All News

Student Spotlight: Rebecca Wheeler, M.S.S '26

November 6, 2024
Rebecca Wheeler Headshot

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.