Growing up with a parent working in the social services can often instill an interest in helping others, but the Beecher family have a special familial dedication to the service of others. With a mother serving on the civilian side for the US military with Family Advocacy and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR), the family grew up in Okinawa, Japan with exceptional interest and understanding of social issues.
The current Coronavirus pandemic has drastically increased the need for resilience interventions, but social distancing and isolation have made connecting a challenge. When Dr. Machelle Madsen Thompson first heard about the effect COVID-19 was having in the beginning, she knew she wanted to help. She made it her personal mission to help address trauma and resilience in ways that improved the lives of children and families.
Although Alumna Jovita Woodrich (MSW, 2007) possesses the heart of a social worker, her journey to the profession was not a direct path. She enjoyed serving others and observed similar behaviors in her parents, who were originally from Guyana in South America and consistently lent a helping hand to others during her childhood. “They grew up in a community where everyone helped everyone else. Even if you had very little,” she described, “you give a little of yourself to someone else. You didn’t think about it separately from your existence.
Raised by parents who taught business and economics, Sherry Jackson had her sights set on a degree in business as she set out for college. But when she arrived at Florida State University as an undergraduate, she quickly realized her passion focused more on the social and behavioral sciences. With a degree in cultural anthropology under her belt, she decided to stay at Florida State because of how much she enjoyed her undergraduate experience and to pursue an MSW because of the national reputation of the FSU College of Social Work.
When Margarita Amado-Blanco started her undergraduate studies at Florida State University, she was still an exploratory/undecided major with an inclination toward assistance for disadvantaged persons and special education. She dabbled in liberal arts classes, including international affairs and psychology, but found herself hooked by her first social work class as she began her minor in social welfare.
Victoria (Vicky) Rose’s efforts to support clients and families dealing with dementia is not going unnoticed. As the coordinator for the Memory Disorder Clinic at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (TMH), she plays a multitude of roles that seek to improve the health and wellness of individuals living with dementia, their caregivers and the community. She has served in this role since 2017, wearing different hats on different days.
As the director of International Programs at the FSU College of Social Work, I make frequent site visits to agency sites around the world to create and sustain international field placements for social work students. This year, my trip happened to coincide with Brexit Day, January 31st, the day the United Kingdom (UK) officially withdrew from the European Union.
With the retirement of Elder Care Services CEO Mark Baldino in 2019, Elder Care Services’ board of trustees conducted a national search for the ideal candidate to lead the agency into its fiftieth year as a senior service leader in the Big Bend region of Florida. At the end of the search, the ideal candidate was found in their own director of volunteers and engagement, Jocelyne (Josie) Fliger.
The Florida Legislative Session begins on January 14, 2020. As the president of the National Association of Social Workers Florida Chapter (NASW-FL), I am eager to share this information with you regarding Legislation Education Days. NASW-FL is geared up to meet with and lobby our representatives regarding several important bills that are pertinent to the social work profession and the individuals, families, and communities we serve.
As a Tallahassee native, Hannah Kinnon has always been proud of her hometown. “This city has a small-town community feel, coupled with the political and governmental opportunities a capital city provides,” she explained. “Attending FSU has given me an opportunity to experience a totally different side of my hometown.”
Kinnon began her undergraduate experience at Florida State University (FSU) as an exploratory major, searching for a service-oriented major that would allow her to help others. A friend described her own major in social work, and Kinnon was “captivated.”
