LifePath Welcomes Diana Christopher as Program Director
GREENFIELD — Diana Christopher recently joined LifePath as the new program director for Adult Family Care (AFC) and Shared Living Programs.
The AFC and Shared Living Programs offer compassionate, individualized care in a nurturing home environment. Participants are individuals who cannot live alone safely because of medical, physical, cognitive, or mental-health challenges. Participants live with caregivers in the home. Caregivers’ homes are in local communities, allowing participants to maintain lasting community relationships.
Christopher has more than 30 years of human-service experience, most recently as the director of Operations at the Boys & Girls Club Family Center in Springfield, where she oversaw all club operations with a strong focus on club safety. Her previous experience includes coordinating and monitoring a Department of Developmental Services Intensive Residential program at Pathlight and supervising and overseeing the Department of Developmental Services and Adult Foster Care home-share model at Nonotuck Resource Associates Inc. She received a bachelor’s degree in human services from Almeda University.
Christopher’s passion for bringing people together in an effort to demystify fears or misunderstandings has included the implementation of an intergenerational mentoring program, community service, and activity planning with elders and teens. She has also assisted with job placement for retired elders and has worked closely as a case manager and supervisor with older adults with physical and/or intellectual or cognitive challenges.
“Over the course of the past 30 years, I have gained professional knowledge in several areas of human services, including education and prevention programs with young children and teens; homeless services for women and children, including transitional housing; shelter placements; and, of course, services to the aging population,” she said. “The opportunity to work with LifePath allows me to use my skills in an area that is so critically needed. The culture, atmosphere, and wealth of services offered through LifePath will allow me to continue to contribute to LifePath’s mission to listen first and then help each person find the best option for their unique needs.”
Charity Day, LifePath’s associate director of Client Services, noted that “Diana is an exciting addition to the AFC and Shared Living Programs. Her 30 years of experience in human services is an important asset, and I am excited to work with her.”
The program director for the AFC and Shared Living Programs is responsible for the overall management of these programs, including supervising staff, coordinating program functions, and overseeing expenditures. Additional responsibilities include community networking, public relations, and advertising. The program director provides assistance with transitioning participants into the programs and will be responsible for ongoing casework.
“We are thrilled to have Diana join the LifePath family,” said Barbara Bodzin, executive director. “Her enthusiasm for the work and her positive energy will be a wonderful compliment to the high standards and quality held within this department. Diana possesses a wealth of knowledge, experience, and insights to guide her and the team forward.”