Established with a generous gift from Heidi Schaeffer, M.D., the Dr. Heidi Schaeffer Resilience, Hope, and Healing Fund supports social work students as they complete their clinical practicum placements, a requirement to graduate and work in the field professionally.
When Dr. Schaeffer, a national expert in human trafficking diagnosis and intervention, first visited the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, she was impressed by the students’ dedication to helping others and their varied backgrounds. She established the fund to support students in the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work and to help fulfill a need for skilled social workers in Palm Beach County.
“Our community is growing,” said Dr. Schaeffer, “and as such, so is the need for highly trained social workers. These practicum opportunities maximize the college’s community impact, foster long-term engagement with organizations in the area, and promote students’ pathways to career success after graduation.”
The fellowship helps Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students with expenses so that they can dedicate themselves to their practicum, which is unpaid and consists of 400 service hours during their last semester.
“A number of students would not be able to do this placement without this support,” said Precious Skinner-Osei, Ph.D., BSW program coordinator and assistant professor. “It’s a lifeline for these students.”
Eriana Teague’s practicum is at the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit’s Early Childhood Court where she works with family case managers, therapists, and attorneys to support children separated from parents or caregivers in the dependency system and to help families reunite.
“I wouldn’t trade my practicum experience for the world,” Eriana said. “I wanted to help children and make a difference in the community. The placement has showed me the range of needs children have here.”
The experience has inspired Eriana to stay in Palm Beach County after graduation and work with the juvenile justice system while studying at Florida Atlantic for her master’s degree in social work.
Student Tyler Anderson is working at the Habilitation Center in Boca Raton, which supports adults with disabilities to work toward more independence. Tyler provides mental health services through therapy sessions with center clients, helping them to develop vocational, behavioral, and social skills.
The fellowship has allowed him to scale back hours at his job to dedicate himself more fully to the practicum and the people he works with there. The experience has also reinforced his interest in working in therapy and with this population after graduation.
“I feel such gratitude,” Tyler said. “It’s great to know that there are generous people out there who support this work. I am thankful every day.”
To learn more about how Florida Atlantic is providing opportunities that propel student success, as well as how Transcend Tomorrow: The Campaign for Florida Atlantic University is working to create a healthier environment and support student success, visit transcendtomorrow.fau.edu.
