Pengarang: Shirley Ward

The year 1996 was significant to Shirley J. Ward, because it was (unwittingly), the beginning of her formal training in counseling. And it was the year she and her husband of thirty years moved to Casa Grande, Arizona. Shirley was hired by the local newspaper where she stayed five years until her retirement, and then was able to volunteer at the Home of Hope, a Teen Challenge facility for women and women with children. Home of Hope was losing their teacher/counselor, and believed Shirley to be the perfect person to take the position. Two months later, she was certified to teach the Teen Challenge curriculum. She was then given the added responsibilities of being the Chapel Coordinator and Librarian, from which she learned even more about living life as God intended. As a teacher, Shirley took counseling courses for her continued education requirements. With that knowledge, the director of Home of Hope asked her to write lessons on counseling to be taught to the Home of Hope counselors. She obliged and wrote Teaching Others to Counsel. When the Home of Hope began their Restoration Program, they needed a curriculum. Three months later, Shirley had it written and was teaching it in her classes. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Shirley was forced to retire (permanently), from the Home of Hope, but not before being named “Staff Member of The Year” in 2004. She also holds an AA degree in Pre-business from Kirkwood Community College.