“I am confident that the foundational experiences I’ve had with RISE will remain with me throughout my career.”
RISE Housing and Support Services offers an internship program for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in social work, social science, human services, or psychology. The internship program offers students clinical and administrative rotations for a macro and micro view of the philosophies of harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and person-centered planning.
Mary Brimmer, a current first-year graduate student of UAlbany’s Master’s in Social Work program, shares her experience as an intern and her journey into social work.
There is an effervescent energy that can be felt when stepping into the office at RISE and interacting with any of the staff members. The agency is characterized by the same can-do spirit, tenacity, and warmth that initially brought me into the field of social work. In my career, I seek to support others in their efforts to support themselves and to foster agency in the face of circumstances that often can make one feel all too powerless. The approach at TSA does just that.
At RISE, I’ve had the privilege of involvement in many projects, exploring the realms of both micro and macro-level work with the guidance of Paula Tancredi Penman, the agency’s Associate Executive Director at that time. Despite coming into the agency during the COVID-19 pandemic, the internship has remained incredibly immersive, enabling me to put into practice the skills and knowledge gained from my virtual classes. It is one thing to learn and read about trauma-informed care and person-centered work and another to engage in it. I’m grateful to be a part of the efforts and community at RISE and to pay witness to their continual growth and development. Even in the face of the pandemic, the agency continues to push forth to bring the best care to their clients, our community members.
I’ve had the honor of working with Child & Youth Care Manager, Morgan Murdza, and Program Supervisor, Erika Straight, to assist in serving clients and bringing fresh ideas to the Care Management team in weekly presentations. From the initial referral to assessment and providing ongoing services, Morgan has helped teach me the ins and outs of working with clients to ensure they receive the care and resources they need. The Care Management program of RISE is rapidly evolving, and I’ve been so happy to help with the process of expanding services to even more children and youth across the Capital Region.
I’ve also attended weekly staff meetings at Milestone Manor, a RISE community residence, and am currently developing useful and accessible materials to assist in their work with residents. With the support of the team and Program Director, Dawn Daum, I’ve been able to learn a substantial amount while interning remotely just through observation of their meetings, service plan development, and interactions with clients. I’m grateful for all the kindness, patience and support each member of RISE has shown me throughout my learning experience, including their help answering my many questions and their encouragement to ask even more.
My work with RISE has led me to discover interests and skillsets I never knew I had. Formerly set on pursuing clinical work, I have been surprised to find my growing love for macro-level problem-solving and program development. I am confident that the foundational experiences I’ve had with RISE will remain with me throughout my career and as I seek to uphold the core values of social work during my studies at UAlbany and beyond.