Julie Christensen
Recipient of NASW-Genesee Valley Division
RWC MSW Social Work Student of the Year 2008
Julie became a student member of NASW a few years ago, which points to her dedication to the profession from her earliest years as an MSW student. As a member, she became immersed in understanding the values and ethics of the profession. Evidence of her commitment to the Code of Ethics runs as a thread through her many social work activities. Her field placements have both found her in Rochester City School settings where she has passionately worked for the safety and well being of children.
One field supervisor commented, “Julie is an extremely ethical individual.” One of her professors notes: “Julie models social work values not only in her collegiality, but in her empathy towards others, and very especially towards at risk populations. It is evident that Julie has early on honed the art and science of social work by traversing cultural, class and racial divides that have taken her totally out of her element. The result is not social work as an add-on to her many experiences; rather hers is a self evident calling to the discipline and the field of social work.”
Julie’s many experiences include a Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Bachelor of Arts in Music from Syracuse University, completion of course work toward a Master in Music Education at RWC, eight years working in advertising while also filling a growing people-void in her life by leading the youth choir at Asbury First United Methodist Church. Soon she found herself working as a program manager for an after-school program within the Rochester City School District where she met various dedicated professionals intent on advocating for youth in the community. They inspired her to improve herself so she could provide more for the at-risk children she served.
Julie volunteered to complete the School-Age Childcare Credential process through Cornell Cooperative Extension, which is 90 hours of in-class time intended to develop and promote quality services to children and families served through the Office of Child and Family Services. She received an award for Notable Achievement in program Construction and Implementation from the City of Rochester after successfully starting an after-school program in the Rochester After-School Academy, targeting academically and behaviorally at-risk in grades 7-9. She was involved in two after-school programs: one at Henry Hudson School 28 and Frederick Douglass Preparatory School. Program outcomes at FDPS exceeded target attendance for year one resulting at 105% of attendance goals met. More importantly, day-school teachers reported a significant increase in attendance, participation, attentiveness, and completion of homework among participants of the program.
Julie’s volunteer work in this field of service has included:
· Local and state-level advocacy for policy change in regards to funding for after school programming;
· Technical assistance and trainings to non-mental health professionals who work with youth in crisis for such organizations as the City of Rochester’s Department of Recreation and Youth Services at the local level and Act for Youth at the State level;
· Assistance to community based organizations conducting community needs assessments and securing grant funding for projects that directly impact communities’ abilities to serve children and youth, as well as providing consultation through participation as a member of the Board of Directors.
In summer 2007, July received the Maternal Child Health Bureau Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) Fellowship from the University of Rochester Medical School Department of Pediatrics. By participating in this interdisciplinary team approach to holistic treatment for adolescents, Julie has qualified for and availed herself of irreplaceable and cutting edge preparation outside the expectations of the MSW program but certainly in line with it.
Within the MSW program, Julie has not only completed the requirements for the Child and Family Concentration but has also audited the courses parallel with it in the Mental Health Concentration. This year, Julie volunteers as the Student Representative on the MSW faculty workgroup, a role that carries great weight as a key communication link.
She has seized every opportunity to be fully prepared for the next phase of her journey in a helping relationship with children and youth. As one of her field supervisors reported: “Julie is always ready to work. She holds herself to an extremely high standard.” With her 3.98 GPA and insatiable thirst for learning and giving, Julie will continue into the profession of social work with great personal and professional integrity.
WHY DOES JULIE DESERVE THIS AWARD?
Julie is a visionary social work who practices the values and ethics of the social work profession with excellence and integrity. Her vision of possibilities for Rochester’s children and youth and her commitment to leading individuals to personal empowerment reflect a woman of faith. She brings her faith into meaningful connection with her belief in the people she serves and in the power of engaging with them to improve their future. Julie Christensen is also “ a consummate scholar who brings an exhilaration about learning to the class and uses herself as an inspiring presence for her colleagues. She takes topics at hand to much deeper level and raises the content’s sophistication by her input.” Julie represents the best of the best, the crème de la crème, yet in her humble way she continues to value others better than herself and endeavors to improve her ability to make a difference in today’s world as a social worker.