Rebecca Wheeler has been in the social work field for over 25 years since earning her bachelor's degree in social work in 1995. Wheeler is a part-time 2nd Year CWEL (Child Welfare Education for Leadership) student completing an employment based field placement at the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth. In her student profile, Wheeler discusses her career leading up to admission to the GSSWSR, as well as her field placement experience and responsibilities.
How did you begin a career in social work?
I began my interest in social work when I attended Temple University from 1991-1995 as a social work student. While in the program at Temple, my studies were around community-based programs. I participated in fieldwork in the city of Philadelphia with a focus on the youth in the community. I volunteered in several homeless shelters assisting with after-school programs both tutoring and assisting parents with teenage children around issues that were contributing to truancy at school. For my senior year internship at Catholic Social Services, I was provided the opportunity to counsel pregnant teen girls. All of my experiences at Temple led me to a career in child welfare where I plan to continue my career path.
What led you to pursue your master’s in social work?
As I continue to advance my career at the Office of Children and Youth, I have decided that obtaining my master’s degree at this time will benefit my career as well as benefit the clients, providers, and staff I work with. I am eager to continue to learn new information, mandates, and regulations that will assist me in the field. As I work with county and state agencies on a daily basis, I will continue to need to be on top of the most updated knowledge of all laws and mandates.
Where is your field placement?
I have been assigned to an employment-based field placement at The Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth (MCOCY). The MCOCY is a state-supervised, county-administered, public service agency. The agency responds to referrals received from mandated reporters and concerned citizens within the county community involving allegations of abuse/neglect by assessing child safety and well-being in accordance with the child welfare statutes. The agency utilizes a strengths-based approach “to deliver effective child welfare services that empower families in order for them to appropriately care for the children therefore in practice, every agency-involved family should be treated fairly and equally while considering their difference and diversity” (MCOCY, 2024).
What are your responsibilities in your placement?
I will be developing and implementing a new program that MCOCY has received federal funding for. The Intensive Care Coordinator (ICC) will provide comprehensive, objective, trauma-informed, person-centered facilitation and leadership for assigned youth, their families, and the interagency team for that youth. I will be responsible for supervising the ICC team, and I am excited to lead this team and implement the program. I will also carry a few cases in the role of an ICC coordinator. Along with this direct work, I am supervising and training the new ICC staff. Although I have previously supervised MCOCY staff, implementing this program and new roles into the agency is a new experience for me. Overall, I believe this program is needed to assist MCOCY staff with complex cases, and will be advantageous for the families we serve.