Name: Wendy Kahland
Job Title: Training Specialist
Where do you hail from:
Beatrice is where I grew up.
What is it they say you do:
I train Ongoing Case Management and Adoption/Guardianship.
Who are your early influences/who inspired you most:
Before I was immersed in the world of Child Welfare, it was my grandma, Nanny. She did a lot of volunteer work and sat on many boards, including the Foster Care Review Board. She always made everyone feel welcome and equal…and made really great hamburgers.
Once I got involved in Child Welfare, I would say there are three major influences:
-Judge Thomas Dawson (aka Judge Bowtie) always taught me something, whether he meant to or not, from the bench before he gave his ruling.
-My first supervisor, Pat Squires, taught me to treat all families with respect and dignity, not to sweat the small stuff, and how to use a fart machine appropriately.
-A parent I worked with when I was a Care Coordinator at the ICCU. She taught me not to judge unless I really understood the true meaning behind a behavior/situation, it’s never too late to try again, and laughter really is the best medicine.
What has been your greatest source of career satisfaction/ proudest achievement?
When I was a caseworker, it was when I could engage with a family that had been spinning their wheels for a long time and get them motivated to make some change in their lives in order to get their children back and keep them there safely. As a trainer, it is when someone tells me they enjoyed my training because it was fun AND because they learned a lot. It is also great to see workers in the hall at CCFL, DHHS or out in the community; and they tell you thank you for something you taught them.
Family life/hobbies /community involvement:
My husband, Porkchop, and I have 2 boys. Marty Jr. is 9, and Nathan is 4. They are the lights of our lives! We have a 100 lb. lap dog named (Chuck) Taylor, a cat named Bagheera, and 2 guinea pigs, Midnight and DJ. We love to camp, have BBQ’s at our house, go to Husker sporting events, movies (we love a Harry Potter weekend) and play games of all kinds. I love sprint car racing and drag the family along when I can. I am a CASA volunteer, and I love it! If you don’t know what CASA is, I urge you to find out and become a volunteer yourself!
The quotation I live my life by is......
UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. -Dr. Seuss.