To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Hispanic social workers to talk to us about their careers.

Guadalupe G. Lara, MSW, LMSW
GGLara Consultants Allen Park, Michigan

Member of the Board of Directors
National Association of Social Workers
Washington, DC 

Ms. Lara

Q. Ms. Lara, where did you earn your social work degree, what is your area of expertise and where are you employed? 

I earned my master’s degree in social work at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.  My focus has been on serving children and families who have been in abusive situations, but I learned along the way that staff can also be disruptive and have developed strength-based training to manage workplace conflicts.  

I have been fortunate to have great mentors and role models who taught me the meaning of justice and my responsibility to stand up for those who are being abused and who do not yet have a voice.  I retired from the Detroit Medical Center, where I worked 27 years in various leadership positions, from Director of Social Work to Corporate Director of Social Work for the eight hospitals of the Corporation.  Since then I have dedicated myself to caring for my mother who has Alzheimer’s disease and provide consultation and training on managing conflict in the workplace with diverse populations. 

Q.  Why did you choose social work as a career?

I choose social work because right after high school I worked part-time at a hospital and saw the great need there was for social work on behalf of the elderly and although my job was as a clerk I found myself advocating for the patients.  In addition, my mother was a Daughter of Charity Volunteer and worked primarily with the elderly and she has been my main inspiration all my life.  I feel privileged to work in a field that I find so gratifying and that makes such a difference for so many. 

Q. What are the main challenges facing Latinos today and how can social work help?

All Latinos face potential discrimination because of the backlash of the immigration hate movement.  Latinos today still need culturally competent services, and there are still many children and families who require language assistance with translation services. 

Children who have lived their entire lives here need advocacy on behalf of continued education beyond high school.  There is still poverty and lack of health care access in many of these communities.  I am proud that in Michigan our NASW chapter is advocating for the Dream Act and consistently has reached out to the Latino social workers to provide educational sessions at their annual conferences.  They also have partnered with the Organization of Latino Social Workers in Michigan.

If you are a social worker in an area with high concentration of Latinos, advocate for training on who are the Latinos in your area, what are their needs and do focus groups with Latino community service providers on how you can better collaborate with them to better serve this growing community of diverse Latinos. 

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Hispanic social workers to talk to us about their careers.

Andres Trevino, MSW, LMSW-IPR
Valley Baptist Medical Center
Brownsville, Texas 

Mr. Trevino

Q. Mr. Trevino, where did you earn your social work degrees, what is your area of specialization, and where are you employed?

I got my Master in Science in Social Work in 1996 from the University of Texas at Arlington, I did not have any specialization in that time, and I wanted to learn everything possible to provide the best to everyone: children, adolescents, adults, and seniors.

I decided to move from Dallas in 2009 and relocated to South Texas to one of poorest counties in the nation to help our Hispanic population.  I was employed as clinician for Southwest Key Program helping undocumented minors for several months until I was given the opportunity to work as a clinician for Valley Baptist Medical Center, where I currently work.

Q. Why did you choose social work as your career?

My social work education taught me about community resources as well as the different theories and approaches to help people to get the most from them.  Many times people in need do not know the resources that they have in the community, and many times they need a role model to start feeling more confident on themselves.   

Q. What are the greatest challenges facing the Hispanic community and how can social workers help?

One of the biggest challenges as a Hispanic is the idiosyncrasy of our heritage, our roots, the way of thinking, and the lack of the unity.  As  social workers we are teachers, mentors, role models and parents.  We need to help our future generation with our values and more resources so  they have a better life than ours and can enjoying a life free of racism, discrimination and religion.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Hispanic social workers to talk to us about their careers.

Reinaldo A. Cardona, MSSW, LCSW, ACSW
Executive Director
National Association of Social Workers 
New York State Chapter
Glenmont, New York

Mr. Cardona

Q.  Mr. Cardona, where did you earn your social work degree, what is your area of specialization and where are you employed?

As a student at Columbia University School of Social work, I majored in Group Work.  Early in my life, it became clear to me that John Donne’s words “No man is an Island” rang true.  We are all social being and for the most part are interconnected with other human beings.  This led me to choose the a specialty in group work. 

I graduated from Columbia in 1975 earning an MSSW degree.  I have been a Certified Social Worker in New York State since 1975.   I am currently a licensed Clinical Social worker with the R credential (LCSW-R)    In 1977, I received my ACSW and have maintained it since. I am currently the Executive Director of the NASW NYS Chapter where I have the opportunity to employ the macro practice skills of social work.

Q.  Why did you choose social work as your career?

Growing up in an inner city neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, I saw a great deal of poverty and despair around me.  I always knew that I wanted to help people with these concerns.  Also, as a teenager, I was part of a social club that was moderated by a social worker.  This gave me a good view of what social workers do and I wanted to emulate that. 

Q.  What are the greatest challenges facing the Hispanic community and how can social workers help?

As a Puerto Rican living on the mainland of the United States, I have seen firsthand how often Latinos and Latinas are painted with a broad brush.  We are often categorizes as being in low socio-economic groups.  While this is true to some extent, there is a wide range of socio-economic groups to which we belong.  There is little understanding of the rich diversity of cultures among the many Latino/a groups coming from Central and South America.  This diversity is not understood  and often homogenized by the dominant culture.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Hispanic social workers to talk to us about their careers.

Debbie A. Sanchez, MSW, LMSW-IPR
Transplant Social Worker
Christus Transplant Institute
San Antonio, Texas

Ms. Sanchez

Q. Ms. Sanchez, where did you earn your social work degree, what is your area of specialization, and where are you employed?

I received my MSW from Texas’ first school of social work, Our Lady of the Lake University – Worden School of Social Service, San Antonio Texas – 1988. My area of specialization has been in the health care field with an emphasis on organ transplantation.I am currently employed as a transplant social worker with Christus Transplant Institute, San Antonio Texas.

Q.  Why did you choose social work as your career?

 A funny thing happened on my way to get a job; my social work career happened by chance.  After receiving my B.A. in Public Justice, my plan was to work as a probation officer.  I went to apply only to be told there was ”no position is available but you can volunteer and when something comes up.”  Needless to say, I declined and researched master’s programs. 

The social work field had many opportunities (health, legal, medical, etc.).  I had no difficulty selecting social work as a profession.  I have been a proud social worker for 22 years.  I was geared toward the helping professions without realizing it when I wanted to be a probation officer.  As I reflect, I was always meant to be in social work, the helping profession.

Q. What are the greatest challenges facing the Hispanic community and how can social workers help?

As a social worker in the health care field, the challenge I see for the Hispanic community is a lack of education about  diseases.  For example, diabetes can lead to kidney failure and other medical complications.  Social workers can help by providing on-going education to the Hispanic community relative to diseases.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Hispanic social workers to talk to us about their careers.  

Graciela Molina-Dacker, MSW, LCSW, ACSW
Private Psychotherapy Practitioner
Salem, Oregon 

Ms. Molina-Dacker

 Q. Ms. Molina-Dacker, where did you learn your social work degree?   

I returned to school as an adult and I obtained my GED at  age 41.  I earned my social work degree at Fordham University’s School of Social Welfare in Manhattan, NY. This was followed by three years of family therapy, one year of drug and alcohol treatment, six years of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Ericksonian hypnosis from the NLP Center of New York, and advanced training in Ericksonian hypnotherapy at the New York Milton H. Erickson Society.  

Q. What is your area of specialization and where are employed?  

My area of specialization is working with families as a family therapist, including hypnotherapy and NLP skills.  I recently retired, after working with undocumented migrant workers and their families. Currently, I have a private practice serving the Hispanic Community in Salem, OR.  

During my 25 years in New York I worked with the chronically mentally ill and their families, with people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction.  During my last ten years in New York, I developed and implemented a program for individuals living in family shelters.  I moved to Salem, Oregon nine years ago and have continued influencing all my clients to heal and to believe in their resiliency. My mission is to generate well-being by encouraging those I serve to access and integrate their innate resources while healing  past wounds, live in the present and transform their future.   

Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?  

I chose social work because I felt a calling to serve people who have experienced a devastated upbringing. I grew up in a very poor environment in Mexico City, uneducated, with no parents and as a victim of domestic violence (emotional, physical and sexual). The social work profession provided me the opportunity to lead people in search for recognition as productive individuals. I can do that because I have walked the walk and talked the talk.  

What are the challenges in the Hispanic community?  

In my forty-six years living in the United States it is my experience that the greatest challenges facing the Hispanic community  as of today is their skin color, physical traits, lack of education and social skills. As a result they continue to feel undeserving. They are unaware of possibilities and resources available in their communities. I believe it is important to help them envision a future where they are deserving and productive. As Hispanics we can leave our mark contributing to family, community and to society.  

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Hispanic social workers to talk to us about their careers.

Nilda Perez, MSW, LCSW-R, CCLC
Founder and CEO, Aspire 4 Life, Inc.
New York, New York

Doctor of Strategic Leadership Candidate
Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Ms. Perez

Q. Ms. Perez, where did you earn your social work degrees, what is your area of specialization, and where are you employed? 

I earned my degree from Fordham University. I am also a certified Life coach a certification that I earned in October 2005.  My specialty is counseling women, family and adolescence.  My experience has been in   drug  treatment where I worked for nine and a half years with women and families. 

I have also done a great amount of volunteer work with women in church ministries, and other local ministries.  My second specialization is working with the Latino monolingual population since I am fluently bi-lingual. I am the CEO and founder of Aspire 4 Life Inc., Counseling & Coaching Services. We are a faith-based agency and we guide through biblical principles. We are intentionally interdenominational and religion is not the focus of sessions. The goal is to you assist you in finding inner peace and emotional solace.”

Q. Why did you choose social work as your career? 

Amazingly, enough social work was not a career I chose.  Social work chose me.  Even as a child I was always drawn to help people, guide people and I was and remain the source of support for the underdog.  When it was time for me to choose a career social work was the natural choice, a decision which I have never regretted.  I have worked in an array of environments such as drug treatment, prison for both adults and adolescents, assisting immigrants obtain health benefits for their American children and home visits for chronically ill.  I have loved all of the work I have done. Now I am involved in my private practice agency and continue to be that source of support to those in emotional pain. 

Q. What are the greatest challenges facing the Hispanic community and how can social workers help? 

I am a first generation American from a Peruvian mom.  I find that the most difficult part for immigrants is living in a new country with so many opposing cultural differences. It is most difficult when raising children in this environment which is completely foreign for the parents and can be frustrating for the children because their experience has only been in this country.  Assimilating is what children want to do while thier parents want to impose their cultural beliefs upon children their  children.  This is a challenge for both the child and the parents. Social workers can assist by helping the parent and child come to an understanding and mutual respect for each other and to appreciate one another’s position.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Hispanic social workers to talk to us about their careers.  

Daniel Pedraza, MSW, LCSW-R
New York City Deparment of Education
Bronx, New York

Q.  Mr. Pedraza, where did you earn your social work degree? 

I graduated from Fordham University with an MSW in 1995. 

Q.  What is your area of specialization? 

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the New York City Department of Education.  I have been employed as a school social worker the last five years years.  Prior to that I worked as a psychiatric social worker at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY for 10 years.  

My specialty is working with children and families.  My bilingual abilities allows me to work with hispanic families new and old and recent immigrants as well.  

Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession? 

The single biggest reason I chose social work is to honor my mother.  She gave food and clothing to the homeless when I was a child hoping to convert them to her religion. 

Q.  What are the greatest challenges facing the Hispanic community and how can social workers help?

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To honor LGBT Pride Month we asked Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) social workers to tell us why they chose social work as their profession and to describe the unique challenges facing their community.

Elizabeth (Lizz) Toledo, LCSW, LMSW, ICADC, CCS
Private Practitioner
Angels Recovery & Spirituality, Inc.
Forest Park, Georgia

Ms. Toledo

Q. Where did you earn your social work degree, what is your area of specialization, and where are you employed?

I graduated from the University of Georgia. My area of specialization is trauma. I have a private psychotherapy practice called Angels Recovery & Spirituality, Inc. In addition, I have worked as an HIV/AIDS counselor and activist, coordinated substance abuse programs for pregnant women, developed and coordinated domestic violence programs for batterers, developed and directed gang violence prevention programs and volunteered for sexual assault hotlines.

My career also includes experience developing and coordinating programs serving communities of color, the LGBT community and women. I also have extensive experience coordinating National, regional and local conferences and events.

Currently, I am the Vice President and Ethics Committee Chair of the Alcohol & Drug Certification Board of Georgia. I also serve on several boards and committees to end domestic violence in Georgia. I strongly believe that hope for recovery from addictions, violence or other destructive behaviors is possible for all persons.

Q. Why did you choose social work as your career?

I am an activist and I also like clinical work. With a social work degree I can do both.

Q. What are the greatest challenges facing the LGBT community and how can social workers help?

The greatest challenge facing the LGBT community is the issue of marriage. While we feel that love should be the primary purpose for marriage, in my practice I listen to horror stories from patients, whose possessions or children were taken away by well intended family members of their diseased partner. A marriage certificate will give LGBT’s equal protection under the law. They will have the right to receive entitlement benefits, make financial, medical and parenting decisions if their spouse should die.  

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Hispanic social workers to talk to us about their careers.

Elizabeth (Lizz) Toledo, LCSW, LMSW, ICADC, CCS
Private Practitioner
Angels Recovery & Spirituality, Inc.
Forest Park, Georgia  

Ms. Toledo

Q. Where did you earn your social work degree, what is your area of specialization, and where are you employed?
 
I graduated from the University of Georgia.  My area of specialization is trauma.  I have a private psychotherapy practice called Angels Recovery & Spirituality, Inc.  In addition, I have worked as an HIV/AIDS counselor and activist, coordinated substance abuse programs for pregnant women, developed and coordinated domestic violence programs for batterers, developed and directed gang violence prevention programs and volunteered for sexual assault hotlines.

My career also includes  experience developing and coordinating programs serving communities of color, the LGBT community and women. I also have extensive experience coordinating National, regional and local conferences and events.

Currently, I am the Vice President and Ethics Committee Chair of the Alcohol & Drug Certification Board of Georgia.  I also serve on several boards and committees to end domestic violence in Georgia. I strongly believe that hope for recovery from addictions, violence or other destructive behaviors is possible for all persons.

Q. Why did you choose social work as your career?

I am an activist and I also like clinical work. With a social work degree I can do both. 

Q. What are the greatest challenges facing the Latino community and how can social workers help? 

Our greatest challenge is Immigration reform. Social workers can help by helping communities organize against racial profiling, as in Arizona, the latest push to deny education to children of the undocumented and the move to deny citizenship to children born in the USA whose parents are undocumented.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Hispanic social workers to talk to us about their careers.

Gela Altman, MSW, LCSW, LMFT
Individual and Family Psychotherapist
Skokie, Illinois

Ms. Altman

Q.  Ms. Altman, where did you earn your social work degree, what is your area of specialization, and where are you employed?

I received my MSW degree from Loyola University in Chicago with a specialty in Casework.  I presently have a private practice in Individual and Family Therapy in Skokie, Illinois.

Q.  Why did you choose social work as your career?

I picked social work as a career at the age of 17 while in High School.  At the time I didn’t know what to call this career that I wanted to pursue until a friend said that she wanted to study social work.  At that point, I had a mission and a name for my career.

Q.  What are the greatest challenges in the Hispanic community?

As I work with Hispanic clients, I have realized that one of the greatest challenges that we face as a community is how to retain our heritage and our principles while our children strive to acquire their own identity as Hispanic Americans.  As social workers our work with these parents and children has to take into account this dilemma and help both generations accentuate their strengths with the goal of understanding and acceptance.

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To find a social worker in your area, please click here.