Tracy E. McDade

Tracy McDade has always felt the need to help out in the community.At an early age she volunteered tutoring refugees in Florida.

In adulthood, her career followed a similar path into the human services-social work field.

"I found out about the human services counseling program at ODU and made it a career," McDade said.

As director for home-based services and case management at First Home Care Corporation, McDade oversees and develops programs with the goal of family preservation.

"As a social counselor you have to become a leader and learn to work with different types of people," she said.

McDade's 15-year career in social work has not forced her to put aside her thirst for volunteering.She has served as a big sister with the YWCA in Norfolk, as a board member of the Community Diversion and Incentive program in Tappahannock, and as chair of the Commonwealth Alliance for Drug Rehabilitation and Education in Tappahannock.She has also been a counselor for numerous social programs in the area.

In her line of work, McDade admits results never come easily, which means the field is not for those who seek instant gratification.