When Diana Henry first graduated from Stockton College in 2006, she wanted to put her psychology degree to use by working with at-risk youth and ended up with a job at an organization that supported people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her interest in working with the adult side of the population began to grow, but she didn’t see a path toward making that transition at the agency where she worked. “When I want something, I go after it,” Diana says. “So I was determined to get the experience I needed.”
After working in New York for a couple of years in adult IDD services, she wanted to find a position back at home in New Jersey and ended up applying at The Arc of Essex County. She started as a shift supervisor just over a decade ago in September 2014, though the people interviewing her asked why she didn’t apply for a higher position as a manager. “I wanted to make sure this was the right fit for me first,” she says. “Once I started working here, I could see that the culture of the agency aligned with my values, and I knew this was where I wanted to be.”
From there, Diana’s story has been one of constant growth and development at The Arc. After working as a shift supervisor at the Irvington Avenue Apartments in Maplewood, she progressed to manager at the Supported Living Apartment Program and then manager of the Millburn Group Home. She became Assistant Director of training at the main office, and now has progressed to her newest position as Director of Employee Relations, Performance and Compliance.
Throughout it all, Diana has been proud to be a part of The Arc, and thankful for the opportunities it has provided, including accommodating her changing schedule and giving her the chance to receive her SHRM-CP certification. “I love to learn, and it was so good to have the opportunity to earn my SHRM-CP certification to better understand my role in HR. I can definitely say I’ve felt supported over the years in reaching my professional goals.”
Diana’s experience working with Arc consumers has helped her be a better collaborator with staff in her current role. “I can give guidance about how to approach certain situations because I’ve been there. It’s nice to be able to say, ‘I remember how that was.’ I always say I know both sides of the coin now. I know how it feels to be in a certain role, and I also understand how that role fits into the bigger picture and why our policies and procedures are what they are.”
Although she misses working with the consumers more directly, Diana is happy to be able to positively affect the Arc community in her role of working with the direct-support staff, and she still tries to check in on her former residents when she gets the opportunity. “It puts a smile on my face whenever I see them,” she says. “Even though my current role does not give me direct access with the consumers, I still get to play a part in their well-being and in doing so I take great passion in ensuring we are hiring the right candidates to care for them.”
Diana is so grateful for the career journey that brought her to The Arc. “As soon as I started here, I realized how passionate the agency is about the population we serve, that The Arc is focused on giving our people everything they needed to be successful. I’ve worked for several agencies throughout the area, and I’ve never seen an agency that’s so focused on consumers. It’s not just a group home, it’s a place that feels like home for people. And that’s not the case at one location, but all our locations. Everyone is invested. It’s really special.”