Kenyatta Matthews enjoys guiding her new residential teams in Brown Deer
02/15/23 12:00:pm
“Managing the adolescent and adult residential programs means I have to ensure everything operates smoothly,” says Kenyatta. “I want our patients to receive outstanding care, so I make certain the programs operate appropriately and efficiently within state regulations and guidelines, everyone has what they need to successfully complete their job responsibilities, and that our patients have the best experience.”
Kenyatta says that, although she has plans and lists when she heads into the office every morning, being flexible is key.
“Residential care is a fast-paced environment,” she says. “There really isn’t a typical day. Things happen that we don’t anticipate, mostly minor issues, but they could derail the day if our team isn’t willing to adapt.”
With Brown Deer residential care relatively new (adolescent programs opened in July 2022, followed by adult programs two months later), Kenyatta is proud of her team and leads from a place of giving grace.
“All new programs need time to create cohesion,” she says. “There are bound to be missteps, and it’s my desire that we all assume positive intent and grant grace when things don’t go as planned. Thankfully, our team demonstrates creativity when working with patients. Our therapists incorporate patients’ skills and preferences in the treatment process, as do our behavior specialists. Our residential care specialists are rockstars. They’re attentive and advocate for patients when they won’t advocate for themselves.”
Kenyatta is new to Rogers as well. She joined in May 2022 to oversee Brown Deer’s residential operations. Prior to that, she worked for 17 years at Wraparound Milwaukee, a system of care for children with serious emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs and their families.
“I worked with families that utilized Rogers’ residential services,” she says. “I’ve always been impressed with Rogers’ impact in the community. I admire the commitment to mental health and addiction care – not just in our own backyard, but also across the country.”
Kenyatta says while at Wraparound Milwaukee, she fell in love with the operational side of the organization, and she was thrilled to bring that skillset to Rogers.
“My focus is always making sure we have the resources available so we can do good work,” she says. “I enjoy examining program operations and creating solutions. It’s equally rewarding to witness patient success, which is the best part of my job. We’ve seen many patients leave our programming with enhanced skills, ready to face the rest of their journey. We’ve had patients leave heartfelt notes for the team, full of gratitude for the care they received. This feedback is what keeps me coming back day after day.”
Getting to know Kenyatta
To give back to her hometown of Milwaukee, Kenyatta is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. The non-profit community service organization is comprised of collegiate and professional women looking for a place to uplift the community through sisterhood, scholarship, and service.
Examples of community service projects include Women’s Wellness Initiatives, bookbag distribution, and advocacy/education for disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes for Black women.
A fun fact about Kenyatta is that she completed a psych nursing rotation at Charter Behavioral Health, which is now where Rogers’ West Allis campus is located.
