Social Work Personal Statement

My current field placement is at Kent County Family Court with the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families, also known as the Children’s Department. Family Court has many locations, the current loctaion for my Field Placement is in Kent County, but they have Family Court in Sussex County as well as New Castle County. The department that I am interning with does a number of things for children, youth, and their families. The mission of the department is to assist children, youth, and families in making positive changes through services that support child and public saftey, behavioral health, and individual, family, and community well-being. They fulfill this mission in many different ways. They strive to make sure that every child has a safe environment to live in, stable housing, they aim for children and youth to embrace a sense of hope about their future and being optimistic as well as teaching them to learn and ways to expand their

My main reason for applying to the Simmons School of Social Work is that it is an accredited university with an excellent reputation as an educational institution and offers an MSW program that is predominantly online. I attended Thomas Edison State University online and earned my bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.9. Once I made the decision to continue my education, I searched for MSW programs that were available online with CSWE accreditation in compliance with New Jersey State social work licensure. I found that Simmons’s specialized program in clinical social work is well suited for my educational needs.

As the internship program and the training intended, I have learned much related to my major, Criminal Justice. This internship helped me to acknowledge that qualified, knowledgeable professionals are needed by our complex society to define, administer, and put our rules and standards into force. Like jobs in any other field, to work in the field of law requires expertise. Trained experts are the most desirable to be hired by organizations, tasked to manage justice, to direct their operations. By writing articles for the legal website, I learned to assess law enforcement situations orderly. I learned to make use of the basic legal and management theories to analyze the situations. I got the opportunity to show my understanding of the key process in the U.S. criminal justice system. I also learned to combine approaches from management, law, and the behavioral science to apply them to the situations I was studying.

This position will provide me with the skills I need to better assist individuals, while I learn the fundamental skills that I will use in my career. In Diversity Studies, I have learned how systemic barriers have outcasted marginalized groups, specifically youth of color. I have learned how to critically think about the individual and ways to help promote their wellbeing, rather than being quick to judge their situation. These skills are crucial when working with individuals that have past convictions because it is important not to label the individual, but look at them as individuals who have the potential to overcome their circumstances. That is why I will be a vital team member of the Juvenile Division Department team.

The decision to take the clinical route as a second year MSW graduate student, was one that took no hesitation to make. My passion for children and the preservation of families have been a propelling factor in my Social Work career; both academically and professionally. These two entities have motivated me to remain steadfast on the journey to obtaining my MSW so I can continue to be a vessel for children and families who are in need of support and empowerment. The clinical spectrum of social work practice has strengthened my ability to work proficiently with multiple clients and perform well when assisting families in different realms of social work practice. The knowledge gained during my four years as an undergraduate BSW student and

In order to pursue my goal, I needed to finish my degree and gain experience working directly with youth. The first step was leaving my full-time position with DYC and working at one of the staff-secure facilities as a Coach Counselor. I began working part-time at the facility in September 2014 with both DYC and the Department of Human Services youth. My responsibilities include supervising the students during the different elements of their day (we refer to the youth as students or student athletes because our program emphasizes the value of education and the organization and teamwork in sports as a foundation to make positive changes in their lives), providing appropriate and supportive leadership, and being a positive adult role model. This experience has solidified my desire to work as a youth case manager or parole officer. I enjoy working with the students, celebrating their accomplishments with them, and helping them through disappointments and/or set-backs. In addition to my part-time position, I am also in the Air Force Reserves working as a Paralegal in the active duty legal

After graduating college in 2011, I was happy to find my first job working with foster and homeless youth as a residential counselor, not knowing exactly what to expect.

To begin, I would first like to thank you for taking the time to read this narrative. I have worked in the criminal justice field for over 7 years, all in the field of Corrections both in the prison setting, and also as a probation/parole officer II. Furthermore, a graduated from Western Piedmont Community College with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice and continued my education to Western Carolina University with a bachelor degree concentrated in Corrections. My professional endeavor begin at Western Youth Institution; which was a minimum, medium and close facility that housed youth offenders aged 13-21.

I was placed in the Domestic Violence unit as an investigator. I worked under the supervision of two Domestic Violence investigators and three Attorneys. My duties would consist of conducting legal research, preparing court documents, briefing jail and 911 calls, printing forensic crime lab photos, and making appearances in court with the attorneys. Upon starting, I was very nervous about what to expect because I wanted to make a good impression. Working in a formal setting has taught me more about teamwork and how people can come together to get things done. Although I experience teamwork inside the classroom, I feel as though it’s better to experience it in the workplace because that’s where I will need to apply what I’ve learned and make use of it. I would have to say that working at the State’s Attorney Office has been the most beneficial aspect of my college experience. The personal relationships that I built within the office are something I will always remember. I still keep in touch with them and volunteer my time whenever I

I have chosen for my career to be a Parole Officer and or a Probation Officer for the state of Arkansas. Parole Officers work mainly with the offenders that have served all their sentencing behind bars. While working in this field you will play a huge part in supervising the offenders that are set free into this world. The officers interview incarcerated offenders and determine by their records and behavior if they are eligible to be released into society. While the offenders will be released from some type legal system, it’s the or parole office’s responsibility to be involved with these offenders in their reporting of the judge with their progress.

For the past two summers I had the pleasure of working with an amazing judge. Working with her was the best opportunity that I ever had. The judge’s accomplishments and how she has far she has come in her career especially being a minority, inspired me to believe that I can do anything I set my mind to and nothing can stop me. During my internship period I had the chance to study numerous court cases, file documents and more. Being the fact that I want to pursue a career as a lawyer, my experience at the Criminal Justice Center expanded my knowledge in my career choice and what I was getting myself into. It is one thing to know what you want to be when you grow up but being able to get a firsthand experience was truly memorable and inspirational.

In May, at Arizona State University I graduated with My Bachelor’s in Social Work and a Minor in Criminal Justice. After taking my first social work class, I knew I had chosen the right field. I learned the ample areas that a social worker is involved in, and that they work for social justice and change for oppressed individuals. This ignited my passion in the field of social work to benefit others who are suffering.

After the orientation and the start of interacting with others, I was placed at Hawkins Youth Clinic where I was interning for becoming a

Throughout my life, I have experienced a variety of situations that fostered my desire to pursue a career in Social Work. Two common themes threading through my time helping others; working with the homeless population and working with young adults. Upon transferring to Boise State University in Fall 2014, I

Along with that I also provided comprehensive case management, transition planning and counseling. In addition, I was part of a team that wrote policies and procedures for the institutions (JRA). I am versed in completing initial screenings, intakes, suicide self-harm assessment, screened for Sexually Aggressive vulnerable youth and determined placement. Mental health assessment with recommendations of treatment. Completed initial treatment plans and updates, youth and family counseling, prepared transition and referrals as part of the release of a client back into the community, I was required to completed community risks assessments (CRA) for the courts in effort to determine conditions in which a client was released. I also conducted investigations and incidents that involved clients, family, staff and/or community members; document collect evidence for the court cases most importantly I had to be able to interpret critical court documents and