Kim Archuletta, LCSW, received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) from San Diego State University (SDSU). Kim is the Director of Undergraduate Field Education and a lecturer in the undergraduate social work program. Kim has also served in SDSU’s Student Grievances Committee, Faculty Right Committee and as representative of the California Faculty Association.
Her passion for the field of social work stems from her mother’s influence in assisting individuals in vulnerable situations. Kim began working in the substance use field after graduating with her MSW at SDSU. She has continued to work with this population throughout her professional career. She has over 30 years of clinical experience in the field of Substance Abuse treatment, program administration, design and implementation. She has also done numerous substance abuse training and consultations over the years. Kim is driven to give a voice to pregnant/parenting women with children struggling with substance use issues. She has advocated and lobbied to improve their access to mental health and substance use services. She has worked diligently to educate elected officials about the issues affecting their constituents who struggle with substance use during and post pregnancy.
Kim has focused her career on understanding the needs of individuals with Substance Use and Chemical Dependency issues. She worked as a clinical director for a drug treatment program in Escondido, she wrote multiple grants and was awarded monies to acquire a therapeutic child development center for children with fetal exposure to substances. She also worked with Mental Health Systems and provided clinical oversight and training to case managers assisting individuals receiving CalWORKs benefits. In addition, she opening a private practice specializing in program development and consulting with several San Diego non-profit organizations.
Kim was a field instructor for 15 years prior to coming to SDSU. Kim’s interest in working with interns began while working at University of California San Diego, Options for Recovery Program; she supervised new social work interns and realized how much she enjoyed encouraging students and being witness to their professional growth. She began her journey at SDSU as a field faculty in 2006 and enjoys working with undergraduate students. She loves their passion and drive, “they continue to inspire me and remind me of the importance of the work that we do.” She enjoys seeing her students grow professionally and every year she tells her new students, “you will not be the same person sitting before me, you will all change and that is always true.” She enjoys learning about her student’s experiences in their end-of-year evaluations, “I see their growth and confidence as emerging social workers.” Her advice to all students entering the field is, “believe in yourself and don’t let fear stop you.”
Kim shared the importance of taking care of oneself in this field. She loves to visit her daughter Marissa and other family members, who live in WA State frequently. She enjoys being in nature, taking long evening walks, hanging out with friends and spending time with her dogs Sophie, a golden doddle, and Minnie, a jack russell terrier!
Like this article?
written by MSW student Claudia Gonzalez
