LRCC’s new social work program launched this fall, under the guidance of Celyne Godbout, coordinator, and Catherine Fuster, chair of the Computer and Design Technologies, Business and Accounting Department. Developed in collaboration with faculty and staff at Plymouth State University, the new offering allows students to earn an associate degree at LRCC, then transfer to a four-year school like PSU or the University of New Hampshire to complete a bachelor’s degree with the same focus.
“It’s a new program. We’re building a community of advocates,” Godbout said, noting she hopes to collaborate with local nonprofits and social services organizations so local students can learn to advocate for and serve the people in their midst. “A lot of people don’t understand what social workers can do. It’s such a broad degree, and it’s about advocacy and supporting change.”
She said most people associate social workers with the state’s Division for Children, Youth and Families, but that is only one aspect of the field. Social workers can represent many industries, from the political arena and advocating for policy change, for instance, to state and federal workers who assist victims of scams. Social workers also serve mental health organizations, offering counseling, direct care or managing an entire program.
Read the full article in The Laconia Daily Sun.