Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the Department of Community Health, covering Galveston County (no clinics, just wherever the patients spend their time)
How long at UTMB: Since December 2014; a little over eight years
As a social worker, what does your day look like?
I see patients in their homes; my day consists of new enrollments and follow-up visits all over Galveston County. Each of my visits lasts approximately one hour, even with a follow-up because of the intense changes we are seeking to extract from the population we work with.
I provide a variety of services to my patients including psychotherapy, resource locating and application processing (housing, food, safety, substance use, diet/activity changes, disability, health care funding, income options, etc.), obtaining personal documentation needed (birth certificates, Social Security cards, picture ID), navigating health care options and essentially whatever they need to overcome the barriers that may be keeping them from being able to make healthy choices. Empowering our patients to be the person they desire is the ultimate goal!
What called you to social work?
It’s a little cheesy, but helping people is the simple answer. There are so many aspects of social work but, at the core, that is what a social worker does—help people. The ways in which this is accomplished are vast and creative, and that is why I love it.
What is the best part of your job?
Meeting all the people I do through this program. Each one has left their mark on my soul, even if a traditional “success” is not achieved.
What is the most challenging part?
Almost the same answer; every patient leaves a mark on you, which makes it difficult to maintain your boundaries.
What qualities in yourself make you a good social worker?
There are the usual qualities—listening, cultural competency, empathy, etc.—that I embody. But I think, for me, it is the true belief that everyone, sincerely everyone, is equal and entitled to the same rights as everyone else—from the president of the United States to my patient that has been unsheltered for the past eight years, or has a past felony, or has a substance use issue. Everyone makes bad choices, and that doesn’t make them a bad person.
What does “success” in your job mean to you?
Success in my position means that the patient is aware of and understands all their options and has chosen the path that works for them. They also understand that there is assistance available for them now and in the future if needed and how to access that.
I think a patient receiving the health care or benefits that they desperately need makes me feel like I did a good job but, more than that, a patient that doesn’t need to call me for help with something is the most rewarding end to a day—not because it is one less patient on my case load but because I was able to empower that patient to do for themselves and try things they may not have previously.
Sometimes, it is the courage to try and fail because sometimes you try and succeed; sometimes it is the ability to understand what a program is asking for so that your chance for success is greater; sometimes it is simply having all the tools needed to accomplish a thing. But whatever the situation, the goal is self-determination whenever possible—and that means “I did good.”
If you could tell people something about social work and social workers, what would it be?
Social work is difficult to quantify and mysterious to everyone. Social work is connecting with people, being resourceful, thinking outside the box and being patient—above and beyond all things, being patient. I often say there is no such thing as a social work emergency; whatever caused the situation did not arise in a moment and it will not be remedied in a moment. Take care of the emergency and then let the social worker take the reins!