric medications. Beatrice helped the woman achieve stability, keeping her on the right track as she worked to take care of her mental health and even rebuild a healthy relationship with her mother. It’s been several years since her last hospitalization, and the young woman has become an active member of the surrounding community, volunteering at the local food pantry, library, and YMCA. “What keeps me going is their achievement, when clients move out and do good. If you can help two people out of ten, that’s a blessing. It’s powerful,” Beatrice says.
At Bay City Residence and beyond, Beatrice is known for her irrepressible energy, positive attitude, and for going above and beyond for the individuals she works with—even going into work after being injured in a car crash. “Beatrice is dedicated to her clients and the team at Bay City Residence. She brings energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of hope to her work. Her passion for helping others shines,” says Dinelle Polchinski, Director of Residential Services for VOA-GNY in Northern New Jersey.
Beatrice’s work is especially important to her because her older sister lived with psychiatric diagnoses and substance use issues. “If I could help her, then I can help others,” she recalls thinking. Beatrice’s daughter, who was a child when the family lived in transitional housing while Beatrice attended culinary school, is now considering pursuing a degree in social work, inspired by her mother’s remarkable journey.