The word internship is often followed by the phrase, “What great experience.” The field of social work is a constantly changing field and the experience of an internship is irreplaceable. The following are the reflections and experiences of two PATH employees who began their recent journey at PATH as interns.
My internship at PATH served as an excellent gateway in to the dynamic web of the child welfare system. My eyes were open to the intricate and crucial role PATH plays in the that system. I interned with PATH’s Family Support program. If I could describe the Family Support program, in one word it would be transforming. Not only did the program transform my competence and confidence, but I came at time when the program its self was changing. I had the opportunity to learn right alongside my supervisor about the new policy and procedures that were a result of changes made by Blue Cross Blue Shield. I also appreciated the way the program transformed the lives of the individuals it served.
I hit the ground running my first day as an intern. To keep up with the fast pace nature of the Family Support program I learned on the go. As my internship progressed, my professional writing skills improved as well as my ability to navigate PATH as an agency.
During my internship I grew to value and believe in the PATH mission statement, Families Making the Difference. My identity as a PATH intern and appreciation for PATH’s mission lead me to seek employment within the agency. I am now in a Treatment Foster Care position and enjoying the challenge. My beginning at PATH allowed for an easier transition to the program and its complexities.
In hind sight I like to view my internship as a positive collaboration between myself and PATH. Not only was I able to contribute to PATH and its mission but I was allowed to learn valuable skills and lessons that opened the gate to the world of child welfare and all it has to offer.
-Cynthia Moss
When beginning my internship at PATH, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself in to. These constant scared, unsure feelings continued well into the first few weeks of my experience. My internship was with the FIRST program at PATH. Luckily for me, I had amazing supervisors who were not afraid to throw me into a situation, much like a pack of wolves. They were willing to lend a helping hand if needed. In the end, I was not only able to develop the social work skills such as: professional writing, intervention strategies, confrontational skills, etc., but I was also able to understand the real impact that the profession has on society.
The FIRST program helped me become aware of the negative and positive impacts the foster care system has on families. I was able to interact and see the dynamics of the youth, biological parents, and foster parent relationships. From there I was able to carry over this incredible experience and awareness to gain employment at PATH.
Now in Family Support, I work towards preventing youth to be placed out of the home. With this position comes many challenges, but more often than not, these challenges are greatly outweighed by the positive aspects.
My transition from student to professional was made significantly easier through my internship experience at PATH. The advice I would offer upcoming social work interns at any agency: brace yourself – those unsure, scared feelings are never going to completely go away. As social workers, we are never going to have the perfect, right answer to the many questions thrown our way, but the rewarding feeling in the end is truly gratifying.
-Sherry Stark
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