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Honoring Social Work: Reflections from TXICFW Staff
March is National Social Work Month. Take some time to learn from TXICFW’s staff, and what led them to the field of social work.
Beth Gerlach, PhD., LCSW, Associate Director
What inspired you to pursue the work you do at TXICFW?
I had been a clinical social worker, and I really enjoyed working directly with children and families. However, the more I practiced, the more I recognized systemic-level issues that were impacting people every day. The work at TXICFW allows me to implement system-level changes to support practitioners’ work in the field.
Who in the field of social work inspires you?
I am always inspired by the perseverance, resilience and empathy of social workers. I have worked with so many colleagues who are compassionate, smart, kind, and funny, all of which help them to meaningfully engage with their professional and personal communities.
What are your hopes for the future of the field of social work?
One thing I hope for is an expanded emphasis on bridging clinical skills and involvement in policy change. Social work sees these areas as both very important, but often as distinct from each other. I feel the greatest impact for children and families comes from direct work with people AND on the policies and systems they interact with.
Kate McKerlie, MSSW, MPH, Communications Director
What inspired you to pursue the work you do at TXICFW?
Early in my career, I moved between communications, strategy, and direct work with young people and families. At first glance, those worlds seem different, but the heart of good communications is much like good social work: meeting people where they are, making information clear and relatable, and helping them access the support they need. That connection is what brought me here, and it still drives me every day.
Who in the field of social work inspires you?
Honestly, my co-workers inspire me the most. Everyone here is genuinely committed to bridging research and real-world practice, and they bring such thoughtful expertise to the table. That shared dedication and care for the work keep me motivated and make what we do feel truly meaningful.
What are your hopes for the future of the field of social work?
Social work drew me in because it’s so interdisciplinary, and I still believe that’s its greatest strength. As we move further into digital spaces, there’s a real opportunity to bring UX and design thinking into how we build social service resources, so they support, not work against, the important work social workers do every day.
Cassandra Mendoza, MA, Curriculum & Training Specialist
What inspired you to pursue the work you do at TXICFW?
Working with children and families has always been a passion of mine. As a social worker, I strive to help marginalized families and children who have experienced trauma, violence, and loss find healing and support. My work at TXICFW allows me to support caregivers by connecting them to resources that will support their families’ healing and equip child welfare professionals with skills and strategies to support children and families.
Is there specific work being done in the field that inspires you?
I strongly believe in the work that is being done by reproductive justice organizations. Supporting children and families also means supporting bodily autonomy.
In Austin, two organizations advocate for this: Mama Sana and The Bridge Collective. Mama Sana provides doula services and psychoeducation to mothers of color pre- and post-partum in a safe and nurturing environment. The Bridge Collective is a volunteer-run organization that delivers reproductive kits and psychoeducation on bodily autonomy to those who need it.
What are your hopes for the future of the field of social work?
We all deserve healing. Social workers need to realize that just as much as we want our families and clients to heal and do better, we should want the same for ourselves. We should all be engaging in practices and coping skills that are beneficial to ourselves, our communities and the world at large.
I wish for all of us (social workers) to be a little more critical of the systems we work in and of our profession. We need to understand how power dynamics and oppression are in constant conversations in many of the settings we find ourselves, and the roles we play to enhance those power dynamics. I hope for us to really embrace our core values and fight for collective change.
Sam Zuniga Thompson, LCSW-S, Director of Capacity Building
What inspired you to pursue the work you do at TXICFW?
I spent 15 years as a clinical social worker working with children and families before beginning my work at TXICFW. The Institute’s focus on bridging practice and research intrigued me, and as I began my work here, I found it to be a strong fit for me. I am able to integrate my clinical skills into curriculum development, training design, and supporting professionals and caregivers in child welfare, which closely aligns with my early work as a social worker.
Is there specific work being done in the field that inspires you?
I am inspired by relational models of social work that emphasize connection and community. Rather than focusing on deficits, relational approaches highlight the natural drive for connection with others and with our communities and recognize that relationships are reparative and healing. Through this work, we encourage community building and the mobilization of networks of support as meaningful interventions. This approach can be integrated into the curricula we develop, shape how we bring people together in educational spaces, and guide our advocacy for children, youth and families.
What are your hopes for the future of the field of social work?
My hope is that social work remains a strong field of study in our universities and that we support opportunities for social work students to practice in a way that aligns with the profession’s foundational values. Social workers play an integral role in the health of our communities, and it’s important to highlight the significance of this work in all areas of practice.