Running head: SOCIAL WORK INTERVIEW

Social Work Interview

SOCIAL WORK INTERVIEW

The following research highlights the process of trying to find someone with a bachelors
degree in social work to interview. Information gathered while interviewing the BSW will be
included as well. The researchers assessment of the interview will also be present in the study.
This exploration will also consist of how the researcher felt while trying to find an interviewee,
along with what the researcher learned from this process. Lastly, the study will incorporate how
the researcher felt during the interview along with her feelings about social work and how they
may or may not have changed as a result of the interview.
The Process
The process of finding someone to interview was not as challenging for the researcher as
it might have been for other students. The researcher spends most of her time at work
communicating with coordinating agencies that employ social workers. Following an email sent
to Professor Schropshire by the researcher; the researcher was able to conclude that it was
acceptable for her interview someone from the coordinating agencies that she works with daily.
Although, the researcher spoke with social workers on a daily basis through the telephone, she
did not know any of them personally.
The researcher inquired with various people about their credentials. Almost all of them
had masters degrees in social work or were licensed professional counselors. After questioning
various individuals, the researcher spoke with Miranda, who had both a BSW and LPC.
Miranda, from St. Clair County Community Mental Health (SCCCMH) informed the researcher
that all interviews in their agency had to be coordinated by the human resources department.
Miranda also provided the researcher with the direct phone numbers of those employed in that
department. At the time, another agency known as Macomb County Community Mental Health
referred the researcher to the same process to acquire an interview candidate. The researcher

SOCIAL WORK INTERVIEW

contacted both agencies in hopes that it would increase her chances of obtaining an interviewee
faster. While waiting for a return phone call from either or both of the agencies, the researcher
continued with diligence inquiring with various individuals about their credentials. Macomb
County Community Mental Health contacted the researcher and informed her that there were no
employees available with bachelors degrees. All of their clinicians were MSWs or LPCs.
Finally, Jody Krusky from SCCCMH contacted the researcher with good news. She had an
interview candidate for the researcher, and his name was Mike Wesch.
The researcher had various feelings while seeking out an interview candidate. However,
the researcher did not feel uncomfortable asking strangers for assistance in finding someone.
The researcher spends a large portion of her time at work reaching out to strangers to help solve
complicated funding issues for clients who are enrolled in the inpatient substance abuse facility
where she is employed. For this reason, the uncomfortable feelings were not present for her.
However, she did experience a little anxiety when the submission deadline for instructor
approval neared. Many of the anxious feelings that the researcher experienced could be
comparable to those of a client awaiting services for a social, physical, or mental health problem.
The clients probably experience anxiety and frustration in their attempts to acquire these services
because they are not readily available especially to those in vulnerable populations. Although,
comparison of the researchers feelings to a potential consumer is effective in conveying the
feelings experienced by the consumer, the researcher believes that her feelings pale in
comparison to those of most consumers.
The Interview
Mike Wesch attended classes at St. Clair Community College and Central Michigan
University before receiving his BSW from Wayne State University. Mikes job title is a Case

SOCIAL WORK INTERVIEW

Manager. According to Kirst-Ashman and Hull (2012), Case management often involves
coordination of services provided by a variety of professionals (p. 120). Mike is assigned cases
and helps individuals get resources that empower them to meet their basic needs and promote the
betterment of their lives. Mike works primarily with individuals who suffer from developmental
impairments. The mentally ill are a small portion of Mikes clientele. All of these clients have
social and personal problems that are addressed within the agency where Mike is employed.
SCCCMH and Mike address the clients issues and provide assistance in problem-solving.
Clients who seek services with Mike or SCCCMH may experience personal problems,
which typically include lack of food and money. Mike and his employing agency provide a
resource fair that includes a food truck, dental checks, health screenings, hygiene supplies, and
donations of free meals, clothes or baby items. This fair is held at St. Clair County Community
College and is open to all consumers of SCCCMH. Although Mike and SCCCMH provide
resources to meet the basic needs of their consumers, they also try to address social problems as
well.
Many of the consumers who seek services from SCCCMH suffer from social problems
such as isolation as a result of mental illness. SCCCMH has a clubhouse for the mentally ill that
provides social gatherings for consumers to come and hang out together to establish peer support
for one another. Many of the individuals seeking services, lack friendships, and the clubhouse
gives them a chance to get out there and form relationships. Additionally, many individuals who
suffer from gender identity issues seek services from SCCCMH. Mike reported most of the
individuals seeking these services are men who are going through the medical transformation of
becoming a woman. These consumers can seek individual counseling through SCCCMH that

SOCIAL WORK INTERVIEW

assists them in troubleshooting their issues. As a result of the services offered and Mikes
performance, he believes that he is effective within the agency.
Mike explained that the first question he asks every client is, What are your hopes,
dreams, and plans for the future? By asking clients this question he is using warmth, empathy,
and genuineness to engage the client (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2012, p. 113). He also states that no
matter what he may want or feel is right for the client it is always their choice. Mike explained
that SCCCMH is there to give consumers support. For these reasons, Mike and surely the
employing agency perceive his effectiveness as a vital part of the clients recovery process.
Mike clarified that not only does he serve an effective purpose within the agency, but the agency
does as well. Mike described SCCCMH as an agency within the community that brings
awareness to these issues. They also advocate for the mentally ill. They have been known to
have billboards in the area that encourage education on mental illness. SCCCMH partnered with
the March of Dimes to bring more awareness about mental illness to the community. They have
had advertisements on the radio and hosted Run for Recovery. Mike states that every month
SCCCMH does something to reach out to the community to help alleviate the stigmatized
attitudes against the developmentally disabled and mentally ill. Mike also explained to the
researcher the three levels of practice within SCCCMH.
Mike acknowledged that the three levels of practice are apparent in the work of the
agency. At SCCCMH, the micro level practice is clear with the case management service and
individual counseling. Mike explained that the mezzo level practice is evident with the group
services that SCCCMH offers. These groups include smoking cessation, grief, anger
management, coping skills, and drama classes for consumers. Many of the groups that are
offered by SCCCMH are considered to be treatment groups (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2012, p. 97).

SOCIAL WORK INTERVIEW

The researcher further inquired about drama classes for the consumers. Mike clarified that they
have a social worker that also was involved with drama in college, and he runs the drama class.
The social worker in these groups may be considered a facilitator (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, p. 101).
The most inspiring part was that these consumers put on plays once or twice a year. The
researcher found this to be extremely interesting and thought it would be fun for clients to
participate in something that was not focused on their problems. Macro level practice within
SCCCMH consisted of looking at policies outside and within the agency. Kirst-Ashman and
Hull stated Macro practice in generalist social work involves working on behalf of whole
groups or populations of clients (p 125). Mike also mentioned that the administration for
SCCCMH attends government meetings in Lansing, Michigan. These meetings consist of
education on budgeting and the availability of government assistance on federal and state levels.
They also bring administrators up to speed on new legislation.
The Researchers Assessment
The researcher felt very grateful to be able to conduct her interview with Mike Wesch.
His representation of himself and SCCCMH allowed the researcher to become more appreciative
of services that are offered on an outpatient level. Most of the researchers experience with
social work has been acquired through an inpatient care setting. The researcher left the interview
feeling inspired to lean more towards outpatient care when searching for a career path in social
work. The researcher perceives the work done by Mike and SCCCMH as admirable and
extremely effective. The interview went well, and it was extremely easy to talk to Mike and
gather information from him about his agency. Mike was informative and friendly while being
interviewed. He offered extra information when he could and went out of his way to make the
interview a comfortable experience for the researcher.

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7
References

Kirst-Ashman, K., & Hull Jr., G. (2012). Understanding generalist practice (6th ed. pp. 97125). Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole.