18 • The Beacon October 24 , 2024

April Johnson is a Coshocton County native with both sides of her family rooted in the county . She lived in Coshocton until first grade when her family moved to West Lafayette . A 1998 graduate of Ridgewood High School , Johnson played volleyball and basketball and was in Teen Institute , an antidrug / Prom Promise type of program .

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Following graduation , Johnson didn ’ t know what she wanted to do , so she went to work at Lafayette Pointe as an attendant for a couple years . In 2000-01 Johnson moved back to Coshocton and started her own in-home daycare . Her typical clients were single moms with no support system , so she became that person .

She would take the kids to school or medical appointments if needed and buy formula or diapers . This fostered lifelong relationships with the mothers and their children . She cared for these kids , some from birth until they no longer needed care . She said it was good consistency for the kids .

After some time Johnson decided she had more to give , so she began looking at programs offered at COTC and thought human services looked interesting .

She received her Associate of Applied Sciences in Human Services in 2017 and said , “ I met some great people there including some associated with First Step , which I didn ’ t know

anything about it .”

Johnson completed a practicum at Hopewell Industries . At that time she considered the field of developmental disabilities . She jumped right into completing her bachelor ’ s degree and started in the accelerated program at Mount Vernon Nazarene University , which was a very intensive program .

In 2019 she began working part-time at First Step in the shelter , which she said really informed her decision to change focus from DD to victim ’ s advocacy .

This was new to Johnson , which she said made it really excellent . She hadn ’ t had new learning , so she said she was kind of scared going into the unknown but really excited because she could be really good at the people aspect .

“ I like working with people . I like seeing them do well , helping them realize ‘ oh , I can do this ’ and having success , having them come to me and say , ‘ Oh , this worked ,’ and take the next step . Not to be clichéd , but we really are that first step for people in

April Johnson

domestic abuse situations . It ’ s not an easy choice to make to ask for help . It ’ s just the first step to many more difficult decisions ,” Johnson said .

Johnson began working as a case manager at the shelter in 2021 .

She said , “ It didn ’ t change a lot as I was already stepping in to help the existing case manager . The only difference was a change in shelter dynamics

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going from second to first shift .”

Johnson found herself with more time on her hands during the day shift at the shelter , so she began taking trainings to learn more . In March 2020 she completed her bachelor ’ s degree , but due to COVID , no ceremony was held , which was disappointing as she was the first in her family to get a bachelor ’ s degree .

In October 2022 , Johnson began to split her time between the shelter and office , working two days at each location , and now she is at the office four days a week . She describes her position as direct services provider . In this role she meets with clients weekly for ongoing support . Not all of them are shelter residents , but all of them need resources , and she is there to help .

“ Trust and rapport are paramount . ( You ) have to be willing to give grace . The clients have to know that you care and this is a safe space for them . It ’ s my responsibility to help ,” Johnson said .

She also recognizes First Step is a small agency and said they can ’ t afford to duplicate services . “ We have to remain focused on domestic violence ,” she said .

She makes referrals to other resources if they aren ’ t able to help and tries to problem-solve . At First Step , providing services to victims of domestic violence is a team effort .

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