By Terra Avilla
When I was teenager, you know who I would have loved to have as a friend? People with hearts like Jayson Vial and Daisy Murdock! As my girls grow up I hope that they become people with hearts like Jayson and Daisy. Kind and funny, smart and caring, they have this essence of coolness about them that is not forced.
It is no wonder they are a force to be reckoned with as case workers for our county’s Wrap Around Program.
If you are unfamiliar with Lassen County Family Solutions Wrap Around it is a local program that helps provide services to teens and their families, whether that be mediation, counseling, help planning events, checking in with the family, home visits etc.
It is a huge resource to this community that helps a very vulnerable portion of our population. The two main coordinators are our very own Daisy Murdock and Jayson Vial.
Daisy is the most to-the-point, down-to-earth, funny person I have ever met. Jayson is a caring, intelligent, charismatic leader who has become like my little brother over the years. The two of them team up to make this enigma that is honestly just outstanding to be around.
I have partaken in Wrap Around meetings over the past several years spearheaded by these two. Combined, they are a powerful force that reaches their clientele at every level. They are cool enough that the teens involved want to listen, and smart and caring enough to actually provide real aid.
This mighty duo have taught several courses to parents, foster parents and teens over the past years, trying to help pass on their wealth of knowledge.
At one of the events, Daisy was the proctor and it was the most engaging, comical thing I have ever been a part of. The entire time that I watched them work, speak and interact with the partners and teens I just kept thinking, “Dang they are so cool. They are who I needed when I was a teenager.”
They relate to the teens without ever being condescending or patronizing, which trust me, is harder than it sounds. Jayson is so well spoken, the way he carries himself makes whatever topic he is discussing intriguing.
I really think that the position, a very unique niche in the social work world, could not have two better individuals serving in it. They compliment each other perfectly and honestly put in so many hours of work I know they don’t get compensated for.
The two are often out and about trying to save families in Susanville, attending countless meetings, countless counseling sessions with their participants, writing status reports or just being a listening ear for whoever needs their sage advice. They do countless community service events, never complaining about the stresses of their jobs.
They are often a last resort, which means a lot of pressure is put on them to make whatever family plan work, and they kick butt at it.
That is them. That is their hearts. That is why they are two of the reason I love the place we live.
