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07/22/2015 08:00 AMWith mental health on the forefront these days, 28-year-old East Haven native Scott Witter believes strongly in his career of choice.
“With all the changes in the American culture every day, I believe we are slowly moving away from the stigma” that surrounds mental health concerns, says Scott, director of Social Services at East Haven’s Talmadge Park.
Scott is a graduate of East Haven High School (EHHS), where he was an active member of the EHHS Marching Band, while they were national champions.
With the band, Scott traveled up and down the east coast, and was also the band’s first chair trumpet.
The marching band is where he says he learned “great values, teamwork, accountability, and had a lot of fun!”
Scott also took a psychology course at EHHS because he says he was always interested in people’s stories. He went on to Southern Connecticut State University, earning a B.A. in psychology with a concentration in mental health.
Scott, who calls himself “a typical East Haven son,” says he’s tried moving away, but always came back.
A student of the East Haven public school system since grade 1, Scott graduated with honors in his degree and then went on to earn his master’s degree at Loyola University of Chicago, again with honors, in social work.
Scott began working at Talmadge Park in 2004, in the kitchen, when he was just a senior in high school and then worked there during college.
After graduating from Loyola, Scott says he was offered positions in Chicago, but decided to use his expertise to benefit his hometown, a town to which he’s very dedicated.
Scott returned to work at Talmadge Park, but this time as a social worker in January 2014.
“I was born and raised here, so my job is unique because a lot of my patients are my friends’ grandparents, and the majority of people that work at Talmadge were born and raised here. It’s very family oriented,” which Scott really enjoys.
Known for his dedication to the elderly, Scott’s often tireless passion is clear, and by August 2014, Scott was promoted to the position of director of Social Services.
His promotion, though wonderful, was “also a bit of a scare,” he says, but notes he was fortunate to be mentored by some “wonderful staff members” and credits them for the great work he’s doing in crisis health management and variety of other fulfilling duties.
Scott also spends many hours volunteering for The Busty Brawlers, a charity foundation, that teaches awareness of breast cancer, while donating funds to find a cure.
It’s a very important cause, with breast cancer on the rise in recent years, and Scott is often seen working at the Busty Brawlers table for Talmadge Park’s Holiday Fair, The Lighthouse Point walk, and most recently the Wooster Street Cherry Blossom Festival.
He will once again be manning the table for the Brawlers at the East Haven Fall Festival. Scott admits with a laugh that “people are often quite surprised to see a male at the table.”
Brought up by a single mom, along with his two siblings, Scott speaks proudly of his family. “My mom raised us right,” he says.
To nominate a Person of the Week, contact Jaki Lauper at j.lauper@shorepublishing.com.