We’re shining a spotlight on the people who make KVC Nebraska extraordinary. We’d like you to meet Shane Nevius, an Extended Family Home Specialist who joined KVC Nebraska in 2016. Nevius works daily to recruit EFH homes, train families and serve individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Extended Family Homes (EFH) allow individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities intensive social and independent skills guidance in a family setting. In this Q&A, he shares how the Nebraska social work field is fulfilling and offers some advice for EFH families.

Provide a home where children, teens and adults with disabilities can learn social and independent living skills. Learn more about becoming an Extended Family Home today!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I am the proud parent of a hedgehog, and I enjoy reading and writing in my free time. I have a wonderful, supportive circle of family and friends who put up with my late night work calls and try to keep me sane.

What made you choose social work as a career?

When I initially started, I didn’t expect to stay in this field. It wasn’t until my first supervisor incessantly encouraged me to keep at it that I realized I’d stumbled upon work that I’m not only good at, but that I truly love. Sometimes I think this field chose me, not the other way around.

Can you describe what it is like for you to work at KVC?

Working at KVC has been a humbling experience, and has also provided a wonderful environment for learning and personal growth. Particularly having not previously worked around child welfare, I never realized how many children need support, and the dedication their support workers invest into each case. While there are some situations that brings tears to my eyes and a knot in my stomach, it warms my heart to see all the kind souls in the world working to make a better childhood for each individual, and to be a part of something so great.

Describe a proud working moment.

My proud moments are when families are interested in becoming Extended Family Home providers, I always say one of the most important skills a family needs to develop is the ability to take “one day at a time.” Progress sometimes feels like watching paint dry, and it can be frustrating to not see improvements when it seems like we have the right supports in place.

There is an individual I used to support who absolutely hated having their nails trimmed. For months, we’d spend fifteen minutes every morning just trying to get one or two nails clipped without hurting him, because they had used to pull away the moment I started to clip each nail. Slowly but surely, they began to build a routine with me, and trusted that I wouldn’t clip too low or hurt them. It literally took nearly six months of clipping one nail each morning, day by day, but eventually we got to the point where he could have all of their nails clipped in one sitting.

So, when I’m beginning to get frustrated by what feels to me to be a lack of progress, I just think back to how proud I felt seeing my client’s efforts and my efforts take shape to accomplish even the smallest of victories. Especially because, though this may seem like a small victory for some, it was like winning a championship for this person, the staff, and their family, who had worked towards that goal for so long.

What do you find most rewarding about your job?

On tough days when things aren’t going according to plan, I look back on the really difficult cases I’ve worked. I think about the process of getting someone who has experienced so many hardships back to a place where they feel able to trust others. It’s never an easy journey, but seeing these individuals who never expected to have a family begin to flourish with consistent love and support, I know the hard days are worth it.

Do you have any advice for the clients you work with?

Yes, I would say to them: you are capable of managing situations you’d never even imagine surviving, so don’t discredit yourself! And, you never know the impact you’ll have on someone, so make sure it’s a positive one.

Shane Nevius is just one of the many dedicated specialists who work at KVC. Our staff are committed to improving the lives of children and families in the community.

Learn more about EFH here. If you are interested in Nebraska social work, find our open positions on the Careers page.