Name: Stephanie R. Jackson

Title: Administrative Assistant

How long have you been at TARCOG and what do you do?  I’ve been with TARCOG for 22 years, my official work anniversary is in April.

I provide administrative support to the Legal Assistance Program, Elder Law Attorney, LaTanya Rhines, and the Ombudsman Program, Lead Ombudsman Representative, Alicia Howard, and LTC Ombudsman Representative, Vernel Mitchell.  Both the Legal Assistance Program and the Ombudsman Program has expanded their growth in the over twenty years that I’ve been with TARCOG, due to baby boomers and the population growth of new businesses to our five-county region.

I receive all calls for the Legal Assistance Program and attempt to return calls within 48 – 72 hours, depending on the volume of calls.  I schedule all appointments for Madison County new clients seeking legal assistance and refer clients from our outlying counties to their county of residence to schedule the next available appointment.  I schedule appointments for Madison County clients to notarize their approved final documents or prepare the final documents to be mailed to the clients for outside execution.  I generate a monthly email to DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, and Marshall County requesting the current appointment list for the month, I review the lists and prepare any final documents needed for clients that are ready to execute their documents.

I serve as a default contact for the Ombudsman Program if a concerned resident, family member, or staff, have questions for the Ombudsman Representatives.  I generate an email to the social workers in our 26 nursing facilities for the Monthly Gateway to Community Living Facility Referral Report that I calculate and submit to the State Ombudsman Office.  I serve as the secretary for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Culture Change Task Force Advisory Council, recording and preparing minutes, generating emails to Advisory Council members on upcoming meeting dates or other requests made by Alicia, the chairperson.

As an administrative assistant, I serve as backup to the receptionists, as needed.  As a TARCOG team member, I offer my assistance as needed to all programs.

What did you want to be when you grew up?  A guitar player in an all-girls band!!

What do you hope to accomplish within the next year?  On a personal note, my sister and I hope to have my mother settled here in Huntsville as her caregivers.

Who is your hero and why?  My husband, Terence Jackson.  My husband has provided support to my family over the thirty-one (31) years of our marriage, quietly behind the scenes.  Making travel possible for my mother to be with her daughter and son during their time of medical emergencies and strength during their passing. His selfless love, devotion, and commitment is what makes a real hero.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?  Have a day at the beach, soaking up the sun, listening to the waves, eating some real good seafood, watching the sunset, and then the sunrise the next morning.

What is the best piece of advice someone has given you? Your character and moral values represent who you are as a person, not what you do for a living.

What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done? Rode one of those sky lifts in Gatlinburg, Tenn.  I prayed to God that if he allowed me to get down safely, I would never get on one of those things again. He did and I haven’t!!

Who knows you the best?  My best friend, my husband, Terence.

What would you do if you won the lottery?  I would make a financial blessing to my mother, my church, and ALS of GA in memory of my sister.  I would hire an investment advisor and setup full four-year college scholarships for my two grandchildren.  Take me and my husband on a long overdue quiet vacation for just the two of us!!  Make repairs to my home and put the rest in my rainy-day fund account.