When Erica Edicha was in middle school, her mom made an announcement. Edicha’s grandmother had dementia, and she was moving in with them.
“We didn’t know much about the state my grandmother was in, but my mother said, ‘She’s coming to live with us, and you better treat her right, or we’re going to have a problem,’” Edicha recalls.
Edicha learned to take care of her grandma, changing her diaper upon arriving home from school. She didn’t know it at the time, but now Edicha says this was the beginning of a long career serving and caring for others.
Today, Edicha is a work therapy assistant for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She leads a team of therapists who provide direct support to individuals with disabilities or other challenges at worksites, helping them develop vocational skills and learn appropriate work behaviors.
Edicha’s commitment to serving her clients has won the admiration of her co-workers.
“What I have learned from Erica is that above all else, the most important quality is consistent, unwavering passion,” says Elizabeth Pouliot, a co-worker. “She will not stop fighting to make a meaningful impact on each individual we support.”
For her service to her community, Edicha, a member of AFSCME Local 607 (Council 5), is a winner of our union’s Never Quit Service Award. The award recognizes public service workers who go above and beyond the call of duty to make their communities better.
Among the clients Edicha works with are individuals diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic condition characterized by a sense of being hungry all the time that leads to physical, mental and behavioral problems. It affects less than one-hundredth of 1% of the population.
Edicha and the team of therapists she works with help individuals with PW syndrome control their urges and remain productive in the workplace. The genetic condition comes with many challenges, including delayed motor skills and speech problems. Individuals with PW syndrome may also face behavioral problems. But with the help of work therapy technicians, they can often find and keep meaningful jobs.
“I love my job,” Edicha says. “I don’t ever want to call off work. It’s a joy. I’m always getting some type of laugh at work with my clients. Every client is funny, every client is different.”
Edicha has three children; her youngest is 15 years old. On tough days, it’s the love she has for her children that keeps her going, as well as great co-workers and a “great boss” whose door is always open.
“They’re a great support system,” she says. “Even on tough days I can always say, ‘It will get better.’”