“What would you do if you had to walk in 120-degree heat to take your child to the doctor?”That’s the reality for some families living in rural Nevada.
Some…
- Can’t afford a head of lettuce at their local store.
- Have no car and rely on hours-long public transit for basic needs.
- Avoid resources out of fear, shame, or guilt.
And yet, there is hope.
It comes in the form of
home visitors, everyday heroes who travel to the homes of families with children ages 5 and under to provide resources, education, and encouragement.
Recently, I had the privilege of leading a
Banish Burnout workshop for the Nevada Department of Public Health’s home visitors. We gathered in stunning South Lake Tahoe, surrounded by beauty and abundance, while discussing the realities of serving some of the most underserved communities in our country.
The stressors they face go beyond “passion fatigue”: - A “911” text at midnight that isn’t truly an emergency.
- Feeling helpless because the needs are greater than the available resources.
- Endless paperwork on top of an overwhelming caseload.
- Food insecurity in the very communities they serve.
- Self-doubt and frustration when change is painfully slow.
And yet… they find joy in small victories:
- A parent who reaches a goal — then sets a new one.
- A family gaining confidence in their parenting skills.
- A heartfelt thank-you that reminds them why they started this work.
How do they keep going?They lean on each other.
They walk their dogs.
They read a good book.
They find little rituals that refill their emotional cup because they know burnout prevention is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.
It was an honor to help them find tools to keep their passion alive while protecting their own well-being.
If you work in a helping profession, what’s one thing you do to keep burnout at bay?