Area of Emerging Expertise
Trauma-Informed Systems Work with Vulnerable Populations
Through my work with the Chancellor’s Mental Health Council, the Marion County Juvenile Probation Department, and Beacon of Hope Crisis Center, I have developed a strong understanding of how environmental factors and systemic responses shape mental health outcomes. In each setting, I’ve explored how trauma, access to resources, and institutional structures influence behavior, resilience, and recovery. By combining research, interdisciplinary observation, and direct support for vulnerable individuals, I’ve learned to view mental health beyond the individual level and consider the broader social and environmental contexts that impact well-being and long-term change.
Fall 2025
Marion County Probation Department Internship
What I did:
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Gained hands-on exposure to the juvenile justice system and the collaborative work involved in supporting justice-involved youth.
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In this role, I shadowed probation officers, court teams, intake staff, and detention personnel to observe how interdisciplinary professionals coordinate case management and supervision.
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I also observed home visits, court hearings, detention procedures, and interactions with the Department of Child Services (DCS), which has helped me develop insight into trauma-informed approaches and rehabilitative practices for youth.
How this experience helped me gain this skill:
This experience strengthened my ability to analyze how trauma, environmental stressors, and systemic factors influence the behavior and rehabilitation of vulnerable youth. Observing collaboration among probation officers, court staff, and social service professionals deepened my understanding of trauma-informed systems and interdisciplinary approaches to supporting justice-involved populations. These systems-level observational and case analysis skills will support my future graduate training in social work and strengthen my job applications by demonstrating hands-on experience working with vulnerable populations.
Spring 2026
Beacon of Hope Crisis Center Internship
Beacon of Hope Crisis Center is a nonprofit organization that provides crisis intervention, advocacy, and resources for individuals impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other forms of interpersonal violence.
What I Did:
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Answered incoming crisis and informational calls, using crisis assessment tools to determine caller needs and program eligibility.
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Shadowed victim advocate meetings, including intakes, safety planning, and protective order assistance.
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Provided empathetic support and connected victims with resources such as medical care, legal assistance, housing/shelter, and counseling services.
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Learned about victim rights, barriers to services for underserved communities, and processes within the civil and criminal justice systems.
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Maintained detailed documentation while adhering to confidentiality, crisis response protocols, and professional boundaries.
This experience strengthened my trauma-informed communication and crisis response skills by working in an environment that supports individuals affected by domestic violence and other forms of interpersonal violence. Through this role, I learned how to respond to vulnerable individuals with empathy, professionalism, and strong ethical awareness while navigating sensitive situations. These skills will be valuable in graduate school and future professional roles that require effective communication, crisis intervention, and advocacy for vulnerable populations. Completing this internship as an Honors course also reflects my commitment to engaging deeply with applied learning experiences that support my professional development.
Application is no longer available.
This experience strengthened my data-driven research and analysis skills by engaging in collaborative work focused on understanding student mental health needs. Through interviewing faculty, collecting and interpreting campus-specific data, and contributing to actionable recommendations, I developed a stronger ability to translate research findings into practical improvements for support services. These skills will be valuable in graduate school and future professional roles that require evidence-based decision-making and the ability to evaluate and improve systems that support mental health and well-being of individuals with various types of trauma.
Fall 2025 - April 2026
Chancellor's Mental Health Council
The Chancellor’s Mental Health Council is a campus initiative that brings together students, faculty, and staff to research student mental health needs and develop recommendations to improve access to and effectiveness of campus mental health resources.
What I did:
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Conducted collaborative research examining how environmental factors and resilience influenced student mental health and access to support services.
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Interviewed faculty and campus stakeholders to gather perspectives on student mental health needs and resource accessibility.
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Collected and analyzed campus-specific data using evidence-based psychological approaches.
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Contributed to developing recommendations to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of mental health resources on campus and presented these findings to the chancellor in April 2026.
Reflection:
Through my experiences with the Marion County Probation Department, Beacon of Hope Crisis Center, and the Chancellor’s Mental Health Council, I have developed a stronger foundation in trauma-informed practice, crisis communication, and data-driven analysis. In the probation setting, I observed how structured interventions and accountability systems impact justice-involved youth, strengthening my understanding of rehabilitation and behavioral change. At Beacon of Hope, I applied active listening, emotional regulation, and de-escalation skills while supporting individuals in crisis, reinforcing the importance of empathy and client-centered care. Through my work on the Chancellor’s Mental Health Council, I collaborated on research examining barriers to mental health access, strengthening my ability to analyze data, identify systemic gaps, and develop actionable recommendations.
Together, these experiences deepened my understanding of how individual experiences, social systems, and environmental factors interact to influence mental health and well-being. They have also equipped me with practical skills—such as effective communication, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration—that will directly support my future work as a forensic social worker. This growth aligns with my goal of pursuing graduate training in social work and working in roles that address mental health, trauma, and substance use within justice-involved populations. Ultimately, these experiences have strengthened my commitment to advocating for accessible, evidence-based support systems and to serving as a compassionate and effective resource for vulnerable individuals and communities.