Samantha Klokkert '20
Because our graduation and social work hooding and pinning ceremonies were canceled due to COVID-19, my favorite memory would have to be our virtual celebration and Zoom toast in the social work department.
Social Work Career Guide
Consider joining the Human and Public Services Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
Past Internship Sites:
- Cherry Health
- Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center
- Center for Women in Transition
- US Department of Veteran’s Affairs
- Muskegon County Department of Health and Human Services
- Kent County Juvenile Detention Center
- Family Outreach Center
- Arbor Circle
- Lighthouse Girls Treatment Program
- Emmanuel Hospice
Where Alumni Have Landed
- Social Work Associate – Disability Advocates of Kent County
- Substance Use Disorder* Specialist – Veteran’s Administration
- Foster Care Case Aid – Samaritas
- Case Manager – Family Outreach Center
- Social Worker* – Senior Resources of West Michigan
- School Social Worker* – Rockford Public Schools
- Case Manager – State of Michigan
- Resident Crisis Counselor – Arbor Circle
- Investigator Specialist* – Department of Child Protective Services
- Transitional Foster Care Clinician* – Bethany Christian Services
- Maternal/Infant Health Social Worker – Cherry Street Health Services
- Group Facilitator* – Gilda’s Club
- Medical Social Worker* – Cancer and Hematology Centers of West Michigan
- Employment Specialist – Goodwill Industries
- Behavioral Health Technician – Centria Healthcare
- Community Health Educator* – Spectrum Health Healthier Communities
- Direct Care Worker – Pine Rest Christian Mental Health
- Patient Care Technician/Unit Coordinator – Holland Hospital
- Direct Care Counselor – D.A. Blodgett-St. John’s
- Rehab Specialist – Advanced Rehabilitation Management, Inc
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* Denotes a Master's degree required
Spotlights
Brandi Berry '02 & '03
Since graduating from GVSU, I have spent 20 years working in local child welfare services. I have since moved on to the Health Department where I supervise two local public health programs.
Jessica Moskalewski '15 & '17
While at GVSU, I was a member of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams. My favorite memory was winning the cross country national meet in Louisville, KY during a festival year (2014) and finishing 1-2-3 with my teammates.
Student Organizations to Consider Joining
- Alpha Psi Sigma – Scholastic honorary society for criminal justice
- Criminal Justice Student Association
- Law Society
- Mock Trial Club
- Pals Student Mentors
Study Abroad Programs
Research the expansion of human rights, cultural competence, and empowerment in Ghana. Evaluate equality, social and political justice in China. Develop a global perspective in social work practice, and enrich yourself in a multi-cultural experience while traveling in Ireland. You can begin to shape the human service delivery systems worldwide by studying abroad in the country of your choice.
Develop some of these technical and professional competencies to be successful:
- Ethical reasoning
- Research
- Detailed and succinct report writing
- Problem-solving
- Analyzing public policies and economic factors
- Intercultural and diversity awareness
- Interviewing and interrogation
- Adaptable
- Collaborative
- Leadership
Graduate & Professional Programs
Additional Resources
Join a Career Community
Watch Videos to Hear from Alumni Working in the Field
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