Erin Timmermans, MPA: Farewell to NASW-NC
As of June 2013, Erin Timmermans, NASW-NC Associate Executive Director has transitioned from full-time staff to working for Give an Hour (GAH) in support of GAH’s collaboration with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). Here is an article from her about her time with NASW-NC and her future support of the social work profession in this new capacity. We will miss Erin, but we are excited for our future collaborations and continued support of the social work profession!
First and foremost, thank you NASW-NC members for sharing your professional experience with me for the past 4 years. During my tenure with NASW-NC I have been able to learn from amazing leaders and provide some of my unique skills to enhancing the internal workings of the association. NASW-NC has been a great fit for me and has carried me on a delightful journey. As a strong advocate for the role that mental health treatment provides for our military and as a proud Army Wife, my new role combines my two passions into one unique opportunity. The best part is that I am not headed too far away from advocating for the power of social work!
Social work is a multifaceted profession; providing many avenues of support to the communities in which we live. From serving the elderly, assisting in child welfare, advocating for social justice, educating our young generation and owning private practices, social workers are THE cornerstone to empowering our nation to serve those around them. Our service members and veterans provide our communities and nation with protection. Not only are our veterans and service members assets to securing our country, they are also assets in our communities. As the current war draws down, these individuals and their loved ones need our support more than ever, and social workers are answering the call to help through this unique program and many more like it.
My new ‘home’, Give an Hour, is a non-profit organization that focuses on providing pro-Bono mental health services to U.S. military personnel and their loved ones who have been in service post 9/11. In the past few years, Give an Hour and the National Association of Social Workers have partnered at national and state levels. Click here to visit National NASW’s Press Release about supporting Give an Hour.
Last January, Jessica Holton, LCSW & NASW-NC Board President, wrote a compelling article on the Give an Hour and Wounded Warrior’s Project Odyssey Retreats, the program for which I now serve. If you missed the article, you may login to NASW-NC’s website and view the Dec 12/Jan 13 edition.
Jessica has recently returned from another retreat and told us that:
“Being a part of the GAH and WWP collaboration is extremely rewarding. Not only is it an honor to witness the growth of the Warriors, it was also a pleasure to work with the Combat Stress Coordinators and Specialists. Their ability to reach the Warriors through experiential exercises and candid discussions, in just a few days, is phenomenal. Furthermore, while attending, I get the rare chance to embrace professional and personal challenges and growth opportunities, simultaneously, through the experiential activities.”
Jessica, like countless other social workers, is dedicating to serving the community in ways that fit her passion. I am blessed to have uncovered a way to serve that closely fits my passion. You are in GREAT hands with the NASW-NC staff and leadership and I look forward to seeing the amazing things that come out of our chapter office. After all, NASW-NC is YOUR source for professional social work information!
This is not good-bye, as I will see many of our wonderful NASW-NC members again because let’s face it- NASW-NC social workers are impacting our state everywhere!
Would you like to volunteer with Wounded Warrior Project and Give an Hour?
Wounded Warrior Project conducts Project Odyssey™ and Family Support Retreats, both lasting between one and five days. Using an adventure learning program method, these retreats help Wounded Warriors and family members recognize combat, operational stress and PTSD as invisible wounds of war. They find ways to connect with their peers and communities, learn about mental health resources in their area and how to access a therapist, start behavioral health treatment, and begin their journey to recovery.
Providers are strongly encouraged to contact GAH if they have experience working with military/veteran populations, have provided trauma treatment, and have an understanding of military culture and its impact on warriors and/or families.
Please contact etimmermans@giveanhour.org to inquire about the program.
NASW-NC Social Work Blog 