Congratulations to Jacqueline Knowles, the recipient of the December Staff on the Rise recognition. Jackie recently made a transition from program director at Rain House to join the Finance Department and has really stepped up to the plate. While quickly acclimating to her new role, Jackie has simultaneously continued to lend her clinical skills to the agency and her co-workers by assisting the staff and new program director at Rain House.
Jackie started at RISE September 2014 as residential counselor at Rain House. She became the program supervisor in April 2019. A month later, Rain House suffered a devastating loss when the program director, Laraine Desmond, suddenly passed away. Jackie stepped in as the intern director through July 2019, when she was officially instated as the permanent new director.
“Laraine was a mentor and taught me everything I know.”
“Laraine was a mentor and taught me everything I know,” Jackie reminisces with great fondness. “She was patient, took her time with me. She was brilliant and good role model. Very dedicated, just like I am today. She instilled in me a great work ethic. She was someone to look up to. To this day, I ask myself ‘what would Laraine do?’ She is one of my favorite people who had become not only a mentor but a close friend. She even came to my wedding, and my daughter’s birthday parties over the years.”
“I like the organization in accounting.”
Jackie was drawn to accounting and finance because it interests her, and she enjoyed doing the budgeting at Rain House. “I like the organization in accounting,” Jackie says. “We have a great team with a very friendly and fun atmosphere. Ashley Fields, Finance Director, is a very patient and understanding supervisor. Other things I like about accounting are the predictability of the schedule and following the trail of where the funding for each program comes from. It is very interesting.”
Jackie continued to lend her clinical skills to the agency.
During her transition into the Finance Department, Jackie stayed involved with training the new director and staff at Rain House. “I really enjoyed being the Program Director and wanted to ensure that things continued to run smoothly after I moved to Finance,” Jackie explains. “It is important to me to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the residents.”
An example of Jackie’s dedication to the agency and to those we serve is how she managed Rain House during the COVID-19 Pandemic. “In the early days of the pandemic, the program supervisor and I volunteered to quarantine with our residents for the recommended 14-day period when COVID-19 first impacted our program.”
Jackie and the staff worked to keep moral up during COVID-19.
Later in January 2021 when there was a spike in COVID, causing another quarantine, Jackie and the staff at Rain House worked to keep moral up. Although only one individual tested positive and had to be quarantined to her bedroom, the rest of the residents were asked to quarantine in the house,” Jackie explains. “It was difficult,” she continued. “They didn’t understand the ramifications and were uncooperative. We offered arts and crafts materials, and made sure that everyone had access to their electronics so they could entertain themselves by watching movies, listening to music, etc.”
Jackie is married and has an 11-year-old daughter. “As a family, we like to camp especially near a lake and the ocean,” Jackie shares. “We have a large extended family as well. We get together often to share meals and do recreational outings with all the nieces and nephews, like going to the movies.” Jackie enjoys taking care of her animals at home – 5 cats and 2 dogs as well as the horses at a nearby stable. “I really enjoy caring for the horses and doing barn chores – grooming, feeding, and talking to the horses – it is very relaxing.”
Jackie enjoys working for RISE and hopes to continue to grow in her career as the agency continues to expand and develop new programs to reach more people and provide more services.
“I appreciate that RISE helps people live a better life.”
“RISE is very family orientated and is supportive and understanding of families’ needs. I appreciate that this is a value the agency holds,” she shares. “I also appreciate that RISE provides resources to help people live a better life. As a whole, the agency goes above and beyond to help those we serve.”
RISE administration appreciates all that Jackie does for the agency and for the individuals we serve. She is highly motivated, compassionate, and dedicated – all the qualities of a Staff on the Rise. Please join us in congratulating her as our December Staff on the Rise.