In her new role as director of residential services, Sheree Isom has poured her heart into her work as a passionate advocate for the young survivors of neglect and abuse at Hephzibah Home. Whether she’s cheering them on during a talent show or coming up with new ways to treat the debilitating effects of childhood trauma, she’ll do whatever it takes to help them heal and thrive.
Soon after Sheree arrived at Hephzibah Home in Fall 2025, she intervened on behalf of a child who was constantly being hospitalized for aggression and other challenging behaviors. “We weren’t sure we could meet this child’s needs,” she recalls. “But I didn’t want him to have to start over in a new placement, so I began working with our clinical team to see what we could do differently to give him the support he needed to succeed. We allocated two staff members to his case, modified his programming, and provided additional therapy. Within a month, we were able to step him down to one staff member, and he continued to improve. He was never hospitalized again—and he is now back at home with his mom and doing well.” Human well-being has always been Sheree’s holy grail. “I’ve served in behavioral health, child welfare, and residential treatment for nearly 20 years, in roles that started with direct care and grew into organizational leadership,” she says. “In every role and in every interaction, I’ve been guided by the same belief: that all children deserve the chance to heal and grow in a place where they feel safe and valued.”
“Sheree has spent her entire career working to change lives for the better, and she has a special place in her heart for Hephzibah’s kids,” says CEO Jason Patenaude. “I’ve seen her advocating for these kids when they are at their lowest points, investing an enormous amount of time and energy in building relationships with the children and staff, and creating a culture where everyone feels included and everyone’s voice is respected.” With so many young lives on the line, Sheree has ambitious goals for the year ahead. “My vision as director of residential services is to build a program where every interaction is therapeutic, where staff members understand the weight and significance of their roles in helping a child heal, and where children receive care that is tailored to their specific needs,” she explains. “My priorities for our residential program are strengthening our trauma-informed practices and expanding our capacity to serve children with the most complex needs. This last piece is something I’m particularly committed to because the children who present the greatest challenges in a residential setting are often the ones who need us most. When we lead with compassion, we can genuinely change the direction of a child’s life.”