Developmental Disabilities Program Promotes Sheila Krausert to Assistant Program Director

Sheila was a presenter in our 2021 Annual Meeting last September, sharing the story of one client’s journey to independence.

We’re pleased to announce that Sheila Krausert has been promoted to Assistant Program Director of our Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP)! Sheila is the first Assistant Program Director our DD Program has ever had! As the first Assistant Program Director, Sheila brings skills, experience and enthusiasm to the position! We are so excited that our DD Program is expanding with this new role and with Sheila’s leadership. 

Sheila has made a positive impact on our Developmental Disabilities Program ever since she started at CFCS in 2015 as a Case Manager. Sheila’s experience and knowledge gained from her roles as DDP Coordinator and Family Support Center Coordinator will be indispensable in her new role!  

We recently asked Sheila to reflect on her new role and her work at CFCS.  

What does your new job entail?   

As the Assistant Program Director, I will coordinate all aspects of the DESE program, or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This includes supervising four case managers and collaborating with the DDS Area Offices to ensure that individuals in this program continue to receive exemplary support. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)/Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Program provides extra support for students with developmental disabilities to ensure that they can stay at home rather than a residential facility. Learn more about this program by visiting our DDP services page! 

I will also continue my work with DDP Program Director Brenda Beaton to oversee our Family Support Center. Another aspect of my job will be managing different policies and procedures within DDP that are needed to address the requirements of each of our programs. 

What’s your favorite thing to do at your job? 

My favorite part of my job is working with all of our amazing DDP clients and supervising the DDP case managers. We have a tremendously talented team and I feel very honored to work with each of them. I am always learning about new resources or ideas from our DDP families, clients and my team. I appreciate that we work in an environment where everyone is open to sharing their thoughts and ideas. 

Do you have a philosophy or motto with which you approach your work?  

I approach my work by meeting the family or client where they are at. I believe it is so important to work to understand where someone is in life as you begin working with them. It helps build a more effective working relationship with families or individuals, which allows you to provide better supports. We are all different people and recognizing our differences is very important. 

Do you have a goal you want to achieve at CFCS?  

We are all so invested in the work that we do at CFCS and it makes me proud to work for such an incredible agency! My goal is to continue striving to provide high quality supports to our families and individuals.