I currently work full-time as a case manager at Family Promise of Hunterdon County, a local nonprofit that provides shelter and rental assistance programs for families that are experiencing homelessness. Throughout my work with clients, I regularly incorporate the topic of mental health into our meetings. I strive to meet my clients with empathy and compassion in order to assess their needs and connect them to appropriate resources. Experiencing homelessness is a significant stressor, and many of my clients experience difficulties with their mental health while in our program. My organization collaborates with a local therapist so that when further treatment is needed, I can provide referrals for our clients, and the organization covers the cost. I have recently been working on expanding this partnership to a second local therapy center with additional specializations in order to meet a broader range of our clients' needs. Ensuring mental health care is accessible to vulnerable families is a critical part of the work I do, and is a crucial step to set them up for long-term stability and success. In order to continue to grow my knowledge and abilities, I am pursuing a master's degree in social work. I want to use my career to continue making sure necessary services are available to underserved populations. I want to learn about how to better support my clients and ensure that they receive the care they need.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to make a meaningful difference in the world. As I entered my college years, I discovered how the field of social work aligned with my goals and values. I determined that studying social work would give me the skills and training to address the problems I care about. After completing my Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at Rutgers University earlier this year, earning a Master of Social Work degree is the next step in developing my expertise on my professional journey. The John Young 'Pursue Your Passion' Scholarship would provide crucial financial support to help me reach this educational goal. Ultimately, this would empower me to better meet the needs of my community and achieve my professional passion. One of my most formative educational experiences was a social work internship I participated in during my time at Rutgers University. The internship was at a local soup kitchen called Elijah's Promise, where I worked directly with individuals who were experiencing homelessness. I hosted a weekly event called Fun Friday, which allowed guests to enjoy a meal, play dominos together, and build rapport with agency staff who could help connect them with resources. This internship was my first in-depth exposure to the needs of those who are experiencing homelessness and the barriers they face in accessing services. I am currently employed full-time as a case manager at Family Promise of Hunterdon County. Our organization assists families who are experiencing homelessness on their journey to secure permanent housing. In my role, I meet with clients to help them identify and reach their goals related to employment and housing. I endeavor to form trusting and collaborative relationships that empower my clients to achieve self-sufficiency. I strongly believe in the dignity of every person, and I strive to ensure that everyone I encounter feels seen, valued, and supported. Through these experiences, I have gained a deep passion for the issues of homelessness and housing insecurity. However, I have repeatedly seen the detrimental effects of systemic barriers and service gaps on those who are experiencing homelessness. There are very few programs in my community that assist those who are experiencing homelessness, and many people are unable to receive assistance because they do not meet specific eligibility criteria. Furthermore, issues such as lack of affordable housing and lengthy application processes frequently prevent families from accessing the services they need.  To better serve my community, I need to grow my knowledge by furthering my education. I am pursuing an MSW because I desire to positively impact the world by leveraging the micro-level experience I've gained surrounding these issues to advocate for macro-level policy change. I want to learn how to engage in research to assess service gaps, identify potential solutions, and advocate for new and creative approaches. As I continue my educational journey, this scholarship will provide the financial support I need to achieve my professional passion.