dmatthies / April 19, 2020

Well Badger Specialist Offers Comfort and Experience

Chanel Thomas has worked for the Well Badger Resource Center for almost two years — but the idea of service to others is something that’s been a part of her life for a long time. An interest in the mental and emotional well-being of people led her to study psychology in college. After college, she interned at a domestic abuse shelter with the guidance of domestic violence lawyers, and eventually made her way to the Madison chapter of the American Red Cross.

All of these experiences — coupled with her journey as a single mom of four children — has strengthened her need to provide assistance to those who need it. “When people contact Well Badger, they have a whole range of emotions,” Chanel says. “They’re nervous. They’re frustrated. They’re unsure of what to do next. It’s my role to be that person on the other end of the line that understands what they’re going through, makes them feel comfortable, and can connect them to the help they need.”

“Anything and everything”

Is my family eligible for FoodShare, or WIC? How do I apply for BadgerCare? I’m pregnant, and I need a car seat. I need help getting clothes for my baby. I think my child has some special healthcare needs, and I’m not sure what to do.These are just a few of the examples of questions Chanel fields on a daily basis from people and families throughout the state of Wisconsin. “We’re a resource to all who need it, but the majority of the calls I take are from women under 40 who are expecting or have small children,” she says. ‘Many of them aren’t aware of what’s available to them, or what specific programs include.”

Recently, Chanel took a call from a mother who has a child on the autism spectrum. Chanel’s teenage daughter was also diagnosed with autism, so she was able to not only lean on resources from other organizations — in this case, the Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin — but her own experiences.

“In addition to giving them information, I also want to give parents the peace of mind that it’s okay,” she says. “Autism means that your child sees the world differently. It’s not anything that’s anyone’s fault.. I understand, and here are some things that helped me and other parents of kids on the spectrum.”

“I’m happy when people call in for help.”

Chanel says that the comfort Well Badger provides on the other end of the line is what makes the program truly shine. “Some people call in, and they’re apologetic: ‘I’ve never needed help before.’ And I always say, ‘You’re fine. It’s okay. I’m here.’ There’s no reason to feel guilt or shame in calling and asking for assistance. You’re not any less of a person. You never know what life has in store.

“I’m a single parent with four children. I’ve been on WIC. I know where people are coming from, and I’m happy when people call in for help. That’s what we’re here for.”

As the Well Badger Resource center is part of the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation (WWHF), there’s the added benefit of being directly connected to WWHF programs. “For instance, if someone calls in and says ‘I’m pregnant, and I need help to stop smoking’ we can connect them directly with my colleagues in our First Breath program,” Chanel says. “This also means that if any of our colleagues are working with a participant and they mention they’re having challenges with financial assistance or health insurance, they’ll direct those questions to us.”

“I’m going to do something really good today.”

“It might sound cheesy, but I wake up most days and think, ‘I’m going to go do something really good today,’ Chanel says. “I may not be saving lives, but if I can help a person navigate through a mental illness or help women stop smoking during their pregnancy, that makes a difference. So many people think that changing the world means changing it in a huge way. I’m a big believer of changing the world one person at a time.”

The Well Badger Resource Center is open Monday-Friday, 7 AM – 6 PM. Contact us. We’re here to listen and help.