Verity Hwang ’18
Behavior Intervention Specialist
Verity’s Career Journey
- Head Start Family Service Worker; provided effective social work, case management and health services to a caseload of 45 students and their families enrolled in Head Start; created, implemented and monitored activities designed to promote parent-child engagement and ensure that families possess all of the resources they need to be healthy and thrive.
- School-Based STARS Connector; worked collaboratively with school staff, community resources, and families to improve student attendance, behavior and parental-engagement for a caseload of 28 students; Provided weekly individual and group mentorship and behavioral É«×ۺϾþà by creating and implementing lesson plans and activities individually tailored to fit each student’s strengths and needs.
- Youth Villages - Summer Intern; Interned at a residential treatment facility for adolescents with severe behavioral and psychiatric issues; worked alongside staff and counselors to provide treatment and supervision.
- World Relief Memphis - Summer Intern; worked with Social Security offices, health clinics, school administration, and other social services to provide É«×ۺϾþà and basic orientation for refugee and immigrant families newly arrived to Memphis; collaborated with community organizers and volunteers to aid clients through their first months of transition and the path towards self-sufficiency.
How has HDFS prepared you?
“The HDFS program built a foundation of knowledge of theory, a love for learning, and a perspective of working with others in a client-focused, dignifying, and holistic way.”
Verity’s Advice
“Apply for internships out of your comfort zone! Work with different demographics, listen to the stories of others who are living in different realities, and engage with the communities around you!”