A panel of social workers and social welfare organizational leaders from a variety of organizations in the community shared stories of their professional journeys with students in the USF School of Social Work. The panelists discussed the type of work they presently conduct and the observed trends in the populations they serve. They also highlighted the current demands of the field, hiring needs their respective organizations are experiencing, and the types of jobs that will be available for graduates now and in the future.
The room was filled with students eager to gain advice from current social work professionals.
Panelists included Jen Fletcher, social services manager at the Pace Center for Girls, Hernando; Charlotte McHenry, president/CEO of the Senior Connection Center; Rosa Contreras, chief program officer of The Spring of Tampa Bay; Larry Cooper, chief of prevention and intervention services of Children’s Home Network; Jacob Glover, intake/pre-release specialist at Abe Brown Ministries, Ready 4 Work Hillsborough; and Mark Cardillo, program director of HCA Florida West Tampa Hospital.
Left to right: Jen Fletcher, Charlotte McHenry, Rosa Contreras, Larry Cooper, Jacob
Glover, and Mark Cardillo