Healthy Minds’ Employee Spotlight articles feature dedicated team members doing amazing work to make mental health care better for everyone in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada.
Introducing Laura Brown, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at Healthy Minds
Where are you from?
I grew up in Carson City, Nevada. Now, I live in Irvine, California, and work remotely for Healthy Minds. I’m in Vegas for work about once per month.
Not every day is a day at the beach, but some can be when you live in Irvine, CA.
When I’m in town, I also get to spend time with my best friend, Ashley Edmunds, who also works at Healthy Minds. We originally worked together in Reno at a non-profit and quickly became friends.
What do you do at Healthy Minds?
I’m a Community Support Services Program Manager. I oversee our two community service programs. The first is Healthy Homes, a PSR program (psychosocial rehabilitative services). It is an in-home program where we work with clients and their family systems to target behavioral concerns using a variety of evidenced based interventions. We have four very talented and highly trained Healthy Homes Support Specialists who in addition to providing services to the clients and families, also work very closely with the rest of the client’s treatment team to ensure the behavioral concerns are being addressed to the best of our ability.
The second is our Care Coordination program. We have three very skilled Care Coordinators who provide case management services to all our “project clients.” Our Project clients have a current DFS case opened and are receiving some form of treatment (either therapy, psychiatric services, or both) through Healthy Minds. Our Care Coordinators work very closely with our clients, families, and treatment team to identify barriers and find solutions. Care Coordinators collaborate with our staff of therapists and psychiatrists to ensure the families we serve are successful in meeting their treatment and life goals. Our Care Coordinators are fantastic at linking the client/family to services, and they are all incredibly knowledgeable of the resources and services available in the Las Vegas community.
What’s your educational background?
I graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. I then moved to Las Vegas to pursue my Master’s Degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for Social Work with an emphasis in Direct Clinical Practice. I’ve been a social worker since 2012 and completed my LCSW requirements in 2014.
Laura with her family at graduation.
Trivia – what funny, odd, or interesting thing don’t people know about you?
I had to have open heart surgery when I was one week old. My heart still beats “backwards.” I wasn’t getting oxygen to my blood, so the surgeons had to re-route my heart. My blood flows in the opposite direction from what a typical person’s heart does. Thankfully, I had really incredible surgeons, so there have been no complications, restrictions, or medications.
Another thing that might be funny or interesting: I used to be in a professional ballet company. I wanted to make a career in ballet, but my parents were adamant about me going to college and having a backup plan. I’m thankful for my parents!
Laura as a young ballerina.
Tell us about your family?
My husband and I have been married for four years. No kids yet, but we do have a little dog. Well, he’s 50 pounds (a lab mix), so maybe not so little.
Laura’s version of a small dog.
We moved to California for my husband’s job: he’s Vice President of eCommerce for a company here. We met in Las Vegas online via a dating app. He was the only person I met on the app. I was hesitant to meet him, but he was persistent, so we eventually met. Obviously, the first date went well since we got married 3 years later.
The Brown’s wedding day!
My mom, dad, brother and sister-in-law, as well as my in-laws all live in Reno/Carson area. My family means the world to me, and any chance I get I try to see and spend time with them.
What are your hobbies?
As I mentioned earlier, I grew up dancing ballet, competitively. And I still enjoy taking ballet classes. I also really enjoys yoga, going to the beach, hiking, and cooking delicious vegan food.
What are your favorite things to do in Vegas?
When I lived there, I loved going to shows and trying new restaurants. Since I’m only there about once per month now, I don’t get to do as much there as I used to, but I do love seeing my co-workers and friends once a month.
What’s the most rewarding experience or thing you like most about working at Healthy Minds?
The biggest thing is my team! I am so proud of the Healthy Homes Support Specialists and Care Coordinators. They all provide amazing services to clients and families which have a huge impact in helping the family succeed. Everyone on the team cares so much, works so hard, and is very dedicated to improving the lives of the families they work with. I am very proud of these two programs and so thankful for such an amazing team of support workers to help make these programs and services the quality they are.
My personal growth as a clinician and also as a manager has also been incredibly rewarding and important. I am very thankful for all the training and support I have received from Healthy Minds during by 4 years of employment with them so far. One of the things that really sets Healthy Minds apart is that we bring in support from all different disciplines — psychologists, LMFTs, psychiatrists, social workers, and others, so the learning is endless, which I personally love!
Thank you, Laura, for the amazing work you do to help improve mental health care for children and families in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. Everyone at Healthy Minds is grateful for your talents and dedication. Dance on!
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