Get to Know: Sue Robichaud (Part 1)

To say that Suzanne (Sue) Robichaud is leaving behind a sizable legacy at Nonotuck would be an understatement. After starting as a part-time consultant at Nonotuck in December 2000, Sue has spent the bulk of her career at Nonotuck as a placement specialist, facilitating the connection between shared living providers and people receiving services from Nonotuck.  

In many ways, Sue’s hiring represents an important moment in Nonotuck’s history, as she was at the forefront of our expansion from Western Massachusetts into Central Massachusetts. All of this equates to a tremendous set of shoes to fill when Sue leaves Nonotuck for retirement this Spring.

Reflecting on Sue’s profound influence at Nonotuck, President/CEO George H. Fleischner says: “Sue Robichaud’s impact on Nonotuck cannot be overstated. She was the right person, at the right time, with the right values, with the right skills and the right vision to lead our expansion into Central Massachusetts—at a time when shared living was not yet recognized as a viable residential service. Yet it was her strong belief in the power of relationships, that brought legitimacy to shared living, earning the trust of professionals, families, and—most importantly—the people we serve.”

“For 25 years, I have valued my relationship with Sue, not only as a respected colleague but as a person of kindness and integrity. Her gift for connecting the right people has transformed lives, creating bonds of love and care that will endure long beyond her and my tenure,” he adds.

Vice President of Operations Debra Schnare mirrors this sentiment, saying Sue’s impact on Nonotuck is “Immeasurable,” adding:  “Sue set an exceptionally high standard for referral, assessment, matching, and personalized transition practices, establishing a foundation for excellence in Shared Living. Her deep ties to the local and surrounding communities allowed her to cultivate a rich network of providers, offering meaningful choices to people and their families.”

We recently sat down with Sue to discuss her career at Nonotuck and subsequent post-retirement plans.

What attracted you to Nonotuck?

I had done a similar job for another agency. I worked in shared living for about 12 years, then became a program director. I left that job to stay home with my three-year-old and wasn’t sure for how long. The area director of Worcester Department of Developmental Services (DDS) connected me with George {Fleischner, Nonotuck CEO & President}. At the time, Nonotuck was expanding from Western MA to Central MA and needed someone local.

What attracted me, besides talking to George, was that when I worked in shared living with the other agency, I had crossed paths with other Western MA agencies. I thought their values were different—in a good way. I was never going to move to Western MA, so this was the best of both worlds: I got to stay where I was, while working for an agency based in Western MA. The flexibility worked out for everyone since they didn’t need a full-time person.

You’re a Placement Specialist now—have you filled other roles at Nonotuck?

Placement Specialist has always been my title. George and I came up with it when I started and figured out what my role would be. My role initially involved screening providers, attending all intakes, and assisting with transitions. I was involved in some capacity in moving people in. We don’t say “placement” anymore—we say transition.

I facilitate transition meetings, plan the transitions, and take the person to the initial visit with the shared living provider. I’ve always been very involved with DDS, and that has never really changed.

The way we do things has changed slightly due to additional paperwork. That’s when clinicians and nurses became involved in the assessment. But I’ve always been part of the transition team.

What are the specific talents you’ve brought to this position?

What has suited me to the job is that I like working with people—I’m very much a relationship person. Since I was not a program director or assistant program director, I was able to focus on the people, the providers, and those referred to us, without getting caught up in paperwork. Paperwork is not my strongest skill—talking to people is.

What has changed in your 25 years here?

The paperwork requirements and licensing requirements have changed. The job of the care manager has evolved. At the core of it, though, our values haven’t changed. People are the most important thing. The relationships you develop and figuring out what the person referred to us needs—and then finding the best provider to meet that need—hasn’t changed.

Our provider pool continues to grow. It’s really almost all word of mouth. I get anywhere between three and six calls a week from people who got our information from someone they know who’s a provider. Providers are out in the community with the people they support. Many work in nursing homes and group homes, so the information spreads organically.