New major helps area agencies meet community needs

Nov. 9—ASHTABULA — Area students and dozens of agencies in northeastern Ohio will be the beneficiaries of a recently-developed social work program at Kent State University Ashtabula, in conjunction with campuses in Salem and Tuscarawas County.

Area social service agencies and other community leaders began discussing ways to create more job candidates for a wide variety of area agencies, ranging from law enforcement to more traditional social work opportunities.

Discussions began in 2019, but were delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and other challenges. “We started classes in the fall of 2023,” Matt Butler, director of the Bachelor of Social Work program, said.

He said the program was started with cooperation of the three regional campuses, and it will hopefully receive full accreditation by 2026. Butler said present students will still receive a degree in social work prior to the final accreditation.

Butler said he has produced 360-370 pages of documentation related to accreditation. Some of the students who had already earned two-year degrees will graduate in May, if all goes to plan, he said.

“We have had close to 200 students who have taken at least one class,” Butler said. There are 100-120 working towards a degree in social work, he said.

The program includes an internship, which is helpful to agencies in the three areas where the students are attending class, Butler said.

Hector Picasso is presently doing an internship with the Ashtabula County Adult Probation Department. Picasso said he is excited about learning theories that will assist in the department.

Picasso hopes to learn more about how the system can continue to reduce recidivism. He said he hopes to earn a master’s egree.

Students from the different campuses participate in one class a month after choosing a main campus. Butler said he rotates between the three different campuses and the students follow on Zoom when not at their campus.

“When we started the program, we didn’t want them [the students] to have to travel too far,” Butler said. Butler said balancing students needs and wants can also be a challenge, but he believes the right balance has been reached.

“Some students want all-online and some want in-person,” Butler said. He said the hybrid model seems to be working.

He said the program is attempting to build a bridge for those who may be in present social service jobs and would like to advance, but need a degree.

The program seeks to focus on rural social work, which may be different from work in urban areas. Butler said the program seeks to help people who are passionate about helping others.

“I think it is a lot easier to keep people in their communities,” he said.

Butler said there are a wide variety of participants in the program, ranging from high school students to working people, nurses and others. He said some of the agencies benefitting from the new major are counseling services, hospitals, nursing homes, probation departments and court systems.

The demand for these positions is still very strong.

“People get jobs before they graduate a lot of times,” Butler said.

Ashtabula County Commissioner Kathryn Whittington said the program will be helpful, as there are many organizations that could benefit from potential employees.

Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Executive Director Kaitie Park Hart said it will be helpful, as well. She said the regional nature of the program is a bonus.

“This not only allows for better accessibility for students, it also allows them to build better networks and connections across the region,” Hart said. “Many of the classes offered in the Bachelor of Social Work Program are beneficial interprofessionally.”

She said it will also provide a lot if information for students in nursing, physical therapy and other majors.

“We are excited to have a program like this right here in Ashtabula county. We need more social workers,” Hart said. “They are needed everywhere, and hope the program continues to to build the workforce for this very important, high demand, profession.”

Ashtabula County Children Services Director Tania Burnett said she is happy about the program.

“Our case workers must have a a Bachelors in Social Work or a related field, so this is a great opportunity to bring more social workers into the field of child welfare,” she said. “In general, there are not enough social workers to fill all of the openings there are in the mental health or substance us treatment fields so this will also be a huge help in those areas.”