Alumni Profiles

Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2008

Introduction

We asked several outstanding Hispanic social workers to tell us why they chose social work as their profession and what they see as challenges to serving the Hispanic community today.

Q.  Why did you choose the social work profession?

I unlike most people who went into social work I did not establish a goal to be a Social Worker but, in fact, social work was a profession that saved me. I want to take a few moments to say how this profession and I came to be one.

I was 28-years-old with plans to attend law school when my husband finished his neurosurgical residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital. However, a twist in the road was about to take place. My husband a loving a dedicated physician/surgeon and all around wonderful being was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease and died 18 months after the discovery.

To say I was devastated by his death and with the responsibility of two children not even two-years-old and four-year-old that were left in my care would be an understatement. Without a doubt a young resident and a stay-at-home mom have very minimal assets to work with and this was certainly my case.

With a small insurance policy and just barely enough energy I decided that my mind could not meet the challenge of law school. I recalled the social workers that I would see at the hospital and I admired the mission of their daily tasks.

In a state of grief and despair I went to Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida to see if I could handle the course work. I was so fortunate to meet the most loving and caring faculty member of that program.  He found me wandering like a lost lamb in the hallway and took time to explore my interest. I sat and told him my story and through a pool of tears he encouraged me and told me that doing this Masters might be a very good idea for me. Just like he said I would, I left a different person from his office signed up and finished school and made the field of social work my new home and my career. How great a match this career was for me!

To be able to have a degree and do for humanity while earning money to educate my family and feel a sense of total well being is a wonderful thing. I have helped so many people just like my professor at a down moment in their lives and recognize the value of a listening ear and an opportunity to reflect.

Today my love is working with the mentally ill. I am totally dedicated to that task for within them is a whole world of hurt and pain. In some cases I have been able to help them deal with the grief and embrace their illness without feeling the shame. I thank the social work profession for having molded my life and having given me a good path.

To find a spanish-speaking social worker in your area please click here and select the Advanced Search function.

Theresa Spinner, MA
Senior Web Communications Associate 
National Association of Social Workers
750 First St., NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC  20002 
tel: 202-408-8600 ext. 468; fax: 202-336-8307
Member Web site: www.socialworkers.org

Alicia Kula is a recent graduate of Barry University’s School of Social Work, Graduate Program, Palm Beach Gardens Campus. In 2002 Alicia began employment with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue as a community educator, facilitating partnerships with local schools for the purpose of expanding the schools’ safety curriculum to include Risk Watch©. Concurrent with Risk Watch© coordination she developed curriculum, taught, and assessed participants in the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program as well as co-produced several educational videos called Crossing the Line.

Recognizing the use of psychoeducational programming in a non-social work environment, Alicia joined a committee to assist in the development of a volunteer based social service program for Fire Rescue called Community Assistant Team (CAT); wherein volunteers assist the community at large during times of crisis through validation, normalization, and resourcing. Given the diversity of populations serviced by Fire Rescue, obtaining an MSW was invaluable for Ms. Kula; not only to support and strengthen the program, but to lend credibility to the program’s mission.

The theoretical framework from the classes coupled with the real world experiences provided during field lent insight for stratification of services including crisis intervention, bereavement support and service resourcing. Tooled with a Barry education and the desire to step outside of the traditional social work arena, Alicia developed the Crisis Mitigation Program (CMP), an idea originally conceived as a classroom project during a policy class. The program is designed to provide mental, emotional and spiritual assistance to the members of fire rescue and law enforcement during a time of crisis. Alicia is serving as the Coordinator of the program, which includes a myriad of response teams for specific populations that are impacted during an emergency.

Prior to working for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, Alicia Kula, had already earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Science Degree in Reading from Barry University. Alicia worked for the Palm Beach County School District as a Behavioral Interventionist and Reading Teacher. Ms. Kula has also worked in private industry as a paramedic of which she is still current along with be a current certified Fire Inspector. For now, Alicia is a registered clinical social work intern seeking clinical licensure status, so that she may further the C.A.T. and C.M.P. program development. She intends on pursuing her doctorate in the future. She is also a member of the NASW, PBC Child Care Advisory Committee, and Florida State Fire Marshall Association.