Project Enable is a BPSR (biopsychosocial recovery) clinic that works with adults with a severe mental health diagnosis. I interned with the TAY (transitional age youth) program. One of the main components of this program is their TAY group. This is an open-ended group that is specifically for TAYs to teach them independent living skills, […]
Police, Minority Communities, and Trauma by David Eisenberg, LCSW, Ph.D.
I didn’t plan this, but it ends up that my social work career has had an underlying focus on trauma. My first professional assignment involved studying the traumatic consequences for frail elders when moved involuntarily. Forty years later I am working with suicidal veterans. In between I’ve had a whole host of work experiences that […]
A Decentralized Service Delivery Model Benefits Clients and Providers at SURVIVORS By Carin Anderson, MSW Intern
Social work, like other human service professions, requires the clinician to practice self-care to balance work with physical, emotional, and psychological well being. This is especially true when working with torture survivors. Even those such as immigration court clerks or interpreters need to be cognizant that the work they are doing can have an effect […]
Social Work and Interns at Survivors of Torture, International by Carin Anderson
Survivors of Torture, International (SURVIVORS) was founded in 1997 to fill a gap in services for survivors in San Diego County. Their program takes a holistic approach to healing with psychotherapy, psychiatry, psychological evaluations and medial affidavits for asylum seekers, medical case management, and interpreters. Additionally, SURVIVORS offers case management. Tammy Pham is a MSW […]
Still Unclear: Why are There So Many Black Children in the Child Welfare System? by Ijeoma Nwabuzor Ogbonnaya, Ph.D.
Growing up in a house with a mother who is a children’s social worker made me privy to the many issues children and families involved with child welfare face, as well as the burden these issues may have on social workers. For example, I learned at a young age that some parents get their children […]
A Day in the Life of the Field Director in Fall by Candy Elson, LCSW
What does October or Fall mean to you? Back to school? Pumpkin scones and lattes at Starbucks, or as the eloquent English poet said, “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. For field faculty, it means we are on the road for our site visits, a highlight of the academic year, as we get to be […]
Chula Vista Veterans Home Social Workers Pay it Forward by Robert Winkler
Social work is an important element in providing care to residents at Veterans Home of California – Chula Vista. The professionals who perform this vital role are often part of a continuous cycle of mentorship beginning during their formal educations. Some of the duties of the home’s social workers include, but are not limited to: […]
DEVELOPING LEADERS IN HUMAN SERVICES—A MODEL by Patti Rahiser
If you retire tomorrow, will there be someone to step in and continue your work as a leader? The Southern Area Consortium of Human Services (SACHS) pondered this question shortly after they organized their coalition. SACHS was established in 2001 and consists of human service Directors from the Southern California Counties of Imperial, Los Angeles, […]
Social Work’s Role in Promoting Resilient Communities through Partnership with State and Local Police by Terry Carrilio, Ph.D. and David Eisenberg, Ph.D.
The “securitized” relationship between police and disenfranchised communities has been highlighted recently by the unrest in Ferguson, MO and the polarized public debates about race, oppression, police tactics, and social exclusion. Social work, which has historically advocated for disenfranchised populations and promoted community resiliency, is uniquely placed to work with local communities and police agencies […]
Reflections on My International MSW Internship by Dervla O’Leary
Between 2012 and 2013, I spent ten months in Thailand. I initially went to Thailand through the Summer Internship Program and fell in love with the country so much that I decided to pursue an International Community Development focus and return to Thailand to carry out my field practicum and thesis research during my second […]