Meet our NEW Staff Member: Ana Hernández, MSSW, MA
Ana Hernández has joined TXICFW as a part-time staff member as the Girasol Program & Research coordinator. Learn more about Girasol here. Welcome to the team Ana, we are happy and excited you are here!
Past job/ or work you want to highlight?
Over the last few years, I have learned more about immigrant detention and the role that social workers can play in addressing the needs of those who are detained. I have coordinated the Social Work Detention Response Team through the Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing for two years, working with interdisciplinary social work-law teams to provide support to women and children at the Karnes detention center. I have also helped coordinate and provide services through a therapeutic group at the Hutto detention center for two years. As an organizer, I have worked closely with the University Leadership Initiative to focus on undocumented student rights. My Master’s thesis, “Becoming Undocumented and Unafraid,” explores undocumented student activism. My other research has focused on migration, domestic violence/sexual assault, mental health, and connection to services for the undocumented community.
What excites you or interests you most about the work you do?
I love finding and forming connections between people and organizations that are engaged in complementary work. I also love engaging folks that haven’t previously been involved and helping them find their passion in the field of immigration work. I am always excited about the opportunity to link clinical practice with macro-level advocacy and research. I feel that these links help us to find comprehensive and community-based solutions to the issues we face.
What is something you hope to achieve in your career?
After working for several years as a social worker I would love to go back to school for a Ph.D. in social work and become a professor. The idea of sharing my experiences with future social workers is exciting to me, as well as the opportunity to continue combining practice with research.
What are some of your personal hobbies?
In my free time, I love hanging out with my cats, getting crafty with art projects, watching movies, and spending time outdoors. I also love playing music and singing – primarily music from Latin America, but also jazz. You might find me dancing along as well!
Anything else you want to add?
I am grateful to be working with people who are supportive of my ideas and initiatives, and I am excited about the work to come!
See Ana’s staff profile here.