For my Social Welfare practicum requirement, I have been at the non-profit, College Access Now for 16 hours a week since September 2014. Through CAN, I have gained a deeper understanding of what it is like to be out in the workforce and how non-profit organizations function. Before CAN, I thought jobs functioned similar to past college jobs I've had where most of my work is watched over and my role is limited. While at CAN, I have the autonomy to plan out my days to reach project deadlines and have focused with my supervisor to work on areas where I can grow as a social worker. My role has included managing a caseload of 60-70 college students who are enrolled in schools outside of the Seattle area or attend private schools. As the College Persistence Program Assistant, I have taken on a variety of projects, such as critiquing the social justice competency of the organization, hosting monthly engagement workshops with my students, collaborating with high school sites during their sessions and serving on a steering committee to outreach and represent CAN for a College Bound and State Needs Grant Advocacy Day in Olympia, WA. I have conducted research on motivational factors for college persistence, possible assessments that could be implemented into the program for improving caseload management and I will be creating focus groups to inform our freshmen and sophomore intervention model.
CAN has provided me the opportunity to gain a better understanding of how organizations work to be able to function. I meet with my task supervisor weekly, my practicum instructor monthly and have set up 1:1s with leadership team members to learn more about their professional style and ethical dilemmas they have faced. CAN's current reshaping of the College Persistence model has been especially key in informing my knowledge on program development and working with intent. I have appreciated CAN's focus as a learning organization and self--care. This has included having social justice training sessions and discussions on CAN's role in the white savior complex. A question I continue to ponder as I work with CAN is how organizations that work within the system to limit continuing oppressive practices, while having their mission focused in another area of oppression. I especially wonder how organizations can continue to function effectively when serving low-income students of color, if the majority of our volunteers, donors and top leadership level are composed of those that identify as White and socioeconomically advantaged.
CAN has provided me the opportunity to gain a better understanding of how organizations work to be able to function. I meet with my task supervisor weekly, my practicum instructor monthly and have set up 1:1s with leadership team members to learn more about their professional style and ethical dilemmas they have faced. CAN's current reshaping of the College Persistence model has been especially key in informing my knowledge on program development and working with intent. I have appreciated CAN's focus as a learning organization and self--care. This has included having social justice training sessions and discussions on CAN's role in the white savior complex. A question I continue to ponder as I work with CAN is how organizations that work within the system to limit continuing oppressive practices, while having their mission focused in another area of oppression. I especially wonder how organizations can continue to function effectively when serving low-income students of color, if the majority of our volunteers, donors and top leadership level are composed of those that identify as White and socioeconomically advantaged.