Growth Begins With Courage: Janita Wise
For 27 years, Janita Wise has grown alongside Bancroft.
Janita began her career as a Direct Support Professional and spent her first 16 years in a residential group home, building lasting relationships with the individuals who lived there. Those years shaped her understanding of the work. “Being in their lives for that long, you become family,” she says.
When asked about Janita, the individuals who knew her from the beginning light up and begin sharing memories of ice cream afternoons and rainy adventures at the boardwalk. As they talk, Janita’s joy in reliving those moments shines right back.
She remembers her first day at Bancroft and the bright, colorful dress she wore. Years later, one of the individuals in her care mentioned that very first day and described her dress in vivid detail. “Six or seven years had passed,” she says, “and he still remembered.”
That moment showed her just how much of an impact she had made on their lives.
For Janita, the greatest reward in her time here has been witnessing the growth of the people she has supported and knowing she played a part in their journey. The smiles and excitement that greet her when she walks into a room are moments that she carries with her.
“What keeps me here is the individuals,” she says. “To know I’ve had a part in their growth – that’s motivation.”
But the transformation hasn’t been one-sided.
Janita shares that her time at Bancroft has greatly impacted her life outside of work. The patience she practices daily, the resilience she’s built, and the advocacy skills she’s mastered have strengthened her not only as a leader, but as a wife, a mother, and a daughter. When her husband faced medical challenges, she was able to advocate for him, drawing from years of attending doctors’ appointments and speaking up for the individuals she supports.
When a doctor asked if she was a nurse, she smiled and replied, “No. I work for Bancroft.”
Today, as Senior Program Director overseeing group homes in Burlington County, Pompton Lakes, and Bancroft’s supported apartment programs, Janita leads her team with confidence and compassion.
Her leadership is rooted in belief – belief in people, belief in potential, belief that growth is always possible. “You can learn the skills,” she says, “but if you have the heart and integrity, everything else will come together.”
When asked what she hopes people will remember about her, Janita keeps it simple. “I challenged myself,” she says. “I always tried to do better and I always tried to inspire others to do the same.”
To anyone considering a career at Bancroft, Janita’s advice is this: Believe in your own abilities and never give up. Growth, she says, begins with courage.
“I feel that I’m a stronger person because of what I do,” she says. “Bancroft is my purpose.”