CYNTHIA GARCIA
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Tina McGee always had a desire to help others. McGee grew up in Amarillo and was a member of her high school’s key club — a community service-oriented organization. After high school McGee got her associate degree in general studies. Then she got a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work from the University of Arlington. After moving to Fort Worth and then Willow Park with her husband, in 2014 they eventually settled in Peaster.
“I just always definitely had a call, a desire to help. In high school I didn't necessarily know what that was going to look like. I knew I wanted to be in a helping profession, different volunteer experiences, different work experiences while seeing different people in professional type capacities. (...) So I've always had a heart for children and families and making sure they have the support that they need,” McGee said.
McGee currently serves as the family navigator for the Family Resource Center. As the family navigator, McGee helps families find the support and resources needed.
“When families come in for different activities at the Family Resource Center, if they need any type of assistance, I help them. I also get referrals from schools, teachers, neighbors, and then I help them with developmental screeners. I also give them community resources for any type of concern they may have, or they want to get their child assessed for developmental (screeners) or they need help finding a dentist, a doctor or some type of mental health, support, food, housing, diapers — whatever it is the family needs,” McGee said.
Before taking on the role as family navigator for FRC, she was an early childhood interventionist for Parker County for about five years, which allowed her to become familiar with Springtown. Throughout her life McGee has also worked as a social worker, in a nursing home, adopting agencies, schools, HIV clinics and group homes. All the skills she has learned along the way have helped her in the role of the family navigator.
“As an early childhood interventionist, I provided families with information, referral and support services. It worked really well and fit together really well because whenever I can be a family navigator I was already aware of so many resources in the community. Of course, you always learn more. (...) But I already had a good idea of what the area had to offer, and so it was a nice fit working with children and families in the Family Resource Center, coming from a teacher, which I did, and a lot of group activities. The teacher and the Early Childhood Interventionist, knowing different ways to help families address different types of stressors and issues that they are having, and then also my background as a social worker, all that came together really well to be a very good fit for this position to help me best serve the families of Springtown,” McGee said.
Although McGee doesn't live in Springtown, when she isn't serving the community, she enjoys spending time with her adult children and attending the city's events.
“I like that there’s that downtown area and it has that center area, where everybody can come, meet and have events. I love all the activities and things that they have for the community. We've attended several of those festivals that they've had such as Christmas on the Square and Wild West Festival. Even when I'm not working, I go and I attend some of those things, because I like that kind of small-town community feel of those types of activities,” McGee said.
