Choua Lee,
Sacramento City Unified School District Multilingual/Multicultural Department

I graduated from California State University, Sacramento in December of 2004. Upon completion, I obtained my Bachelors of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences with the concentration in Family Studies. As a graduate of Family and Consumer Sciences, Family Studies, we believe in aiding and viewing the family as a whole unit and not as individuals. Thus, my philosophy is to promote the well being and individuals in a holistic way. I’ve taken courses to broaden my knowledge about family matters and widen my horizon in the family context. In addition, I’ve completed a service-learning course. In my past work experience, I’ve worked with Sacramento County Office of Education and assisted various cultural groups, including the Latino populations.

Currently, I am pursuing my Masters in Social Work at California State University, Sacramento. I am pursing this degree because I want to work with families and individuals. My goals and objectives are to provide services and encourage empowerment in individuals. I want to be able to provide services and resources to those who may not know of any or were not made aware of in the community. There are several assets I feel that are important when working with families and the community. For example, I believe asset building is essential. All adults can help young people thrive by building their developmental assets. It doesn’t necessarily take a lot of time or energy. In an asset building community, everyone works at developing relationships with young individuals and families. Another aspect I feel is important is to look for the positive in the unique individual; for example, “Maria with the lovely voice”, not, “Maria, the pregnant teen.” Thus, the system and strength theory are two vital theories that shapes and moles an individual.

Through internships, I was given the opportunity to accomplish some goals of mine own. I developed time management with caseloads and clients. I also took leadership roles. I was a case manager. I was part of the case management team and was primarily responsible for processing and maintaining case files as well as providing quality services to clients. My job duties included, but were not limited to performing new client enrollment and intake, monitored case load, performed worker of the day duties, assisted other case managers, interpreted, outreached, and attended training and meetings.

For Fall 2006 and Spring 2007, I will be interning with Chiem-Seng Yaangh. He is with the Multilingual/Multicultural Education Department in the Sacramento City Unified School District. This internship will entail school community social work. I will be placed at Oak Ridge Elementary School. Oak Ridge is located in Oak Park neighborhood. This is a low income and high poverty area. The student population is very diverse, approximately 45% Latino students, 35% Asian-American/Pacific Islander, 15% African Americans, and others. The need for social and emotional support services is tremendous, yet the school has limited resources.

I will be part of the Student Intervention Team (SIT). I will also learn how to achieve and carry out school and community social work. I will practice all levels of social work from individual to group to family to organization and to the community. Moreover, I will exercise my leadership skills in the areas of communication and organization in assessing students’ needs. I will also display and outline social work services to ensure that students are attending school and prepared to learn. Detailed description of my particular assignment as an intern involve assessment of student and family needs, development of service plan, delivery of service plan, counseling students and families, report writing and case consultation, home visitation, and engagement in community resources and referrals.

The SIT is a coordinated support service delivery team. SIT includes all support staffs and administrators, delivering social, emotional, psychological services in an organized manner. SIT meets on a weekly basis to discuss and distribute referrals and develop intervention strategies.

I can picture the social, cultural and educational significances in my assignments. I believe there are important learning lessons and implications in my duties and assignments. They all interrelate with one another to make the learning atmosphere more attractive and meaningful to the students and I. In the social context, I will interact with the students, peers, and the community. I will also engage in community resources and referrals. These resources will help connect the student, family, community and I together to decide what works better for them.

In the cultural context, I will assess the student and family’s needs and try to provide service plans in which it adapts to their culture. By understanding what is important to them or how they approach a situation culturally, I can help them. Everyone holds different customs and beliefs and by acknowledging the student’s culture, I can assist the student effectively. I can also be sympathetic and considerate in those situations and help the student and family move forward. I am aware that we are living in a more diverse society now and I am culturally sensitive to other cultures that are different than mine.

In the educational context, I will work individually one on one with students. I will conduct assessments and evaluations of students. I will also develop service plans for the students. Theses plans are personalized to fit the student’s learning style. Moreover, I believe education will always be ongoing. I will continue to learn from the students and their families as well as they will learn from me. Nonetheless, socially, culturally, and educationally, these are the important assets in which I feel are important to me while in my internship.

Crystal Martinez,
California State University, Sacramento Career Center

I am currently a graduate student in the Master’s of Science program in counseling. My specialization is career counseling and I plan on adding a second specialization of school counseling. Helping others has always been my passion and it is something I enjoy doing. Working with other individuals is something that helps me to connect and give back to the community. I am a tribal member of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians and I am also part Mexican American. I take pride in both of my heritages and I help out in the community when possible. I am currently doing an internship in the career center at California State University, Sacramento where I provide walk-in counseling to students. I help the students with job search information and I also conduct assessments that will help them determine their future career choices. In addition to this internship I also work part time for the Elk Grove Unified School District in a preschool classroom where I provide services to low income families.

My long term career goals entail completing a master’s degree and then continuing on to complete a Ph.D. degree. My overall goal is to be a professor and teach others about culture. I would like to give back to those same programs that have helped me succeed as a student. During the previous year I have participated in the McNair scholars program which provides underrepresented minority groups the opportunity to publish research in any given field. The goal of the program is to provide undergraduate students an opportunity to continue on to obtain a Ph.D. degree. My research was on Native American tribal enrollment and tribal conflict resolution. By conducting this research assignment I was able to gain more insight to the issue of tribal enrollment and I also learned about various tribal resolution methods. My findings suggested that tribal enrollment does have an impact on tribes. The end result of this research identified patterns within tribes. In the future I have hopes of conducting more research similar to this study but I would also like to focus on other cultures as well.

My main objective is to do more research, but to also provide service to those individuals that are in need. I would like to do this by counseling and also by teaching and educating others. Education is my first priority and it is a top value that I personally hold. It is important to be a positive role model for the youth. By accomplishing all of my personal goals I will be able to be a positive role model and mentor to students who are Mexican and Native American.

I would like to work at the college level and even work with high school students to help assist them in their own education. It has been a personal goal of mine to give back to the community and I will be able to achieve this goal by working in the community providing services and support for others that are in need. When I obtain my degree in counseling I will be able to help others and I would like to students. Coming from a low income household myself and being raised by a single parent I know what it is like to need help. Being a counselor will also provide me the opportunity to be a mentor to others and a positive role model.

Tammy Smith,
Healthy Start at A.M. Winn Elementary

I was initially drawn into social work through my desire to work with children. I feel very strongly that the feelings and experiences of children in our society are not given adequate consideration. I believe that when children are heard, respected, and treated with dignity, they learn that they deserve to be respected and they learn to treat others with respect. If we can all learn to treat each other with kindness and respect, we have the potential to make drastic changes in our society for the better. My experience working with children has led me to believe that this is more than possible.

As an instructional aide in special education, I was exposed for the first time to the work that social workers and mental health professionals do in schools. I learned a great deal about the importance of healthy peer relations and an appropriate school culture. I was especially struck by the capacity of schools to act as a community hub. It is an ideal place to provide services and bring together students, families, and the community together.

Next year, my final year as an MSW student, I will be participating in the Pupil Personnel Services Program. I intend to earn a PPS credential so that I will be qualified to work as a school social worker. I believe that schools are an ideal place to promote the health, safety, and capacity of students, families and communities. As a school social worker I expect to be involved in more traditional social work activities such as case management and counseling. I hope that I will also be involved in many other kinds of work including improving student relations, developing community outreach programs, and program planning. I want to have an impact, not just in the lives of individual students, but in their families and communities as well.

Alecia Gutierrez,
Sunburst Projects

After doing many years of volunteer projects, I came into the social work program wanting to work in a variety of areas. In 2003, I spent a year in Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). This experience led me to the decision to be a social worker. I decided I wanted to help people. On first impression, I appear on the more timid side; however, after spending some time with me you will realize that I have a voice and I can be very loud. I decided to use this voice to advocate for those who may have difficulty speaking for themselves.

I also realized that my personal strengths could be used in the realm of social work. I am a great organizer. Since college, I have been on committee to organize events such at the yearly freshman orientation, leadership conferences, retreats, collaboration of agencies, and most recently, the Harvest festival at my church (for over 400 people). I used this last year when I had to organize a “tour” of the most common agencies the program used. Not only were we able to get to know the people at these other agencies but they were able to put a face to the program, Healthy Start. I also listen to people in a way that makes them comfortable talking to me. This benefits me socially meeting new people, being the “shoulder to cry on” and listening to clients when they are in need.

I wish to serve anyone who needs help. Most of those classified as “underserved” are minorities, mostly African-American and Mexican-American. I wish to be a bridge between these families and the bureaucracy. I can be the voice to the agencies and articulate what the clients needs when their voices are not heard. I have gained this advocacy spirit in my internship last year in the high school as well as this year at Sunburst Projects. I have learned that a calm articulate demeanor can clear up many misunderstandings. My assertiveness and compassion has solved many problems and being able to mediate between the client and the agency to get the agency what it needs as well as get the clients what they need. Along with the tangible need met, I want to give the clients a sense of empowerment that they are not just another “number” in the system.

I intend to open my own non-profit to help those who need a little extra assistance. With all the resources our government and social service agencies provide, it is difficult for most clients to “get ahead” or improve their socio-economic standards. My dream is to provide financial support to an organization to help people fulfill their dreams and potential. Many clients need help with an emergency bill that came up, childcare, school expenses, but they have no more source of income or there is no assistance available for that need. My hope is to provide the finances for an organization to supply for these extra needs while also providing proper case management and mental health needs.

Not only would an agency be beneficial to the clients, but the social workers would also see a positive result by providing a realistic service along with the mental health component. They would also be compensated adequately for their time and educational training. I know this is a big dream, but I do not intend to do it alone. I know many people who are building there wealth because they to have a dream to help people. I understand this may take many years, but with my financial training and social work experience, I will have developed the administration, financial, and advocacy tools to put together an agency that will assist others in areas where there is currently no realistic assistance.

Osvaldo Ramirez,
Winters High School

I have just been accepted into the Master’s program in Counselor Education where I will be specializing in Career Counseling. Why did I choose counseling? Well, by looking back at my experiences in school since my arrival to the United States, I have come to develop an interest within the counseling field, particularly in regards to education. From middle school to UCD and now Sac State, my counselors have impacted me not only at the academic level, but personally as well. Their advice and support helped me transition and make better choices in my education. They gave me options. It is because of them that I feel motivated to become a counselor and provide advising services at both the high school and college level.

As an immigrant, I have come across different situations where I feel that there needs to be an improvement in many aspects of everyday life. One of them is education. Throughout middle school and high school, I received a lot of help from some counselors who were involved in my experience of learning English. To this day, I am very thankful for their commitment and extra time helping me. In high school, I got involved closely with my counselor Candice Ferrick, for whom I volunteered to help mostly to translate for newcomer Spanish speaking students at school. It was an experience that made me understand more about myself as well as other students in the same situation.

Later, at community college, I got involved in the Puente Project where I was provided with a one on one counseling with Juan Lachica and a mentor whose major was Psychology. I got familiarized with the college system through my counselor and after that I declared Psychology as my major to later transfer to UC Davis. Through a recommendation of my college counselor, I was able to get a job with the Educational Opportunity Program Information Office where I worked as a Peer Advising Counselor.

For this position, I received an extensive training in counseling techniques and resources on campus through two courses: Education 160A and 160B in which I learned from all the different departments, offices, and organizations at UCD. As part of being a Peer Advising Counselor, we worked over a summer with a bridge program called S.T.E.P. (Special Transitional Enrichment Program). Also, I received weekly training by CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) on counseling issues and advising which involved academic, personal, social and peer counseling. Furthermore, I worked with the LGBTR Center where I got continuously trained in related concerns about gender, sex, sexuality and about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex communities.

After graduating from UCD, I applied to Sacramento State University for grad school. Currently, I am working as an Intern Counselor at Winters High School under the MEAP program with Migrant Education here in Sacramento State. In this internship, there are different tasks that I’m required to do as well as optional ones. Under the Migrant Education program, the main population of students that we work with are from migrant backgrounds. Most of these students’ parents work in agriculture, canneries, and fishing industries. At my particular high school, I have a group of 78 students in all four grades. Not only do I provide academic counseling, but also personal and social counseling too. In other words, I am not there to just tell them what classes to take but also to help them with any particular issues or troubles at home or at school. Also, I am a resource to them in the sense that I can help them in filling out applications for college, scholarships, financial aid; revise their resumes and letters for college. Furthermore, I provide workshops, presentations and other presenters so that the students get the most information about topics related to education. Plus, I also tutor and have a commitment to meet with my students’ parents and do home visitations if needed.

As for the “optional” tasks, I see them not as optional, but as required. I have committed myself to meet with every single teacher at my high school and work with them regarding my students who are not passing their classes. Hence, I want to bring more communication between students, parents, and teachers. I am also required to do any referrals if a student needs other assistance that is out my hand. For instance, I need to provide information about other places in case a migrant family needs other services in the community. Many of these families come from Mexico and move around depending on their jobs and the time of the year, so they need help finding certain services. Overall, my task is to make sure that migrant students and their families have the resources they need. This semester, I am planning field trips for my students to UC Davis and Sacramento State.

Hence, my involvement with migrant students goes beyond being a person who advises, but a friend who can better relate to the student experience. Trying to deal with academics, personal issues, work or being a volunteer is quite overwhelming. There are a lot of hindrances that stop students from going beyond in their studies. Whether it is the family itself, lack of money or inspiration, students need to be encouraged. Thus, I feel that it is important to provide any kind of assistance through academics as a counselor who will not only be there during office hours, but also outside the schedule. What makes a difference in students is not only just solving their problems; on the contrary, giving them options to what they can do with their careers and their future. Hence, the significance of my current job as an Intern is to connect the social, cultural and educational aspects of a student’s life together so that they can see and understand where is it that they want to go after high school. They know their families are going through struggles and it is up to them to do something about it. Some have proper documentation and others do not have any, thus I am doing all I can so they will graduate from high school and go on to college. It is imperative to allow students to make choices for themselves, but still provide the most appropriate advising and tools. I believe that my job has a lot more commitment than what I thought it was, yet the reward for me will be seeing these migrant students progress and succeed in whatever they want to do.

I am very grateful to the Bustos-Lopez Family Leadership through Service Scholarship for allowing me to be one of the recipients this spring semester. This scholarship will not only assist me personally, but most of it will go towards my education. I expect to graduate in three years and once I have my M.S. Degree in Career Counseling, I want to work at a community college, especially Sacramento City College. Thus, the program that I am in will definitely prepare me for this field of work. I look forward to my future as a bilingual counselor who strongly believes in education as a key for success.

Vanessa Rocha-Diaz,
EMQ Children & Family Services

After receiving my Bachelor’s degree in May of 2005 at the age of 21 I realized the great academic achievement that I had accomplished, but I also realized that I was not finished with school, I had more to accomplish. During the summer of 2005 I was hired at a non-profit organization that provides services for homeless youth in Sacramento. During my short time employed with Wind Youth Services, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to work with adolescents for a living. The teens and the staff at Wind really impacted me and gave me a different perspective on homelessness and its affects on teens and children. I also knew that in order to reach my goal, a Bachelor’s degree was not enough, and decided to pursue a Masters degree the following school year. Today I am a social work graduate student with aspirations to become a therapist for adolescents and their families.

I am currently in my first year in the MSW (Masters in Social Work) program here at California State University, Sacramento. I have a great internship placement with EMQ Children and Family Services in Sacramento, where I have been given the opportunity to work in the mental health field while at the same time work with the target population that I enjoy working with, adolescents. EMQ is a mental health agency that provides services to anyone under the age of eighteen and their families. EMQ is known for family-centered, strengths-based programs for children and adolescents suffering from issues such as sexual abuse, adolescent drug abuse, severe depression, attention deficit disorder, and thoughts of suicide. My role as an intern is to assist in providing services to EMQ’s clients. Some of my tasks as an intern include finding social services for the clients (for example, finding housing in the community), finding resources, therapy, counseling, and providing translation services to Spanish speaking clients. The purpose of EMQ is to help individuals sustain themselves with the help of family and the strengths of the individual. EMQ’s philosophy is that the most effective form of care for children, youth and their families is based in the community, using strengths and needs to define and individualize service. As an intern my main task is simply to help our clients find their strengths and community resources together.

So far my internship at EMQ has strengthened my desire to become a bilingual therapist. I have found out during my last two years working in the social service field that there is a lack of Spanish speaking social workers and therapists in our community and around the state; California a state where there is a high population of Spanish speaking individuals. I want to help everyone that I come in contact with in my prospective profession and I do not want language to be a barrier to those reaching and seeking help. For someone whose second language is English (as it is also in my case), I understand and I am compassionate for those who are not fluent in English. I grew up in a Spanish speaking household and community; therefore I take the issue of language and communication very seriously. I will make it my duty to help all those that I come in contact with, and especially our youth because they are our future.