Jennifer Ward Goetz

Classes Taken that are relevant to Child Welfare Social Work

CURRENT Summer 2023 Current Grade 8/6

Social Work & Child Maltreatment. (97.22%)

Swk Child Welfare & the Law (105.19%)

Philosophy of Social Work (98.99%)

SWK Privilege Power & Oppression (99%)

Spring 2023 COMPLETED

HSP Intro To Human Services A+

Social Work & Addiction A

SWK Community Engmng &Civic Resp. A

(Math for Liberal Arts A)

COMPLETED RELEVANT TO CHILD WELFARE

Completed Courses Relevant to Child Welfare:

- EDS 3540 - Youth, Drugs, and Gangs

- HES 3090 - Maternal and Child Nutrition

- HSP 1040 - Applied Behavior Analysis

- HSP 2040 - Family Systems

- HSP 3400 - Pharmacology of Drugs & Alcohol

- HSP 3500 - Domestic Violence: Partner Relationship Abuse

- HSP 3580 - Resistive Client

- HSP 3590 - Resistive Adolescent Client

- HSP 4200 - Child Abuse and Neglect

- PSY 3250 - Child Psychology

- PSY 2240 - Parenting Techniques

- PSY 2210 - Psychology of Human Development

- SOC 3510 - Juvenile Delinquency

- SOC 3400 - Child and Adolescent Socialization

- SWK 1010 - Introduction to Social Welfare & Social Work

- SWK 390O - Kids' Brains: Healthy Connection

- SWK 390V - Women and Poverty

- WMS 234F - Sexual Harassment/Discrimination

- WMS 234A - Time Management

- WMS 234B - Stress Management

• Promoted to [Job Title] after only [timeframe] for exceptional performance.

Harm Reduction Action Center (Started February 2023-):
- Working at the needle exchange table to provide harm reduction services to individuals with substance use disorder to exchange for clean needles and supplies, crucial in mitigating and reducing health risks and communicable diseases among individuals with substance use disorders. This program involves exchanging used needles for cleaning supplies and providing clean smoking kits, ensuring the safety and well-being of participants.
- Gaining knowledge about harm reduction strategies, substance use disorders, and the importance of non-judgmental support to foster positive change.
-engaging with approximately 150 participants, reviewing various information to ensure they are any needed services connected with such as Medicaid, food access, phone use, mail, and treatment if desired. This includes providing essential supplies and engaging in friendly conversations to establish rapport and build trust. I understand the importance of creating a welcoming and non-judgmental environment where participants feel comfortable sharing their experiences and seeking support.

-working at the coffee station, which serves as individuals' first point of contact when they enter the center. In this role, I engage in friendly conversation, offering a listening ear and connecting with diverse participants. While making a cup of coffee or providing a warm bowl of soup if needed, ensuring that participants feel cared for and valued.

Impact Humanity Store, 2017-2020: - Worked in a store providing free essentials and clothing to those in need - Used my extensive skill in customer service gained over 25+ years for the retail-like atmosphere, as well as empathy and active listening to meet the unique needs of diverse individuals.   

The store was designed to provide a dignified shopping experience for the unhoused and those in need.  The store was established to address the issue of people having to dig through plastic bags or bins to find clothing, which often led to feelings of embarrassment and a lack of dignity. As a volunteer, my role was to help customers find the right outfits, sizes, and styles, organize donated clothes by size and style in the back, and offer hygiene products or connect individuals with other resources they might need. The store operated on a donation-based system, ensuring that everything was accessible to those in need without any cost. My experiences with Impact Humanity reinforced my commitment to serving those in need and knowing I belong in a helping profession and reignited my desire to do all I can to get back to my degree; unfortunately, due to the impact of Covid-19, the Impact Humanity store had to close its doors., I carry the values and lessons learned with me, and I am eager to continue finding ways to impact marginalized individuals' lives positively.
Impact Hair Cut Day, 2018-2020:
While I didn't personally provide haircuts, I assisted in organizing the line of unhoused individuals, distributing snacks and drinks to those waiting for their turn, and providing support as needed. This program aimed to provide individuals with a fresh haircut, enhancing their self-esteem and helping them feel valued and cared for. Witnessing the transformation a simple haircut could bring to someone's confidence and overall well-being was heartwarming.

Impact Sunday Lunch Delivery, 2017-2020: - Delivered meals to individuals experiencing homelessness, honing organizational and time management skills for efficient distribution. - Developed a compassionate and empathetic approach toward addressing the immediate needs of the unhoused population. The family Sunday lunch delivery program, where my family and I, along with other volunteer families, prepared and distributed hundreds of lunches to those in need. This involved utilizing my time management skills to coordinate the lunch preparation, as well as working collaboratively with families to prepare food in a timely fashion and help the younger children decorate lunch bags and notes and then go out to various areas around Denver to distribute lunches with all my kids as well and engage in conversations with the recipients, many of whom loved the bags and notes decorated by the kids.

The Peanut Butter Project, 2015-2017:
- Assisted in distributing essential food supplies, including peanut butter, to individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Developed strong organizational and logistical skills in managing and coordinating the distribution process.

Warren Village Daycare - Summer of Freshman Year:
- Provided support and care to at-risk youth in a daycare setting.
- Developed strong communication and interpersonal skills to engage and connect with children facing challenging circumstances effectively.

-Learned that I loved working with children while I was here. I only had one child at this point, but working here reinforced my desire to work in social work with children. This was quite a while ago and I add it because it was a catalyst that truly reaffirmed what I wanted to do in my life.

Through these volunteer experiences, you have acquired a diverse skill set, including strong communication, empathy, active listening, organizational skills, and the ability to work effectively with individuals facing homelessness, substance use disorder, and at-risk youth. These skills will be invaluable in conducting intake questions to connect individuals with appropriate services, giving a kind person to talk to, and even engaging in harm reduction efforts when working with the unhoused population.