Local Services
“I really like that I can do work that has a positive impact in the community,” said Whitney Oswald, Contracts Manager for the Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington (AAADSW). “The professionalism -- from the individual employees to the management team -- allows us to work together as a team to do our best work for the people who rely on us.”
Originally from Indiana, Whitney studied Social Work at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame. She was assigned a 480-hour practicum at a local area agency on aging (REAL Services) where she had an opportunity to learn more about the vital role that a local Area Agency on Aging plays in the community.
After graduation, she and her boyfriend (now husband) had a big dream to move across the country to Portland, Oregon. They had saved enough money to make the trip and cover their expenses for a year. During that time, Whitney applied for jobs, hoping to land one that would allow her to stay in the state. As luck would have it, just before her savings would run out, she landed a job in Vancouver at AAADSW which allowed her to build upon her practicum experience in Indiana.
Whitney has been at the agency for more than 10 years and has held several different positions, including Medicaid Case Manager, Community Services Case Manager, and Quality Assurance and Training Coordinator. Now, as the Contracts Manager, she works with her team to ensure that client service contracts are in place for a wide variety of services and needs and works on developing policies for the agency.
“I’ve been so happy at AAADSW,” said Whitney. “This job has been a breath of fresh air for me. I love being a part of this amazing team that makes a difference, every day.”