Human Services Program Manager known for her compassion to retire August 13

Palm Coast Observer
Your Town

In two short weeks, Human Services Program Manager Janet Nickels will retire leaving a hole in the heart of the department and people she spent the last 18 years serving.

“She has a long list of accomplishments, but most importantly Janet should be recognized for her compassion with the multitude of people that she assisted in their time of need,” said Health and Human Services Director Joyce Bishop. “There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do, or didn’t do, for the residents of Flagler County.”

Nickels partnered with Pastor Charles Silano to create Access Flagler First, which operated for nearly 10 years and regularly served hundreds of families with a variety of unmet needs. Nickels orchestrated bringing dozens of social services agencies together for this outreach event.

“Food distribution, free haircuts, free cell phones, and face-to-face time with area agencies were available to all,” Bishop said.

Nickels coordinated the Flagler Resource Council and held monthly gatherings for providers to share information, learn about new programs, and network. She also established the Flagler County Resource Directory as an offshoot of that networking.

If that wasn’t enough, Nickels wrote and managed two federal grants – Rapid Rehousing, and Homeless Prevention – as well as providing the oversight to the Human Services grants that are provided to area non-profits.

And during extraordinary need, Nickels managed Disaster Recovery Centers in the aftermath of hurricanes Matthew and Irma.

“Janet was tireless in organizing for and assembly of ‘Blessing Bags’ to be handed out during the annual Homeless Point In Time count,” Bishop said. “She worked very hard to form partnerships with many local non-profits and faith-based organizations to coordinate services for those in need of assistance like the Sheltering Tree, St. Vincent de Paul, Santa Maria del Mar, Grace Tabernacle Ministry, St. Elizabeth Seton, Christmas Come True – just to name a few.”

Nickels was hired in August 2003 as a library assistant, but within two months she was promoted to a case manager for the Human Services division of the Social Services department. She was promoted to her current position in August 2009.

“Janet Nickels has been such a positive force here in Flagler County,” said Administrator Heidi Petito. “She will be greatly missed, not only by us internally but also by our external partners with whom she forged wonderful, productive relationships.”