Introduction
To celebrate Black History Month, we asked African American social workers to talk to us about their career.
Phylandria Hudson, MSW, LMSW
Mental Health Therapist
Treasurer, NASW Mississippi Chapter
Jackson, Mississippi
Ms. Hudson
Q. Ms. Hudson, where did you earn your social work degree, where do you work, and what is your area of expertise?
I received my Bachelor’s from the University of Mississippi in 2004. I earned my Master’s Degree at Jackson State University in 2007. I am currently in supervision for my clinical license. I am working as a therapist providing mental health services to children and their families. I serve as Treasurer for the MS chapter of NASW. My areas of expertise are children's mental health, group work with adolescents, psychotherapy, and juvenile justice issues.
Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?
I watched my great-grandmother and my great-great aunts for years care for the community by helping the disadvantaged, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and lending an ear and sometimes money. By extension, I became a helper as a young child I would sit with the elderly, run errands, make phone calls, write letters and balance their checkbooks. I never knew what social work was but I knew what I wanted to do but didn't know how. I met a social worker as a junior business major in college. Her passion and dedication for helping others awakened those desires in me. That's when I knew I was meant to be a social worker. I credit her with helping me find my place in the world and finding a profession that I truly love. I do what I love and get paid to do it.
Q. If you were able to make one lasting impact on the world, what would it be and what would be your strategy for achieving it?
My one lasting impact would be to change children's mental health system so that it really empowers children and their families. It seems that children become victims in a system that does not help them get better and makes them unproductive adults or incarcerated. We talk about wraparound services but we have not truly put it into practice.
I also want to change the current juvenile justice system (especially here in Mississippi) because too many kids are in training schools instead of treatment programs. Lasting and real impact must start with changing legislative policies, improving training and education for direct care workers, and empowering parents to be the real advocates for their children and families.
Real change has always happened when those directly involved seek it. I want to empower and influence parents so they can effect change on a national level to make children's mental health and juvenile justice issues a political priority. Lastly, I would like to leave a legacy of service so that the children and families I work with will want to take up the mantle to serve others.
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We are so proud that Phylandria has been honored! She is currently serving as the wonderful Treasurer of the NASW, Mississippi Chapter Board of Directors and will be volunteering at our annual conference in March. We anticipate great things from Phylandria in the future!
Great job Phylandria. You are an asset to your area. Keep up the good work.
Congratulations Ms Hudson!