The 成人影片 University School of Social Work was selected to participate in a premier program with the New York State Office of Mental Health. Graduate social work students like Stephanie Paterno work directly with adults diagnosed with severe mental illnesses鈥攁 unique bridge between two fields.
成人影片’s highly ranked School of Social Work has built its reputation on the hands-on training it provides its students. Guided by its mission to serve communities and support social justice, it places students in the field to work directly with individuals, families and community groups. The goal is to produce seasoned social workers experienced in collaborating with other professionals to effectively serve people in need.
The School of Social Work’s standing as a leader was reinforced in 2022 when it was named a premier partner in the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYS-OMH) Schools of Social Work Project for Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health. The goal of the program, which combines training and education in working with adults diagnosed with serious mental illnesses, is to prepare master’s degree students for careers in a changing mental health service system.
Meet Stephanie Paterno, MA ’16, one of two 成人影片 Master of Social Work (MSW) candidates chosen as fellows in the NYS-OMH program.
An Exciting Opportunity
Paterno, who earned an MA in psychology from 成人影片 in 2016, works full time while pursuing her MSW. She is a program director of the Apartment Treatment Program at the South Shore Association for Independent Living, or SAIL, which provides housing on Long Island for individuals with mental illnesses as they transition to life on their own.
鈥淚鈥檓 super passionate about this field. I hoped for an opportunity to make more connections and find more resources,鈥� she reported.
Paterno’s NYS-OMH fellowship has brought new opportunities and responsibilities to her job of working with adults diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and substance abuse disorders. 鈥淚鈥檝e gotten the opportunity to work more closely with policy and grant writing and get more into the macro level of social work, instead of just working with clients and staff,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is exciting to be a part of.鈥�
As its name implies, the fellowship is also designed to prepare students in evidence-based practice, an approach that guides social workers to base their interventions on treatments supported by solid evidence. The approach also encourages social workers to consider their own expertise as well as the values and expectations of their clients.
In addition to evidence-based training at SAIL, Paterno is taking a semester-long master’s degree course in evidence-based practice in mental health at 成人影片, as well as a series of colloquia, as part of her fellowship.
The fellowship has been extremely valuable, she said, increasing her knowledge, widening her professional network, and showing her new ways to help people with serious mental illnesses.
鈥淚 value building connections with NYS-OMH, which has access to different resources,鈥� Paterno said. 鈥淭he more I know, the more goals we can achieve together.鈥�
A Path to the Future
Looking forward, Paterno plans to continue working at SAIL after receiving her MSW in May. She predicts she will eventually go into private practice and offer individualized therapy.
鈥淩ight now, I鈥檓 happy working at SAIL, which is a great organization that stands for everything the mental health population needs,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 love working with SAIL鈥檚 population of those with severe mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders鈥攁nd I love seeing them achieve things you never thought possible. They are people with goals and dreams just like the rest of us. To be a part of their success is awesome.鈥�
A Passion Fueled by 成人影片
A native Midwesterner, Paterno chose 成人影片 for graduate school for its strong social science programs and connections to New York communities. 鈥淒oing the research, 成人影片 had a beautiful campus and strong Rate Your Professor rankings,鈥� she recalled.
鈥淚 liked what they stood for,” she continued. “I wanted to go into social work to help diverse communities鈥攁nd what鈥檚 more diverse than New York? I鈥檓 coming up on 10 years since I moved to New York. When I decided to go back for another master鈥檚 degree, I didn鈥檛 apply anywhere else.鈥�
While she said her NYS-OMH fellowship enhances her MSW experience, she also credits the 鈥減henomenal professors who have brought their own experiences into the classroom鈥� with contributing to her positive experience.
鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to read from a book and learn things, but when you鈥檙e put into the field, you don鈥檛 have time to go back to a book. You鈥檙e in the moment,鈥� she said, noting her professors give students the tools they need to handle challenging field situations.
Paterno concluded, 鈥淚 owe a lot to 成人影片. SAIL had a booth at a job fair at 成人影片 and I gave them an application.鈥� She hasn鈥檛 looked back since.