New program at LRCC prepares students for bachelor's degree in social work

LACONIA — Cassidy Barrett was 7 when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. For her, the biggest support systems were organizations like summer camps or libraries — places that represented a collaboration of social services, health care professionals and individuals united by living with the same disease.

Now 25, the Center Ossipee resident is working toward an associate degree in social work at Lakes Region Community College, so she can advocate for people who live with challenges, as she does.

“My goal after earning the degree will be to mainly involve myself with more of these ‘third spaces,’ like summer camps, after-school programs, libraries, or parks that are becoming less accessible to our society more and more as time passes,” Barrett said. “I see myself specifically working with children and families, hopefully, especially those navigating chronic illness.”

New degree at LRCC

Barrett is one of 10 students in a new social work program that launched this fall at the community college, under the guidance of Celyne Godbout, coordinator, and Catherine Fuster, chair of the Computer and Design Technologies, Business and Accounting Department.

Developed in collaboration with faculty and staff at Plymouth State University, the new offering allows students to earn an associate degree at LRCC, then transfer to a four-year school like PSU or the University of New Hampshire to complete a bachelor’s degree with the same focus.

Godbout said the program provides students with 62 credits over two years, through 18, eight-week courses taught by Godbout and adjunct professors Lauren Baron and Dawn Alvarez. Topics range from social issues, case management and advocacy to welfare and legislation.

Students will complete their associate work with two practicums in their second year.

“It’s a new program. We’re building a community of advocates,” Godbout said, noting she hopes to collaborate with local nonprofits and social services organizations so local students can learn to advocate for and serve the people in their midst.

“We have such a need for social workers,” she added.

“A lot of people don’t understand what social workers can do. It’s such a broad degree, and it’s about advocacy and supporting change.”

She said most people associate social workers with the state’s Division for Children, Youth and Families, but that is only one aspect of the field. Social workers can represent many industries, from the political arena and advocating for policy change, for instance, to state and federal workers who assist victims of scams.

Social workers also serve mental health organizations, offering counseling, direct care or managing an entire program.

What students have to say

In addition to leading the social work program, Godbout is also teaching courses, and said she received positive feedback from students in her first course, Intro to Social Work, which ended in October.

“All the students said they got a lot out of it and really understood and learned that social work is very broad, so that felt good,” she said.

Barrett took Godbout’s class and was impressed with the range of information — from the history of social work in this country to recognition of personal bias and work to deconstruct it, as well as coping and self-care skills.

She plans to earn a bachelor’s degree after the associate's program, but has yet to choose a college or university. “The importance of starting out with an associate’s at a community college cannot be understated,” she said. “It is a more intimate environment, which contributes to more in-depth retention and experience. It is also wildly less expensive.”

One student said Intro to Social Work taught them about the different roles social workers can fill, as well as the values and work ethic they need to follow.

Launching a social work program

Godbout holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern New Hampshire University, and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Walden University. She is also a doctorate of philosophy candidate at Walden University, for a degree in human services.

Lakes Region Mental Health Center is her full-time employer. She’s been there for nine years, and is currently director of quality and compliance, overseeing all clinical programs with a focus on regulatory compliance with state standards and grant requirements. She also ensures staff are trained properly.

Several years ago, Godbout took on the part-time role of coordinator of the Human Services Program at LRCC. “When I first started having conversations with the department chair, the numbers were low for the program,” she said.

They began refreshing language they were using in their materials, and updating the program to make it more relevant in the current human services climate.

That work led to imagining the Social Work Program.

“We thought, ‘Why don’t we step out a little bit? Why don’t we make a program where students can come, get their associate and go into a bachelor’s in social work program?’” Godbout said.

The collaborations with PSU began, and the current 10 students were the first to enroll.

“My goal is to build up the students,” Godbout said.

Building community bridges

She wants to raise awareness in the community about the program to encourage more student participation, and is also seeking organizations at which students can complete their practicums.

Leaders of substance abuse, housing and homelessness programs, medical offices, hospitals and retirement communities would all be excellent candidates for collaboration.

Anyone interested in learning more can email Godbout at cgodbout@ccsnh.edu.

“Part of my mission is to blend classroom learning with hands-on experience, so students graduate ready to make an impact from day one,” she said. “Part of my job is to help them make connections.”