SSW Names Josselyn Agency Partner of the Year
黑料门University Chicago School of Social Work partners with more than 1200 locations across the country to provide student interns with hands-on experience, but this year one organization stood out.
Josselyn recently took home the School of Social Work鈥檚 award for Agency Partner of the Year. SSW recognized Josselyn鈥檚 excellent internship program at both its Waukegan and Northfield locations.
Josselyn's Patrick Dawley, Ciera McNeal, John Cahill, and Erin Shea Brady pose with SSW's Amy Greenberg after being awarded the school's Agency Partner of the Year award on April 14.
'Mental Health for All'
鈥� is 鈥楳ental health for all鈥� and I think it really lives by that statement,鈥� said Josselyn鈥檚 Director of Internships Tom Tharayil. 鈥淔or a lot of people, there鈥檚 not many places to go. Josselyn is committed to providing resources for equitable mental healthcare, no matter who you are.鈥�
Tharayil, who earned his undergraduate degree and MSW from Loyola, has shifted the focus of Josselyn鈥檚 internship program the last several years as the center has grown. Supervision and community-building are key components that make the program work.
鈥淧art of what鈥檚 good about that is interns can be vulnerable with each other, because it鈥檚 intimidating when you first start having clients,鈥� Tharayil said. 鈥淪o, having that support is key, and down the road it pays off.鈥�
A Hands-On Approach
That鈥檚 particularly important for second-year internship placements, like the one SSW alum Kristina Skof completed. She said being assigned actual Josselyn clients was the best way to build confidence, but she couldn鈥檛 have done it without the support of her supervisors and peers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very hands-on,鈥� said Skof. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e given a case load and clients and you are treated like a staff member. You have full support and supervision and everything to help you, but you are going to get a full experience of being a therapist, which was perfect for me. It鈥檚 kind of scary, but once you actually get into it and do it and build that confidence, that鈥檚 when it clicks.鈥�
Skof graduated with her MSW from 黑料门in 2022. After graduation, she returned to Josselyn to start her career as a full-time staff therapist, where she works today.
Innovative Financial Support Opportunities
But beyond providing necessary professional support for interns, Josselyn is also focused on ways to provide financial support. They recently introduced a model where current employees working towards their MSW are able to simultaneously complete an internship at Josselyn.
"It鈥檚 a really great opportunity to be able to have additional support to reach my educational and professional goals," said Leilani Barrera, Josselyn Psychiatric Services Case Manager, who is a part of that model. "I鈥檓 grateful for the financial support and to be able to take advantage of this opportunity while pursuing my MSW at Loyola."
Josselyn is also trying to grow the internship program at its Waukegan location by offering scholarships and generous tuition forgiveness opportunities for new employees.
鈥淔or those who are willing to make a four-year commitment, for every year of employment, a pretty significant portion of their loan debt will be repaid by Josselyn,鈥� said Tharayil. 鈥淭his is apart from their salary and all benefits and contributions.鈥�
The pilot program for newly hired clinical therapists at Josselyn鈥檚 Waukegan location offers 25% tuition reimbursement up to $10,000 for each of the first four years of employment.
鈥淔or the right graduate, being able to put four years in, know you鈥檙e getting that clinical experience, you鈥檒l get the hours towards continuing education, you鈥檙e getting supervision towards your LCSW license, and knowing every year of those four years you can knock off some debt鈥� that鈥檚 what I like about Josselyn is that they鈥檙e innovative,鈥� Tharayil said.
The consideration that Josselyn gives to employees鈥� and interns鈥� real-world needs is part of the reason Loyola鈥檚 School of Social Work recognized them as its agency partner of the year. As the discussion around social work internships continues to evolve, Loyola鈥檚 School of Social Work hopes more agencies are as willing to adapt to help its employees and interns as Josselyn.