Social Worker (MSW)

Social workers help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to enhance social functioning and provide counselling, therapy and referral to other supportive social services.

$65,000 - $100,000+

Masters Degree

High Demand

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Chelsea Davenport (MSW)

Social Worker/Entreprenuer 

“Up from a past that’s rooted in pain, I rise”. These famous words written by Maya Angelou, have stayed with me throughout my life and continue to be a part of my motivation to grow, reflect, heal and inspire others through my story. My life experiences as a young Black woman and former crown ward accompanied various challenges, facing racism, sexism and discrimination. Growing up, I witnessed myself and far too many marginalized and Indigenous communities fall between the gaps of society, struggling with feelings of invisibility, powerlessness, and inferiority. This has led me to a career path in Social Work/Entrepreneurship and my passions for working with marginalized communities to ensure policy and services best reflect their needs.

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My professional background includes over three years of research experience, advocacy and frontline support. As Black woman and former crown ward, I bring the perspective, experience, and complexities to my engagement with youth, community development and business.

What is your educational background?
In 2019, I graduated from the Bachelor of Social Work program at Ryerson University. It was through my involvement in extracurricular activities and dedication to getting good grades that I was able to obtain a full scholarship for graduate school. In 2020, I graduated from the Masters of Social Work Critical Analysis program at McMaster University.

What are your daily roles and responsibilities?
I currently wear many hats as an entrepreneur, youth violence prevention coordinator, researcher and consultant. Within all facets of my life, I adopt a community-centric, anti-oppressive, anti-racism/racist, and intersectional approach. See below for a breakdown of my daily roles and activities.

Social Worker, Youth Coordinator -Coordinate, plan, implement and evaluate Youth Violence Prevention Project -Supervise staff and collaborate with other coordinators -Deliver engaging, educational and youth-centered programming for participants aged 11- 24 -Develop and implement a comprehensive project evaluation plan to monitor program effectiveness -Attend and lead community meetings

Project Consultant -Coordination of regular meetings with project team -Inform accessibility and equity protocols -Organizing focus groups and community meetings for people with lived experiences

Business Owner -Content creation for website, blog, and social media platforms -Collecting and analyzing your customers feedback -Developing a business plan, pitch decks and other resources to support funding searches -Coordinating orders: shipping, packaging ect…

What hurdles/obstacles did you face? Did you ever think about quitting?
Many times throughout my academic journey I contemplated dropping out due the stress, pressure and financial strain. However from the support of those around me I was constantly reminded of the bigger picture. The academic system is challenging for many especially within the Black community. But by building community and accessing resources available for us, I believe there is space for us to succeed within academia!
In the start of my business journey, myself and my co-founder we constantly faced with rejection due to the lack of knowledge surrounding our product. Being one of the first kente stole providers in Canada, meant we had to work 10x as hard to prove the expandability and importance of our product. The same people who originally rejected us, later bought over 200 kente stoles! This was a reminder to never give up on our dreams.

What advice would you give the 15-18 year old version of yourself?Being your most authentic, genuine self will get you so much further than trying to fit. Do not be afraid to self-reflect, learn what you love and do what you want. Knowing who you are and what you are capable of will soon be your greatest asset. But always remember you are not alone in this world, seek support from those around you. It’s not always going to be easy, but it will be worth it.

If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be – Maya Angelou

Core Responsibilities

01.

Provide people with social/emotional support

02.

Connect youth and families to community resources

03.

Investigate cases of child abuse or neglect and take protective action.

04.

Work with community partners to help build social supports

Typical Workplace

  • Interview clients to assess their situation and determine the types of services required and eligibility
  • Provide counsel and therapy to help clients resolve social and personal problems
  • Plan programs of assistance for clients
  • Refer clients to agencies that provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, medical treatment and other services
  • Investigate cases of child abuse or neglect and take authorized protective action when necessary

Attributes & Abilities 

Creativity Skills
Analytical and problem-solving skills
Organized & detail-oriented
Communication skills
Collaborative skills
Educational skills
Grade 11

English (ENG3U)
Mathematics: (MEL3E1/MBF3C1/MCF3M1/MCR3U1)
Parenting (Recommended)
Cooperative Education (Recommended)

Grade 12

English (ENG4U)

5 Additional University level courses (4U/M)
Cooperative Education (Recommended)

Related Post-Secondary Programs:

 

Social Worker

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