Kim Hayward – Staff Spotlight

Kim Hayward is a true team player. She serves as a case manager at Casa Di Vita, our Community Residence for women on Buffalo’s West Side. At the moment, she’s helping out at Sundram Manor, our Community Residence in Niagara Falls for men, by providing case management services there, too. “I just like helping people,” she said.

Recovery has been her career for over five years and those years have all been spent at Casa Di Vita. Our agency assumed operations of the program in 2014 and Kim has blossomed in her role there ever since. She previously served as a residence monitor but was promoted to case manager in October of last year. Kim has an associate’s degree in Mental Health and Substance Abuse counseling from Erie Community College, but  her next big move is starting school in January for her bachelor’s. She will begin classes at Buff State for a degree in Social Work.

As Kim is extending her can-do attitude to Sundram Manor, she has noticed that really enjoys bringing her expertise to another program. “I love it,” said Kim. “I like a challenge.” As a case manger, she helps residents find services within the community and she helps connect them to other programs or living situations after they are ready to move on from our care.

Kim also runs some groups at Casa Di Vita. These include relapse prevention and a group that focuses on women’s needs. In these groups, Kim always encourages our residents to be grateful for the little things and to develop self-esteem. Promoting gratitude among the residents at Casa Di Vita is already paying off. Just the other day, one of the women gave the staff there a thank you card. “She gave it to us for supporting her, encouraging her, and believing in her” Kim reported.

Kim appreciates all the help and support she receives from her fellow staff members throughout the agency. Her hopes are simple and straightforward: “I want the women at Casa Di Vita to have the best life possible.”