An interview with Taryn Muralt, Program Director Emeritus
Q. How did you get your start at CHS?
A. I was hired as the Program Manager for the Student Assistance Program (SAP) in July 1999. Interestingly, I found out later that I was not the first choice for the position! Life has a way of working out, doesn’t it?
Q. Did you believe you would come this far?
A. When I started at CHS, I wasn’t thinking about how long I’d be with the agency, but 21 and a half years and going into retirement? That was not anywhere in my thinking. I am fortunate to have received so many opportunities to grow at CHS. I give credit to Cindy for consistently believing I could do things I wasn’t so sure I could; our senior leadership team who have been my sounding boards, shoulders to cry on and ongoing inspiration; and all the beautiful, caring, competent people who have let me be their “boss”. They’re the ones who have done all the work and made me look good!
Q. What does the Youth Navigation Center (YNC) mean for our community?
A. Our intention for the YNC is that every youth or young adult in our county has a safe place to sleep and someone to help them get back home or into their own home. We want youth to know the YNC is a safe place they can come, where staff will help them resolve issues so they don’t have to run away or be on their own with no place to call home. My immediate hope is that it becomes operational sooner than later! Presently, we have no dedicated emergency shelter for older youth ages 18-24 in Stanislaus County. The ONLY way to end youth homelessness is to have homes. The YNC will, and already is, modeling how to end homelessness. It can’t be solved through discrete, independent operated programs. Homelessness is a systemic problem and has to be addressed that way. There has to be an overarching understanding and agreement about the causes and a commitment to seek out what’s working with the population being served. The youth will let us know what works.
Q. What will you miss the most about CHS?
A. My co-workers are a given. They have sustained me throughout my time at CHS. Beyond that, like I said, I’ve never not worked but I think I might miss the sense of purpose and feeling that I’m contributing to making the world a better place. As much as I’m wanting a life with less deadlines, I know they motivate me and I think I’ll miss the satisfaction and relief I feel when I meet deadlines. I experience pride being a part of CHS. It’s a cliché but so true – no longer being a part of something bigger than myself will be hard.
Q. What are you looking forward to the most in retirement?
A. Seeing how it feels not to work. I started babysitting at age 12, had lots of part-time jobs through school and then joined the workforce in full for 42 years. I’m excited to see who I am without the structure of work.
