GREENFIELD — Diana Christopher has joined LifePath as the new director for its adult family care and shared living programs.
According to a LifePath press release, participants in the adult family care and shared living programs cannot live alone safely because of medical, physical, cognitive or mental health challenges, and thus live with caregivers.
As director of the two programs, having started Nov. 18, Christopher is responsible for the overall management including supervising staff, coordinating program functions and overseeing expenditures. Additional tasks include community networking, public relations and advertising, according to the release. The program director also helps transition participants into the programs and is responsible for ongoing casework.
“Diana is an exciting addition to the adult family care and shared living programs,” said Charity Day, associate director of client services for the Greenfield-based nonprofit. “Her 30 years of experience in human services is an important asset and I am excited to work with her.”
“We are thrilled to have Diana join the LifePath family,” added LifePath’s Executive Director Barbara Bodzin. “Her enthusiasm for the work and her positive energy will be a wonderful compliment to the high standards and quality held within this department. Diana possesses a wealth of knowledge, experience and insights to guide her and the team forward.”
Christopher most recently worked as director of operations at the Boys & Girls Club Family Center in Springfield, where she oversaw all club operations with a focus on safety. Her previous experience includes coordinating and monitoring an intensive residential program at Pathlight, and supervising and overseeing the adult foster care home-share model at Nonotuck Resource Associates Inc. The release states she earned a bachelor’s degree in human services from Almeda University.
“Over the course of the past 30 years, I have gained professional knowledge in several areas of human services, including education and prevention programs with young children and teens, homeless services for women and children including transitional housing, shelter placements and, of course, services to the aging population,” Christopher said. “The opportunity to work with LifePath allows me to use my skills in an area that is so critically needed. The culture, atmosphere and wealth of services offered through LifePath will allow me to continue to contribute to LifePath’s mission to listen first, and then help each person find the best option for their unique needs.”
LifePath serves all of Franklin County and Athol, Petersham, Royalston and Phillipston. Some programs, including the adult family care and shared living programs, are also available in Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties.