3 MIN READ

Values Ambassador Spotlight: Brooke Ford

Nominated by: Chloe Haffley-Saalfeld 

Value: Excellence

Families entering the Heartspring Therapeutic Residential & Day School never received a how-to parenting guide for their child with autism, a learning disability, or another neurodevelopmental disorder. So, our Heartspring School Admissions Case Manager, Brooke Ford, supports families through the changes and challenges that arise in a student’s journey before, during, and as they prepare to graduate from our program. 

“Parents love her and enjoy working with her,” Cara Rapp, Director of Admissions and Outreach, said. “She’s a team player and not just in Admissions.” 

Brooke advocates for students and their families, providing empathy, a listening ear, and the knowledge that someone is in their corner. Caregivers leave their children with Heartspring staff, knowing they’ll be well cared for. But Brooke is a vital link to support parents and families, so they’re taken care of, too.  

“It's rewarding to be a support system for families, advocating in their corner,” Brooke said. “A lot of what I do can be detail-oriented, and I enjoy providing practical help that can give them peace of mind.” 

Known for her notebook brimming with detailed information, solutions-focused mindset, and can-do attitude, Brooke is an incredible asset to students and their families along with the staff on every student’s team. She works closely with students’ teams before a student turns 18 and caregivers file for guardianship and as students near completion of our program and transition to their adult placement.  

“She may not be an everyday member of a student’s team, but when they reach a transitional process, she becomes an integral part of the team,” Haffley-Saalfeld, a board certified behavior analyst in our school, said.  “She brings so many different skills to the table that we don’t necessarily have.”   

Brooke handles the communication and coordination of meetings and processes when a student in the Heartspring School reaches a period where external stakeholders need to come together. This includes social workers, case managers, school districts, attorneys, and any other decision-makers that impact a student’s future. As the liaison between a student’s team and external stakeholders, she connects people to the information they need in a streamlined process.  

“She’s always willing to try, research, and problem-solve,” Haffley-Saalfeld said. “If she doesn’t have an answer, she’s determined to find it.”

There was a recent instance of a student in our school who needed a legal guardian in order to receive medical services. As a ward of the state, Brooke found a way to coordinate his care with case managers in his home state when they were unsuccessful in finding him guardianship. Each state’s regulations are so different, but Brooke didn’t let the challenge stop her from exploring every avenue to address the problem. Despite the obstacles, she went above and beyond for his well-being and secured him a Kansas guardian so he could get the medical care he needed.  

“I was just relentless in my pursuit to make sure we’re working for the student’s best interest,” Brooke said. “The best way for me to serve a student and their team at Heartspring is to find the solution.”   

Brooke is committed to providing quality service across every aspect of her role. She helps set students and their families up for success when they leave Heartspring because she values knowing where they’re going and that they’ll be taken care of. A recent graduate’s mother told Brooke she gave her so much peace of mind during the transition process because she knew Brooke had her back. 

“When everyone is working and living out the values at Heartspring, it makes everyone’s job easier,” Haffley-Saalfeld said. “We can count on Brooke to continuously rise to the occasion and excel at her job. She’s extremely beneficial to the organization.” 

We’re grateful to Brooke and the Admissions team for guiding school families throughout their Heartspring journeys and helping our students find greater success through our program.