What type of social work do you practice? Why did you choose this area?
I am clinical social workers in an NYC-based supportive housing agency that provides integrated programs that link housing, health, and social services for people with severe mental illnesses, co-occurring substance use disorders, and histories of homelessness, and other complex challenges. Since I was in school, I have been interested in homelessness as a public health issue, a social justice issue, and a political issue. Supportive housing provides individuals with a clinical team that supports their recovery goals, while recognizing and honoring each persons’ right to housing and self-determination. I particularly enjoy my area of work because it involves the intersection of a wide array of issues (i.e. criminal justice involvement, mental illness, poverty, foster care, educational inequality, substance use) and therefore, affords so many opportunities for growth and change. My work in supportive housing has been an incredibly humbling experience, and speaks to the remarkable resilience of the people who are often dismissed by society.
Who has had the biggest impact on your social work career? Why?
My grandmother was a social worker, and she modeled values that were well-aligned with the NASW code of ethics. Very early on, she conveyed the message that each human deserves to be treated with kindness and dignity, and made it clear that we, as social workers, have a commitment to not only our clients, but to our communities.
What is your favorite part of the profession?
I love the flexibility of being a social worker; no two social work jobs are the same, which gives clinicians the freedom to explore our field, learn from each other, and broaden our understanding of the social problems of which we are called to address. It is rare to work in a profession that allows both micro and macro-level impact, both of which I have found equally fulfilling in very different ways.
However, my REAL favorite part has been the privilege of watching a client succeed, despite being told that they cannot. I have watched folks overcome enormous obstacles, and in the face of adversity, have used their experience to provide them with strength. And each clients’ victory is personal, from learning how to read to getting a job.
How do you think your generation has impacted the profession?
I feel that my generation has shed light on the importance of intersectionality, and understanding the impact of each person’s unique identities. While I was in graduate school, my classmates worked tirelessly to incorporate topics of race, privilege and oppression into our curriculum. The social workers before us have paved the way, and we are now using our platform to educate folks who have less access to social justice-oriented education.