At Bridges Homeward we want to celebrate the accomplishments of our staff. It’s clear how hard they work for our children and families, so taking the time to recognize achievements outside of agency work is important to us.

Congratulations Amaryah Alves and Izadorah Dorvilier on receiving your master’s degrees!

We know how important education is and will always support staff members when they pursue their degree. Congratulations to these two brilliant women!

Amaryah Alves, one of our Independent Living Support Specialists, earned her Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Massachusetts Boston!

Amaryah decided to pursue her graduate degree while working at Bridges Homeward because she witnessed firsthand the inequities of individuals from marginalized identities. Amaryah was particularly struck by the difficulties that people of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community face in finding clinical services providers with whom they feel comfortable. She observed the need for change and determined that with the support of the agency and the Family Support and Stabilization team, she should enroll in a full-time program focused on an intersection of mental health, social justice, and community service-based work.

“I hope this degree will eventually grant me the opportunity to help those like me who needed professional support but were unable to find a safe, expressive and comfortable place to do so,” Amaryah says. “Earning my degree allowed me to acknowledge how I can use my privilege, knowledge, and own lived experience to lift both my own voice and the voices of those who become overshadowed in the policies and laws of systems that were often not built to support them. My degree offered me applicable tools of how to foster healing, practice with empathy and build strong rapport with clients, which is important to the main mission of Bridges Homeward that is permanency.”

With the courage to be a leader, she hopes to inspire others to learn how to utilize their environment and skills to reach their goals. Her own goal is to become licensed in the state of Massachusetts and work in an outpatient clinical role.

Izadorah Dorvilier, Family Support Specialist, earned her Master's of Science in Healthcare Administration, from Regis College!

Upon joining Bridges Homeward, Izadorah was captivated by the profound impact of social determinants of health and the health disparities faced by marginalized communities. This realization fueled her desire to deepen her involvement in the social services field, especially when it came to child welfare laws.

“I truly believe that my degree has given me the skills I need to create significant improvements in the social services field, advocating for better systems and services that have a positive impact on the lives of those who need it the most,” Izadorah says. “Combining my knowledge of healthcare administration with social work principles, my main aim is to bring about policy changes that ensure the safety, well-being, and support of vulnerable children.”

“Earning my degree has provided me with a broader, macro-level understanding of the healthcare system and social services,” she continues. “This perspective has heightened my awareness of the dire need for mental health resources and robust social services support. There is a pressing requirement to address the gaps and limitations in these areas to meet the growing demand for mental health services and support vulnerable populations effectively.”

Izadorah is currently pursuing a second master's degree in social work while continuing her work at Bridges Homeward. Her forthcoming degree will empower her to create positive change by advocating for increased resources for marginalized communities, implementing innovative programs, and promoting mental health awareness.