Meet our new Social Work Interns!

On August 31, 2020, we welcomed by two new members of our team! We are joined by two Social Work interns, students in their senior year at Alabama State University. I cannot adequately express how excited I am by this! Our new Social Work Interns will be working alongside our Director of Programs in implementing the Care Coordination component of our ministry.

Care Coordination, or case management in the Social Work field, is the practice of meeting our neighbors-in-need where they are at, evaluating the environment they’re in, discussing with them where they want to go, and helping them get there through continued communication, connecting them with resources, and walking them through our services, all from a strengths-based approach. We believe God has a plan for every one of our neighbors-in-need, and now we have a dedicated, intentional process to walk with them from where they are to that purpose. And now, we have two social work interns to expand our efforts in this goal!

 But it’s more than that. We’re also training up the next generation of Social Workers. These two students will one day be Directors of Programs and will one day be faced with neighbors-in-need of their own, and they’ll think back on their time at Mercy House. They’ll remember the dignity and respect we approached our neighbors with, and they’ll recall the compassion, determination, and understanding we exhibited with every case. We’ll leave an impression on future advocates that will affect how people in neighborhoods we can’t know and places we can’t fathom will receive care and that’s an honor. It’s a privilege.

Meet La’Tacia Cobb, Bachelor’s of Social Work Candidate, Alabama State University, Class of 2021
Why are you interning at Mercy House?
“I am interning at Mercy House because I want to gain a new experience of serving those who are in need to the best of my ability. I am excited to serve and I feel that Mercy House is the place for me to help mold me into the best future Social Worker.”

What do you hope to do after Mercy House?
“My plans after interning at Mercy House is to be able to obtain a job in my field.”

What do you hope to learn during your internship?
“I hope to learn professional development skills, healthy communication skills, and more Leadership skills.”

Meet Ke’Andrea Ray, Bachelor’s of Social Work Candidate, Alabama State University, Class of 2021
Why are you interning at Mercy House?
“The reason that I am interning at the Mercy House is because I admire the growth and transition of this organization. The love that this organization shares with serving people of the community is what stands out to me. I know that I can be of good service to not only the people of the community but to the staff of Mercy House. I also one-day hope to start my own nonprofit organization so being here helps me to understand the gest of how an organization is supposed to function.”

What do you hope to do after Mercy House?
“After I depart from the Mercy House, I hope to use the skills that have been taught to me and apply them to my career.”

What do you hope to learn during your internship?
“While interning here at Mercy House I hope to learn more about the social work profession. I hope to learn more about ways to communicate with my clients. I hope to learn more about how nonprofit organizations function. I hope to learn more about ways to not become overwhelmed when dealing with problems of my clients.”

Welcome to the team, La’Tacia and Ke’Andrea; we’re so happy you’re here and know West Montgomery will be better for having you here with us.

God Bless,
Pastor Ken Austin