Our Talent Tribute Monthly Feature is designed to celebrate the phenomenal staff that serve our Members.
Since moving to the United States from Liberia in 2004, Sah Fayah has credited his nearly 20 years at VALLEYLIFE with helping him acclimate and adapt to American culture. Sah started his VALLEYLIFE journey in 2005, when he was hired as a DSP I for Desert Cove group home. Since then, he has continued to grow within the organization, first being promoted in 2007 to a DSP II, Assistant Supervisor in 2009, and his current role as Senior Supervisor of Carol and Hayward group homes in 2019.
Sah has played an integral role in managing Carol group home, transforming it from a home known for managing extreme behaviors to a place of tranquility for Members and staff. According to Sah, this is largely thanks to the homegrown garden he helped start in the group home’s backyard. Every year since its creation in 2017, Members and staff from Carol group home tend to the garden and harvest produce to be consumed by the Members of multiple VALLEYLIFE group homes. Excess produce is then donated to organizations like Desert Mission Food Bank. The garden has also provided Members with a therapeutic environment and activity to which they can channel their energy.
Outside of VALLEYLIFE, Sah is the proud father of three children and eight Huskies. He enjoys going out to the movies with his family any chance he gets. Sah first came to the United States through a resettlement program and was introduced to VALLEYLIFE by his aunt less than a year later.
We sat down and asked Sah about his VALLEYLIFE experience as a whole, and this is what he had to say.
1. How would you describe your ideal day at VALLEYLIFE?
My ideal day at VALLEYLIFE would be any day where everyone is ready and willing to be team players. If you don’t have the right team, you won’t have a successful home.
2. What has your time at VALLEYLIFE taught you over the years?
Oh my gosh, my time at VALLEYLIFE has given me confidence and a lot of love because of the Members. I always tell people that if you get into this field for the paycheck, and don’t get me wrong I know we need a paycheck, if you put the money ahead of everything else, then you’re going to be frustrated all the time. We’re here for the Members because at the end of the day, they can’t help which cards they’ve been dealt in life.
3. Can you tell us what you enjoy most about interacting with Members?
What I enjoy most about interacting with Members is how happy they are to see me when they get home from their DTAs. I love when Members want to tell me how their day has gone. A good example of this is one of my Carol Members, Daniel. His story is an inspiration to me because he used to have behaviors that were more challenging to handle, but now he knows how to redirect himself. I’ve worked with Daniel since 2005 and through working for VALLEYLIFE, I get to be his advocate and create a bond with him based on trust.
4. What skills or qualities do you think are most important for success in your position?
The skills I believe are most important in my role is listening and being willing to follow VALLEYLIFE’s policies and Procedures. If you follow the training, then you’re going to be successful.
I’ve learned that everything the training teaches us, will make us successful if we put it into practice.
5. Lastly, what do you hope to accomplish or learn in your future at VALLEYLIFE?
What I hope to accomplish in my future at VALLEYLIFE is to be able to keep the same three Members at Carol. The current group we have here at Carol understand each other and have trust in me, which I also have in them. All in all, the group we have right now at Carol is a success story, and for that I am proud.