Caitlin blogs about interning in the adoption unit at Hennepin County.
MSW Title IV-E Child Welfare Student: Caitlin Franko
Field Instructor: Angie Marks
Task Supervisor: Renee Gasner
Field Site: Hennepin County
“My internship was with Hennepin County Adoptions. Prior to interning, adoption was something that interested me but I did not know much about. I was fortunate to have two supervisors which allowed me to learn the role of an Adoption Resource Worker and an Adoption Home Study Worker. In these roles, I had the opportunity to work with waiting children as well as families wishing to adopt. As an Adoption Resource Worker, I visited kids, talked to them about what kind of family they hope to become a part of, and recruited potential families for them. As an Adoption Home Study Worker, I learned to assess and prepare families for adoption. I also worked with families to find potential matches for them. Both of these roles were very fulfilling. I was able to work as a part of a multidisciplinary team and develop many skills.
Over the year, I developed a good understanding of the complexities surrounding adoption. Adoption has become a real passion of mine and I cannot wait to further my career in the field.”