The New Social Worker Vol. 19, No. 3, Summer 2012 | Page 11

Future Social Work Majors Learn, Work During UA Summer Camp

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ourteen high school juniors and seniors are spending five weeks learning about social work careers at the
University of Alabama and working with
social work agencies in the Tuscaloosa
area this summer.

For the second consecutive year, UA
is a host site for the National Social Work
Enrichment Program’s (NSEP) summer
camp, a program designed to introduce
high school students to social work as a
potential college major and career.

The camp began June 4, when
students moved into campus dormitories
and began a “Careers in Social Work”
course. Over the duration of the camp,
students earn stipends by working with
local United Way agencies, said Dr.
Sebrena Jackson, NSEP founder.

“One of the key components is partnering with local agencies so the students
can see the professional side of social work,”
said Jackson. “We’re also trying to do a
community service project. In the past,
we’ve worked with Habitat for Humanity
and gone to nursing homes to do bingo.”

The students participating at UA
are foster children who are enrolled
in the Independent Living Program, a

Department of
Human Resources
program aimed to
guide youth toward
success as adults.
Additionally,
DHS provides the
majority of NSEP’s
funding.

Drs. Debra
Nelson-Gardell
and Javonda WilUA undergraduate social work major Cambrin Daniel leads a class of
liams, UA social
high school students at the National Social Work Enrichment Program
work professors,
summer camp. Daniel is one of two UA students assisting Dr. Sebrena
attended the
Jackson with the camp. UA is hosting the NSEP camp for the second
end-of-camp
year in a row.
awards luncheon
at Alabama A&M
program is vital to future college students
in 2010. They were impressed with the
looking to major in social work, as most
program and approached Jackson about
students aren’t aware of the many career
hosting a camp at UA.
options for licensed social workers.

“Over the course of the year, we

“I think this is the primary goal of
worked out all of the details, and we
the program,” Williams said. “This valuwere able to host the camp last year for
able information is usually not compiled
the first time,” Williams said, “which was
and clearly presented to students until
amazing, because the students were able
they take an introduction to social work
to help with tornado recovery projects.”
course at a university.”

Williams, chair of the undergradu
The students work with agencies from 9
ate social work program at UA, said the
a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Wednesday.

The New Social Worker

Summer 2012

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