✨ Shawna Phillips Named Wyoming Youth Care Professional of the Year
Saint Joseph’s Children’s Home is proud to share extraordinary news: Shawna Phillips has been named the Wyoming Youth Services Association (WYSA) Statewide Youth Care Professional of the Year.
She was formally honored at the WYSA Legislative Luncheon at the Wyoming Capitol, in front of state legislators, agency directors, and youth service leaders from across the state.
In presenting the award, Executive Director Ronda Meyer reflected:
“Today we have the privilege of recognizing someone whose work rarely makes headlines — but quietly, faithfully, and consistently changes lives.”
A Steady Presence in Healing
For nine years, Shawna has dedicated herself to Wyoming’s youth. As a Family Teacher at Saint Joseph’s, she helps create a safe, nurturing, and structured environment for young people who rely on our campus for stability and healing.
She builds positive, respectful relationships with residents. She models healthy behavior. She teaches essential life skills. She supports emotional growth while upholding each resident’s dignity, rights, and cultural identity.
Her presence provides what so many youth desperately need: stability, compassion, and consistency — the true cornerstones of healing.
But what makes Shawna extraordinary is not just what she does — it’s how she does it.
Her colleagues often say that the most important skill a direct care professional can possess is the ability to build healthy relationships. Shawna does this almost immediately. Youth feel safe and cared for in her presence.
She connects naturally with children who demonstrate the most challenging behaviors. Lighthearted yet deeply mission-driven, she ensures youth not only have what they need — but experience joy along the way.
It Wasn’t About the Shoes
Sometimes, her impact is seen in the simplest moments.
There was a young man whose shoes were worn and too small. Shawna noticed — and made sure he had new shoes immediately.
It wasn’t about the shoes.
It was about dignity.
It was about being seen.
It was about a young person knowing they matter.
A Career Rooted in Service
Shawna began her journey at Saint Joseph’s in 2016 as a housekeeper. Even then, she sought ways to bring value to the mission. Over time, her leadership, compassion, and dedication became evident to everyone around her.
Her colleagues describe her as the embodiment of a caring professional whose impact extends far beyond a single shift or treatment plan. The work she does can have long-lasting, even multi-generational effects for youth and families.
As Ronda shared during the ceremony:
“Policies create frameworks. Budgets create capacity. But people like Shawna create transformation.”
Her work may not always be visible in reports or statistics, but it lives on in the confidence of a child who believes in themselves because she believed in them first.
That is generational impact.
That is legacy.
We are deeply grateful for Shawna’s dedication and proud to see her recognized at the statewide level. Wyoming is stronger because of her — stronger families, stronger futures, and stronger communities.
(Shawna Phillips seated in the chair of the Senate President at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne. Senator Cheri Steinmetz of Torrington (far left) graciously hosted Saint Joseph’s Children’s Home on the Senate floor during the WYSA Legislative Luncheon.)
If you feel called to meaningful work that turns hope into healing, we invite you to explore opportunities to join our team.
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