Native American Student Social Work Scholarship Recipients

The NASW California chapter Native American Student Social Work Scholarship is a monetary grant awarded to master’s or bachelor’s social work degree candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to working with, or who have a special affinity with, American Indian/Alaska Native populations, or in public and voluntary nonprofit agency settings.

This is a statewide scholarship that is similar to the Gosnell Scholarship that is offered at a national level. For the 2013-2014 academic year, 10 scholarships worth $1,000 each were awarded.

Laura Brignone
University of California, Berkeley

• Working toward a Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Social Work

I am a combined MSW/PhD student in social work at UC Berkeley. My interest in social work is fostered by an 18-month immersion in a U.S.-based Latin American immigrant community. I observed many cultural differences between the immigrants I worked with and people from the community where I grew up — including how both groups seemed to view social problems. I especially noticed different responses to domestic violence among female victims and their communities. In my career, I plan to study the effect of cultural differences on women’s experiences with domestic violence in Latin American, Native American, and deeply spiritual communities. My goal is to help these individuals and communities find nuanced healing and culturally appropriate intervention possibilities.

Farrah Ferris
California State University, Long Beach

• Working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work

I am a proud member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe (Hupa) and a descendant of the Yurok, Karuk, and Redwood Creek tribes. I am honored to belong to a strong, hardworking and resilient family. I am the wife of Louie Gamino; the daughter of Leonard Ferris (Carolyn) and Yvonne Jackson (Roger); granddaughter of Laura Ferris, Stanley Ferris and Deanna Whitehurst. Additionally, I am grateful to have support from various family members.

Though my family is strong and has survived, I realize some families do not survive, due to lack of support/assistance. Thus, at young age, I developed the desire to assist others in need. Prior to returning to school, I worked for a neurosurgical office and the Hoopa Valley Tribal TANF Program (HVTTP). HVTTP proved to be a gratifying and motivating experience because I was able to assist my tribal community. However, I realized to be of true benefit, I needed a Bachelor of Arts, Social Work (BSW).

As a first generation college student, I am honored to be senior BSW student at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). I am an active and dedicated academic student. I have consecutively been a recipient of the “President Academic Honor Roll Award” and belong to several CSULB organizations and volunteer weekly. Ultimately, my goal is to obtain a master’s of social work degree and become a licensed clinical social worker within the mental health field. Thus, I will be able to assist Native individuals, families and communities to thrive.

Julian G. Garza
California State University, Fresno

• Working toward a Master’s degree

I am a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. I am in the Title IV-E Child Welfare MSW three-year program, and vice president of the First Nations Student Organization at Fresno State, as well as a Title IV-E student representative, and a NASW-CA student liaison. I have worked full time for the past five years with Owens Valley Career Development Center as site manager of the Fresno Tribal TANF office that provides services to more than 180 Native American families in Fresno County. Prior to this, I lived and worked in Arizona for 12 years, working with my tribe as K-12 and higher ed coordinator (nearly three years) and with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in youth services and education (almost 10 years). I am a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving 1991 to 1996, honorably discharged. I am a single father of my 10-year-old daughter Bella, which has been my most rewarding and important job and blessing in my life. I plan to continue my life’s work with Native American people and communities once I earn my MSW, and may pursue a doctoral degree at some point.

Jessica Goodrow
California State University, Humboldt

• Working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work

I want to start by thanking you for this wonderful scholarship. I am a single mother of three beautiful children. We are all members of Round Valley Tribe. My education goal is to obtain a master’s in social work. I am currently taking 17.5 units, an internship, and most importantly, I am a mother. In my education, I’m growing to ensure that one day I can be an instrumental leader for my native communities. My main focus is historical trauma and understanding all levels of trauma happening in our communities. I hope to be a moving voice in collaborating with systems to educate on cultural consideration for native families. Thank you to my family, ITEPP, HSU Social Work program, Yurok Social Services, and Round Valley Tribe for continuing to believe in me and my education.

Amanda Harris
California State University, Chico

• Working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work

I am a senior at California State University Chico. I am currently pursuing my bachelor’s in social work, and working on my application for admission into the one year master’s program through Chico State. I currently intern at Catalyst Domestic Violence Services. I have worked and volunteered in many social service settings, typically working with people in crisis. Working with domestic violence services has both been difficult and rewarding. My specific position focuses on relationships with local law enforcement agencies. Gaining a deeper understanding of the difference between the culture of law enforcement and the culture of catalyst has been eye opening. I have many interests in working with different populations, namely, domestic violence, Native Americans and foster children. I have overcome many obstacles in my life, which have all proven to make me stronger and more motivated to pursue social work. Although I do have a particular interest in these three populations, my eyes are open to the vast possibilities my social work degree will allow. I am honored to have received this scholarship and it will most certainly be put to good use. Being a student is very financially trying, and this scholarship was a tremendous help.

Anna Luna
Loma Linda University

• Working toward a Master’s degree in Social Work

I am 28 years old and a member of the Acoma Pueblo Indian reservation in Acoma, New Mexico. I am currently finishing my second and final year in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. I will graduate in June of 2014. Currently I work as an intern with Morongo Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which is a program that assists Native American families that are descendants of the Morongo reservation with services designed to encourage empowerment and self-sufficiency. My future career goal is to be a tribal social worker with the Native American community. Being raised in a poverty-stricken Native American home I am able to relate to the Native families I work with and offer not only my educational experience, but also my life experience. No one in my family has ever attended college before me, which made it very difficult to get started. Standing alone in my decision to attend college and separate myself from generations of under-education and poverty paved a new path for my family. The greatest moment of my life, thus far, was standing on the stage at my graduation to receive my bachelor’s degree and thinking to myself that I accomplished my dream — a dream no one has ever achieved before me. Overcoming obstacles from my past has made me a resilient and strong woman. I strive to continue growing as a person and future tribal social worker.

Ashley Mello
California State University, San Diego

• Working toward a Master’s degree in Social Work

I was born and raised in San Diego, California. I achieved my bachelor’s degree in social work from CSU, Long Beach and I am now working on my master’s in social work at San Diego State University. I will graduate in May 2014. I come from a family of seven and have five siblings. My family struggled financially and struggled through many unstable living conditions. As a child, I battled with leukemia and after months of chemotherapy, I can proudly say I am a cancer survivor. I mention these aspects of my life, not to gain sympathy, but because they are the foundation of who I am. They are my passion for becoming a social worker. I want to give back to my community and assist those in need so they can achieve their highest potential, despite their circumstances. I have endured the rewarding experience by sharing warmth and genuineness with foster youth, probation youth, and teenage mothers, thus far. My next internship will be at Rady’s Children’s Hospital. I am grateful for my successes and look forward to using my Native American heritage to enhance my cultural competence and connect with children and families.

Leela Munton
University of California, Berkeley

• Working toward a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare

I earned my BA in sociology from UC San Diego in June 2012. I am currently a first-year graduate student at UC Berkeley’s school of social welfare in the child and families concentration. I will graduate with a master’s degree in May 2015. I have worked in gang prevention programs in the community where I grew up in Santa Rosa, California. I also worked in a group home for small children in Paraguay, where I learned to speak Spanish and to appreciate the rich resources of the U.S. social welfare system. Most recently, I worked for a non-profit agency in supervised visitation and family reunification, which helped me to gain a better understanding of the family court system, child abuse, addiction, and the way that violence functions in families. I am currently a school social work intern at Roseland University Prep High School. Time and again in my work I have been inspired by the strength of individuals and families struggling against seemingly insurmountable obstacles. For the future, I aim to work to improve outcomes for Native American children in the child welfare system by exploring the collaboration and disintegration between tribal and state governments. I am married and also mother to a beautiful one-year-old baby boy.

Erika Salinas
California State University, Sacramento

• Working toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work

I am a proud member of the Comanche Nation. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, my lifelong desire has always been to serve others. I believe that real happiness lies in generosity and kind acts, and that with education, lives can be changed.

This semester, I have applied and been selected as a McNair Scholar. The McNair Scholars Program is a two-year program designed to prepare select university students for admission and study at the doctoral level. As a McNair Scholar I am working one on one with a faculty professor to complete a research project focusing on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a federal law that seeks to keep Native American children with Native American families.

My research will examine how tribal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) workers view their relationship with county Child Protective Services (CPS) workers in hopes to establish better communication and collaboration between the two agencies.

Currently, my academic goal is to graduate with my Bachelor’s in social work with a minor in Native American Studies. After obtaining my Bachelor’s, I intend on applying for the graduate program to receive my Master’s degree and ultimately receive my PhD. Education is something I value and take seriously because it will help to prepare me in my goal of helping others.

I want to use my education, cultural knowledge and community ties to be of assistance to families with a more effective and culturally appropriate practice aimed at helping those in need.

Darcy Walter
California State University, Sacramento

• Working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work

I go to Sacramento State University. I am a senior this year and will be graduating in May with a bachelor’s in social work. I am planning on applying for the master’s program at Sac State. I have worked with Volunteers of America also. As of right now I am an intern at the Gender Health Center. In the future I would like to work with the elderly population.