Early Intervention Saves Lives
Today I completed my 6-month long specialist MSW internship at an adolescent partial hospitalization program. Nothing in my whole education has been more meaningful than this experience. All of the kids I’ve worked with have shaped my future goals as a social worker and how I see the world. What was most impactful for me to witness was that when youth are in a safe and comforting environment, they offer each other the most genuine and authentic support. No matter the circumstance, diagnosis, or trauma history, I have had the privilege to see some level of self-growth and encouragement for others in EVERY kid I’ve worked with. My takeaways: 1. Mental health in schools is a requirement in New York, and meeting the minimum quota is not enough. Skills for anger management, emotion regulation, and self-respect can be implemented at any age or grade-level. This can only happen with a combination of meaningful training and the cooperation of administration and faculty. 2. We all need to li