Meet Dr. Latavia Howard of Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Latavia Howard.

Dr. Howard, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I knew growing up that I would either become a teacher or a nurse as I had siblings that were both. I was the baby of the family, the last of nine children. I was very smart and always wanted to make my family proud, but at age 15, I became pregnant and delivered my first child in 1988. I had no idea how my life would turn out. Statistically, teen mothers don’t graduate high school and definitely do not go to college, but I was determined to change that narrative. I had a family that was very loving and supportive and was just as determined to help me succeed. I graduated from high school in 1991. I continued my education by going to a local technical school and becoming a Certified Medical Assistant in 1996 and in 2003, I became a Licensed Practical Nurse. I worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse from 2003-2010, but I desired more. I became a Registered Nurse in 2010. I continued to pursue my education and received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2015), Master of Science in Nursing (2017), and my Doctorate of Nursing Practice (2019). I currently work as a Regional Nurse Manager for the Department of Behavioral Health in Atlanta, Ga. I manage nurses that are in 36 counties across the state of Georgia. I also own my own business, Hand To Heart Solutions, where I provide CPR training to individuals in the healthcare and childcare field.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road. It seems that any time that you are trying to better yourself, obstacles present themselves. I was pregnant at an early age and although I had family support, I felt guilty for leaving my child. As I got older, I was involved with someone that was not always nice, we also had a child together and the situation was not always good. The situation I was in started to affect my daughters, and I knew I had to leave. I remember a time when I was attending college, my transportation was not stable, and I could not get a ride. It was very frustrating to know that I was trying to better myself and the help was not there. I also had to deal with jealousy from people that I thought were friends and also from family members as well. Everyone is not always happy for you because they are not understanding why we are all from the same place yet you decide to do better for yourself and your kids. I know that even in my career, there were times that people felt threatened and I was blocked from promotions, it is quite sad, but it’s real. I often struggled with my emotions because I could not understand that if I treated everyone with respect, love, and understanding, why was I not a recipient of the same.

We’d love to hear more about your practice.
I currently oversee thirty-six counties in Georgia. I work for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities in Atlanta, GA. I am the Regional Nurse Manager and I have nurses that I manage that are out in the field, ensuring the individuals are taken care of. The individuals served are those with developmental disabilities that were in institutions that have now transitioned into the community. It is important to ensure that the individuals are safe, getting the help needed, and are treated with dignity and respect. Many times my team and I are advocates for the rights of these individuals. It saddens me that people see these type individuals as less than and try to take advantage of them.

I am proud to be part of an organization that believes all individuals should be treated with dignity and respect. I am also the owner of Hand To Heart Solutions. I have owned this business since 2015. I provide CPR Training to individuals and organizations in the fields of healthcare, education, and daycare. I am proud to have built a reputation of reliability and flexibility. What sets me apart is that I am knowledgeable, I make class fun, interactive, and I work hours that others will not. I am very understanding of the needs of the community and I strive to fulfill those needs.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was very outgoing. I was the last of nine children, so I was what people called “spoiled” and got away with a lot of things. I was very smart and always got good grades but I had fun with it. I seemed to be wise beyond my years, older people seemed to interest me as they were wise and full of knowledge. Because I had siblings that were teachers and nurses, I knew that I would either be a teacher or nurse, nursing won. As a young girl, I always asked a lot of questions, I always wanted to know why? My mother used to get so frustrated and would say because that’s just how it is or because I said so, and I would be like, she does not know the answer. I always knew that I would not settle and would go on to do great things with my life.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 706-466-0703
• Instagram: Hand To Heart Solutions
• Facebook: Hand To Heart Solutions

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