Bronco Spotlight: Jamie Dunn
Bachelor of Social Work, 2020
Foster Care Case Manager at Samaritas
I recently accepted a position with Samaritas of Kalamazoo. I am super excited to be a part of a positive team that sets out to enhance the lives of those they serve. It is a true blessing to be doing a job that I am passionate about and to be making a difference in other's lives.
What is the most rewarding and the most challenging part of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of this job is reuniting families and watching them find their strengths and grow to become stronger together. Being able to provide families with support and resources during a crisis aides in their resiliency. The most challenging aspect of this job, I would have to say thus far has been Covid, and how it is has affected parenting times, visits, and the way that we interact with one another.
If you had a campus job or internship, how did they impact your career development?
My internship taught me a lot about working in the field. I was surprised at how much I had learned during the training for my new job. I was able to pass exams for training quickly using what I had learned while in my internship. I was able to use my prior experiences in court in my new position as well. I feel my internship led me to have a higher level of confidence and to be even more passionate about serving others.
What advice do you have for others pursuing a career similar to yours?
When they preach to you about self care and the importance of it, listen! This job comes with mounds of paperwork, heartbreak, joy, and lots of hours working with people in need. You truly cannot pour into others if you are not taking care of you first. I never knew how important it was until I began to feel overwhelmed with empathy for those that I serve. Social work is a work of heart and we are passionate about advocating for others, so we must also love ourselves enough to know we need to advocate for us too!