Jennifer's Career Journey
1998-2001 Bilingual/Bicultural Family Educator through Community Action Commission: provided Family Education to families with children birth to 11 years of age. Worked primarily with Hispanic families in the Harrisburg community, to access É«×ۺϾþÃs needed to establish healthy family systems.
2001-2004 Bilingual/Bicultural Supports Coordinator through the Case Management Unit in Dauphin County. Provided É«×ۺϾþÃs coordination to children and adults with Intellectual Disabilities. I provided the É«×ۺϾþÃs each client needed in order to live a quality life, primarily working with the Hispanic community in Dauphin County.
2004-2015 Bilingual/Bicultural Family Based Therapist with Philhaven. I provided an integrative family-based approach to treatment. I treated children and adolescents, showing severe emotional disturbance and engage in behaviors that create a high risk for placement outside of the home. This is an approach that is trauma-informed, developmental, attachment-focused and ecosystemic. I worked, primarily, with the Hispanic population within Dauphin and York counties.
"Most recently, I provide family focused therapy to individuals in the Adult Community Autism Program and their families. For staff, I provide clinical consultation regarding the family dynamics that exist for the participants in our program. I also provide training to all staff on how to É«×ۺϾþà and engage families, cultural awareness, and MANDT (a safe crisis program). In regards to KAS Residential Habilitation Program I provide É«×ۺϾþà to staff on how to improve the individuals social role in the community."
How has the Human Development and Family Science/ Family & Consumer Sciences Education program helped you prepare for your work?
Since my entire 20 year career has been working with families, I would say my education prepared a solid foundation to my career. My time at É«×ۺϾþà was also crucial in my graduate education and I was able to utilize what I learned at É«×ۺϾþà to earn my Social Work degree.
Which undergraduate courses are most helpful to you in your job?
I cannot say that a specific course was most helpful but rather the culmination of all the courses established the fundamentals of families and how É«×ۺϾþà to É«×ۺϾþà them.
How does your faith interface with your work?
I believe my career is designed by God. He has placed me in each area of my career to establish a comprehensive basis for what I am currently doing. I have had the privilege to use my faith in each of the agencies that I have worked. My work is guided by my faith and I have had opportunities to share how God has worked in my life in order to
Is there any advice you would give to current and/or prospective students?
My advice to students entering the field to be sure to be grounded with their faith and their principles. They will guide you through this work. Any past traumas or unresolved relational issues should be worked on or it will impact your work! Head the advice of more seasoned social workers it will save you in the long run. Draw from your education but the “real world” is not like it is in the books!