Mona Howard, 82, retired on June 1, 2011 from her position as a Drug and Alcohol and Domestic Violence Counselor at SHIELDS’ Place of Family Program. Mona, born and raised in Los Angeles California, has a husband, 2 children, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. After a bad car accident, she decided to go back to school at the age of 55 to get a degree as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor at Abram Friedman Occupational Center and Cerritos College. Prior to working at SHIELDS, Mona worked at Charles Drew University’s Place of Family from 1989 until 2008 when SHIELDS acquired the program. Mona is 82 years young and attributes her longevity to her mother who lived to the age of 97, to her co-workers who kept her young, and to her self-described resilient nature, “I’m like Teflon…I even survived Cancer”.
In her retirement Mona is looking forward to spending more time with her family and maybe volunteering with a hotline to continue her passion of helping Latina women that have experienced Domestic Violence. Her advice to those of us that have many more years working in the fields of social work is to “always be compassionate to one another and not judge”. SHIELDS for Families would like to thank Mona for her many years of service and dedication to individuals and families throughout Los Angeles and we wish you Good Luck in your retirement!
In her retirement Mona is looking forward to spending more time with her family and maybe volunteering with a hotline to continue her passion of helping Latina women that have experienced Domestic Violence. Her advice to those of us that have many more years working in the fields of social work is to “always be compassionate to one another and not judge”. SHIELDS for Families would like to thank Mona for her many years of service and dedication to individuals and families throughout Los Angeles and we wish you Good Luck in your retirement!
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