Helping People Find Their Next Step
Employee Spotlight: Samithia Shaw, Clinical Administrator
Just over a year after joining CaringWorks as Clinical Administrator, Sam Shaw has become an important part of the Behavioral Health team, helping ensure clients receive the care, support, and consistency they need to continue moving forward.
Her role touches nearly every part of the department’s clinical operations. Sam helps coordinate behavioral health clinics, supports clients through appointments and medication management, maintains clinical records, verifies insurance and authorizations, and works behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly.
While her responsibilities are broad, Sam says the most rewarding part of her job is building relationships with clients.
“The biggest thing for me is maintaining a great rapport with the clients,” she said. “Making sure they feel loved and see a friendly face when they come in the door and help in any way that I can.”
Helping people navigate challenges has been a focus of Sam’s entire career. Before joining CaringWorks, Sam has held various roles in community and behavioral health, including in correctional healthcare where she connected individuals leaving incarceration with medical care, mental health services, education, and other community resources.
“Correctional healthcare was where I found the most passion for being able to help people that were underserved,” she said.
That passion is deeply personal. Growing up in Atlanta, she watched people she knew and others in her community struggle with homelessness, addiction, and limited opportunities.
“If I can be in a position to help or show a little bit of compassion or find a way to make things better, then I will do so.”
Early in her career, she learned an important lesson that still shapes how she approaches both colleagues and clients.
“I learned very early on to focus more on managing personalities than managing people.”
That perspective has helped her connect with people from every background.
“Although we can be from different cultures, we can be from different backgrounds… you always will find something familiar about a person because you’ve either encountered that personality before, you’re dealing with that personality at the moment, or you’re learning about that personality.”
She says seeing clients persevere through tremendous obstacles continues to inspire her.
“So many of them have overcome so many obstacles, and it’s encouraging,” she said. “It makes it easy to do this work, and it’s the most gratifying part of my job.”
She especially enjoys helping organize the Behavioral Health team’s monthly client activities, which combine mental health education with opportunities for creativity and connection. Whether creating vision boards tied to treatment goals, painting, or learning coping skills during the holidays, the activities give clients a chance to encourage one another and focus on what’s ahead rather than what’s behind them.
“They’re not seen for their past,” Sam said. “We see them as human beings that are striving to live better and do the right thing.”
Sam credits her leadership team for fostering a workplace where she is encouraged to contribute ideas and continue growing professionally.
“Being part of a department where you’re heard, and they’re willing to take whatever those suggestions are, or they’re willing to support your growth wholeheartedly,” she said, “I appreciate that.”
Outside of work, Sam is completing a degree in Human Resource Management, expanding her skills as she prepares for her long-term goal. One day, she hopes to start her own nonprofit that helps women leaving homelessness or incarceration connect with employment, career training, and opportunities that lead to long-term stability.
“This is a step in the right direction for me to be able to fulfill my desire,” she said.
For Sam, helping others isn’t something she turns on and off when the workday ends.
“This is definitely a passion before employment for me,” she said. “Who I am here extends beyond these walls.”
Help more people break the cycle of homelessness.
About CaringWorks:
Built on the single idea that all people—no matter their social or economic standing—should have a chance to improve their quality of life, CaringWorks has served thousands of clients since our inception in 2002. Since then we have grown exponentially to become one of Georgia’s leaders in providing permanent supportive housing. We serve hundreds of individuals each year through unique programs and services that are specifically tailored to the needs of those facing chronic homelessness.
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August 2026