Volunteering is a common part of the Creighton student experience. Several alumni and students recently made an attempt to incorporate social work in their volunteer efforts.
Ann Lawless, 2002 Creighton alumna, and Katie Hulstein, 2007 alumna and Arts & Sciences senior Amanda Grade have made social work a large part of their lives at Camp Fire USA in Omaha.
Hulstein did her senior practicum, a course that offers hands on experience, at Camp Fire USA and was placed at Jackson Elementary, where she interacted with about 100 children, the majority Hispanic.
Camp Fire USA is a nationwide organization that provides after-school activities, field trips and other educational programs for children, teens and families. Founded in 1920, the Omaha chapter is the only Camp Fire USA in Nebraska.
According to the Nebraska Camp Fire USA Web site, it seeks academic excellence, healthy lifestyles, leadership skills and violence prevention at the 11 schools and three homeless shelters throughout Omaha and Council Bluffs.
She was then hired as a full-time staff member and has been at Camp Fire USA for the last two years. In Council Bluffs, Hulstein provides after-school programs for two elementary schools, each capable of serving approximately 30 children.
“What I loved most about Camp Fire – and still do – is that it’s not the typical thing you think of when you think of social work,” Hulstein said.
“It’s really quite preventative as opposed to reactionary, since we go to neighborhoods where we see a need and try to get the kids into a safe environment before serious problems have the opportunity to enter their lives,” she said.
Hulstein volunteers four days a week as part of her involvement with the program, in order to complete the 500 hours necessary to obtain her BSW.
She interacts with and helps children with homework, computer games and standardized test preparations..
“We really value our partnership with Creighton, especially with the social work department,” Penny Parker, executive director of the Omaha Chapter of Camp Fire USA, said.
“We always have an ongoing need for volunteers to help out at the after-school activities, food drives and field trips,” she said.
A few years ago, five Creighton alumni were working at Camp Fire USA.
Currently, Lawless is a community outreach worker.
Hulstein is a site coordinator for Rue Elementary and Walnut Grove Elementary schools in Council Bluffs.
Grade is completing her practicum at after-school programs under Hulstein.
Lawless discovered Camp Fire USA while taking a course concerning children and poverty the summer before her senior year, when Parker spoke to the class.
She then had a practicum at Camp Fire USA and was hired as a staff member after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW). She has remained at Camp Fire for the last seven years.
“I like working in the community, helping parents and bringing in great outside services for our programs, such as cooking classes and gardening classes,” Lawless said.
Lawless also ran the after-school program at Jackson Elementary for six years. She is currently the executive director of the Park East Neighborhood Association and manages the CF 26 program, an on-site program at Camp Fire USA that hosts children during regular breaks from the school year.
Grade recently submitted a grant to Promise Partners to support a new club for Walnut Grove Elementary.
In the club Running, Reading and Respect, children can either choose to complete a certain amount of physical activity, reading or weekly lessons and mini-field trips to win prizes, Grade said.
“There is a lot to learn about in social work,” said Dr. Barbara Harris, field practicum coordinator for the department of social work.
“A big portion is working with a larger system – figuring out grants, funding, minute details and new programs.”