My first exposure to the field of social work was working with adults faced with mental health illnesses. I assisted adults by supporting them in their daily living activities, teaching them to organize their work and home lives, and enabling them to live independently and thrive socially in the community. This would not have been possible without individualized support. Becoming familiar with individuals with mental health illness afforded me significant insight into the treatment of individuals with mental illness by society and the frequent misunderstanding regarding mental illness as a whole.
This realization motivated me to advocate for equality and resources for individuals who need support and to increase awareness of the stigma facing those with all types of mental health issues. After several months, I was afforded the opportunity to work with incarcerated youths. I provided academic support, individual and group counseling, and family reunification. I worked in this capacity as a full-time social worker for 3 years before moving on to the public school sector.
I have worked as a School Social Worker in public schools for over 20 years. Working with students with various academic, behavioral, and social issues has been my life’s work. While working as a school social worker, I worked in multiple group homes and youth facilities. I provided many years of private therapy services for youths, adolescents, and adults.