Hi everyone, I’ve really enjoyed reading through everyone’s introductions—it’s inspiring to see the different paths that brought people into this work.
My name is ShaTonga, and I come from a mental health and social services background with over 25 years of experience. I’ve worked with youth, families, adults, and the elderly, mainly in case management, care coordination, and intensive family-based work. A lot of my experience has been supporting individuals with complex needs, helping them stay stable in the community, and working with families to navigate systems that can feel overwhelming.
My interest in patient advocacy also comes from personal experience. Supporting my mother through her healthcare journey really showed me how challenging it can be to navigate care, even with a background in this field. That experience pushed me to move more into advocacy and focus on helping individuals and families better understand and manage their care.
I’m currently working toward my certification in patient advocacy and building my own practice. I’m looking forward to connecting with others here and continuing to grow in this work.
This really resonated with me. As someone stepping into independent advocacy, I’ve seen how overwhelming the system can be for families. This work matters, and it’s needed more than ever. Thank you for speaking on it so clearly. I shared this on my LinkedIn post. I hope you don't mind. People should read this to understand what is happening, so change can take place. Again, great article!
My name is ShaTonga, and I come from a mental health and social services background with over 25 years of experience. I’ve worked with youth, families, adults, and the elderly, mainly in case management, care coordination, and intensive family-based work. A lot of my experience has been supporting individuals with complex needs, helping them stay stable in the community, and working with families to navigate systems that can feel overwhelming.
My interest in patient advocacy also comes from personal experience. Supporting my mother through her healthcare journey really showed me how challenging it can be to navigate care, even with a background in this field. That experience pushed me to move more into advocacy and focus on helping individuals and families better understand and manage their care.
I’m currently working toward my certification in patient advocacy and building my own practice. I’m looking forward to connecting with others here and continuing to grow in this work.