We Are IH: Social work clinician models resilience and compassion
Name: Elaine Prud’homme (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Youth Substance Use Connections DASW (Discipline Allied with Social Work)
Years of Service: 10
Worksite: Rocky Mountain Lodge MHSU (Mental Health and Substance Use)
Community: Cranbrook
Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: Let go, let God. Keep it simple. One day at a time.
For Elaine Prud’homme, being a positive role model for her children, and creating positive outcomes for people in her community makes life worth living.
Learn more about her journey with IH
Elaine was born in Montreal and raised in Kelowna, B.C. She relocated to the Kootenays 20 years ago, and now resides in beautiful Cranbrook. Growing up surrounded by drug addiction and poverty, she knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue a career to try to “tackle the stigma surrounding the less fortunate.” Elaine ended up working at a women’s shelter for 15 years, before joining IH and working at Ponderosa House detox centre in Cranbrook. When Ponderosa closed, she moved to the Chemical Dependency Team, which then became the Substance Use Connections team.
Elaine now works on the Youth Substance Use Connections (SUC) team, and though sometimes the work is tough, she approaches her role with resilience, strength and compassion. She is agile and responsive in her day-to-day work, putting out “legit dumpster fires on the regular,” and navigating frequent changes due to client needs.
When the Youth Substance Use Connection position came up, I snatched it up as it offers me the latitude to develop a whole new program, which is both exciting and a new challenge.
Energized by each day’s small accomplishments, and how they add up to success stories and positive outcomes for her community, Elaine is currently pursuing her master’s degree in clinical counselling.
I always wanted to get my master’s degree after I got my B.A. 20 years ago but, never felt confident I could actually DO it being that I have been out of school for so long. My former team lead encouraged me to just GO FOR IT and continue my education. I applied, and have not looked back! I am blessed that she supported me to pursue my dreams.
Outside of work, Elaine loves spending time with her two beautiful daughters. She enjoys the outdoor paradise of the East Kootenays and does plenty of camping, swimming and dirt biking. Says Elaine, “I love camping. Getting away from all the noise and being in nature is so therapeutic.”
Looking to the future, Elaine is excited to take her eldest daughter to her first concert in October, seeing Dermot Kennedy. She’s looking forward to when her eldest daughter can babysit her sister, and can’t wait for the day her kids start sleeping in, so she can sleep in as well! One of Elaine’s simplest pleasures is extremely relatable – throwing out a really old Tupperware container with no lid!
Elaine nominates Janelle Williams, RN, Substance Use Connections, to keep We Are IH going
“Janelle is an amazing nurse who has such a giant heart and is a beautiful soul who deserves to be recognized.” – Elaine Prud’homme
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