As a case coordinator I currently work to support programs that function under the Office of Refugee Resettlement. These programs receive unaccompanied minors who enter into the U.S. without family from the southern border, and help them to reunite with family members (sponsors) within the U.S. I provide case consultation, supervision, and technical assistance to the various programs under ORR to help them screen potential sponsors for any safety and trafficking concerns. I provide a child welfare lens to programs to ensure safe releases of children to their families. A normal day generally consists of; conducting virtual and in-person staffings with programs to assess the cases currently in their care, interviewing unaccompanied minors for safety and trafficking concerns, and reviewing cases that are submitted for release.
Messiah's Social Work Department understands the necessity of engaging students into hands-on practice from the very beginning of our social work career. From the first year of Social Work, our learning in the classroom was paired directly with our implementation of that knowledge in our internships and practicum. The professors also understand the importance of diversity and cultural humility in the field of social work and worked hard to integrate these topics into every class. I have come to find that Messiah College is a name that is well-known within the world of higher education within the field of Social Work, and that is for the caliber of students that they produce and the level of discipline and excellence that is carefully nurtured in us.
To current students: I know you hate role plays, process recordings, and practicing groups, but I promise it's worth it. They say "practice makes perfect," but I don't know if I believe that since there is always room to improve. What practice does make is confidence. There is no better feeling than entering into your first field placement, or your masters program, or your first job and thinking "Hey, I know how to do this." We owe it not only to ourselves but also to our clients to be the most knowledgeable, competent, and experienced Social Workers that we can be.
To prospective students; I can tell you without a doubt that Social Work is one of the most varied and sought-after fields of study you can pursue. I have Social Work friends and colleagues who work in therapy, education, criminal justice, data analysis, politics, and other fields that I could continue to name. If you're ever worried about potentially getting bored of your job, that's okay! You can always pursue a new realm of the same field while still being able to utilize the information you learned in school.
Would you recommend Messiah’s BSW program to future social workers?
The easy answer is yes. As I mentioned, Messiah prepares future social workers to perform at a high level of excellency. I learned early on in social work that competence is not something we achieve, but constantly are working towards. Messiah provided me with the skills to constantly expand my knowledge base, and provided me with the experience and liberty to seek out areas of interest that I had in social work. Due to Messiah's connections in the community, I was able to seek out placements that prepared me fully for the next step of my career after graduation. Without my time at Messiah, I can truthfully say I do not believe I would be able to walk into new each experience that I encounter with the same level of confidence that I currently have, because I know I am well-prepared.