Success Stories

My name is Barbara Shields. My current position is Mental Health/Disabilities Coordinator for the Hampton Roads Community Action Program Head Start program. I am a past parent, who worked as a volunteer for the Head Start program in October 1981. My daughter was enrolled in the 4-year-old program at that time. I attended the center meetings and volunteered in my daughter’s class. I was asked to become a member of the Policy Council, February 1982.
During the summer of 1982, a pilot program was in the making in which Head Start wanted to employ parents. I was asked to be a part of that pilot program. I completed the necessary paperwork, started working September 1, 1982, as a Teacher Assistant. I was excited and enjoyed working with children. My experience in the classroom was wonderful. Head Start afforded me the opportunity to further my education. After being employed for a year, I was accepted at Thomas Nelson Community College and enrolled in Early Childhood Educational Classes to assist my career in working with young children. I worked 3 years (9/82 until 9/85) in the classroom until Head Start did an organizational change.
I then transitioned to Health Service Area as a Health Assistant. The position duties were to assist families in obtaining a medical home, to ensure that all children enrolled in the Head Start program were up-to-date with their physicals, shots, dental exams and all medical needs were addressed. Also, as Health Assistant, I made sure that all health screenings were completed within 45 days, according to the Performance Standards. During that time frame, I was able to obtain my CDL to be able to transport children to and from the health clinics. I continued my education at Thomas Nelson Community College in which I had selected health related classes. The health position was held for 6 years, (9/85 until 1/91).
As the program grew, I transitioned to the position of Case Manager. (I also had a bus run, for a Hampton class). With the Case Manager position, I had a caseload of 50 to 57 families. I assisted with taking applications, screening applications, enrolling children, and meeting with families. As a Case Manager, I was able to build a good/positive rapport with the families through the Family Partnership Agreement. Family goals were set, homes visits were conducted on each family and medical concerns were addressed for the children. I gave parents referral information as needed, and assisted with conducting parent center meetings. I was responsible for monitoring/completing weekly attendance, completed monthly reports, attended bi-monthly meetings and met with the supervisor when needed. I wanted to become more knowledgeable with case management. I enrolled at Thomas Nelson Community College in the Public Service/Human Services program. I graduated in December 2006, with an Associates Degree. As I continued to work in the Head Start program, I also valued and continued my education. I enrolled at Kaplan University and took on-line classes in Human Services Management. I graduated in 2011 with a Bachelors Degree.
In September 2014, the Case Management Service Area was given specialized responsibilities, and mine was to work with the Mental Health Disabilities Coordinator. I assisted with recruitment by distributing Head Start flyers to outside agencies. I assisted with mental health meetings, attended Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings and met with different counseling services staff. In April 2015, I was involved with Mental Health Services training, due to the coordinator going out on maternity leave in May. My training consisted of service area forms, conducting meetings, updating contracts/ Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), and reviewing information for enrollment of student with possible disabilities. We reviewed the Head Start Performance Standards-1308, tracking information, referral process for staff, and monitoring documents. I made contacts to parent with appointments, and reviewed student’s folders. In mid-August, I was offered the position of Mental Health/Disabilities Coordinator. I have continued to make progress in this particular service area. I enjoy being a part of the Management Team. I have met new people from parents to the many Community Representatives that I am in contact with on a daily basis.
Head Start has afforded me the opportunity to give our children and community a fighting chance. And for that, I am grateful.

When a song is first created it has only two factors: a tempo and lyrics. The tempo is a pulsing beat which breathes life into the piece; the lyrics, a philosophy turned into simple terms for the average human being. The lyrics must work together to give birth to the melody which help the rest of the song blossom. In the song of my life, there are many artistic twists and turns; but in the beginning I was a handful of lyrics, longing for a tempo, a pulse, or a purpose. I lacked substance which made me just a bunch of words. It was not until I joined the Office of Human Affairs Project Discovery, a tempo full of success, love, hard work and compassion that my songs began to merge or come together. This course did not happened overnight but it was a result of Project Discovery instilling a note in me called “opportunity.”
As a beat in the Project Discovery tempo. The note of “opportunity” became a major component of my song. My freshman year of high school, due to Project Discovery’s community influence, my friend and I were selected to speak at the Newport News Police Department regarding “Anti — Snitch” and its effect on teenagers in the community. A few months later, as a result of being a part of the Project Discovery tempo, I was selected as a Student Board member for the Youth Volunteer Corps, a local organization geared towards helping young people make a difference in the community. This was all made possible due to Project Discovery investing time in my melody. Amazingly not only did Project Discovery invest time in my melody, but also they kept my song from being destroyed when everything in my life seemed to have been falling apart.
From January 2012 to July 2012, my mother and I had become homeless. We lived in over 10 places during that time frame. With the help of Project Discovery, I was able to keep my song in the correct key and make beautiful music. The perfect example of Project Discovery’s fine tuning and providing hope was in our 2012 Spring Break Trip. During this time my mother and I were staying with my grandmother due to lack of funds. My spirits were down and I was losing my need for my song to be completed. Once I went on the trip to Washington DC, my song was fine – tuned by laughter, friendship, learning, and love. Being able to help with the songs of my fellow classmates also aided me in keeping my song intact. Events such as this show how Project Discovery has touched the notes, songs, and melodies of my life.
Currently I am a freshman at Hampton University majoring in Mass Communication with a minor in Music. My grade point average is a 3.52 and I have made the Dean’s List. This would not have been possible without the Project Discovery Academic Scholarship, the OHA Book Scholarship, their support and guidance. I am forever grateful.

Naziirah Vines is a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and is pursuing a psychology degree to become an occupational therapist. Naziirah is actively involved at VCU because she wants her college experiences to result in making a difference in the world around her.
One of Naziirah’s community services that she enjoys is speaking to students at one of the local elementary schools about college. She is passionate about speaking to middle school students because Naziirah will be the first one in her family to graduate from college. In high school, Naziirah joined programs, such as Project Discovery because as she said, “I love being around people who pushes me to push myself.” Project Discovery has done that for her. Naziirah stated in her exiting interview just prior to going off to college, “Project Discovery has changed my life. From meeting new people and building new friendships, to going to workshops and investing in myself, to even attending field trips and realizing what I want to do in the future.”
The program motivated Naziirah to pursue her dreams of attending Virginia Commonwealth University. Naziirah was one of the first students to sign up to visit VCU with the Project Discovery Program. Project Discovery staff will not forget the look upon Naziirah’s face as she beamed with so much excitement of being on the campus. Her first response to the Project Discovery staff while they were on the walking tour of the campus was, “I swear I love this school! I definitely see myself here. I want to be a Ram!”
Naziirah Vines truly is happy with her decision of choosing VCU. It is demonstrated in her involvement on and off campus. Most of all it is evident in her achieving the VCU’s Fall 2015 Dean’s List for her accomplishment of maintaining a 3.75 grade point average.