Social work students help people in communities across the country

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Despite COVID-19 and the many challenges we are all facing, students in the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences have expressed a desire to continue working in their field education placements to help their organizations, continue their work with clients, or finish projects, even though they are not required to do so. Mandel School students are demonstrating strength, resilience and a true commitment to the social work profession every day.

Chararie Stewart, an Intensive Weekend student in her final field period, has been a contributing part of policy review committees with Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services. Her help in advocating for mothers who are minors in the foster care system has resulted in the County reviewing and re-writing supportive policies for teenage mothers in foster care.

Virginia Rivera, a Leadership Fellow and dual MSSA/MNO May 2020 graduate, is helping with the food distribution program at Cleveland’s May Dugan Center, packing up hundreds of boxes with fresh produce and pantry items to distribute to the community every other week.

Delaney Jones, a 3+2 MSSA Community Practice for Social Change student, has been working on advocacy with the End Poverty Now Coalition to urge Cleveland public officials to make sure all Clevelanders who have had their power or water shut off be reconnected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graesyn Engler, finishing up her final semester, has been a HRSA fellow working at MetroHealth with HIV/AIDS clinic patients. She facilitates the patient-advisory board and co-facilitates trainings for the professional community on advancements in HIV/AIDS prevention, education and treatment.   

Eliza Metzger, an online student on the Children, Youth and Families path of study, is completing her field placement at ALIVE in St. Louis, MO, an agency that provides counseling, emergency sanctuary and other critical services to adults and children impacted by intimate partner violence.

Sarah Wolf, a first-year MSSA Community Practice for Social Change student, has been working with FutureHeights to turn their social media platforms into a "one stop shop" resource for local, state and federal COVID-19 updates. She highlights the small businesses that have remained open or shifted to online services, and demonstrates how area businesses are directly supporting community youth and medical professionals by providing them with free lunches.

Samantha Stephens, an online student focusing on Mental Health with Adults, is conducting remote therapy sessions and support groups at Insightful Options in North Carolina.

Kathryn Ross, a second-year dual MSSA/MNO student, facilitates conversations online with middle school-aged youth about relevant every-day topics that they face, including toxic stress, police-youth relationships, conflict resolutions, technology, violence, money management, investing in the future, and social-emotional development issues.

Learn more about the Mandel School’s Field Education program.

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