Noemi Almazan, Early Intervention Support Coordinator, Division of Developmental Disabilities
How long have you been a social worker?
I have been in the social work field since 2013, working as a Service Coordinator with the Arizona Early Intervention Program, and I transitioned to DDD in April 2017.
Please list any degrees, licenses, etc.
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University.
Why/How did you get into social work?
I originally pursued a career in Criminology; however, I wasn’t sure if that was what I wanted for my future. A friend and I decided to look into social work and spoke with an ASU advisor who explained the undergraduate program. Afterwards, I researched the program and became interested in social work direct practice.
What motivates you to do social work?
One of the reasons why I am motivated to do social work is the ability to help vulnerable families and their children by addressing services and resources available to them in order to live a better life. My caseload contains families who primarily speak Spanish in which the majority are unaware of resources or service available for their children. I enjoy having conversations in a language that they are comfortable speaking and eventually teach them to become their own advocates.
What advice would you give someone considering social work?
The advice I would give to someone considering social work is to never think you can only do so much for an individual. There are many resources that are available in order to help individuals solve their problems. The most important aspect for me when I put on my social work hat is to be generous of others’ feelings, and listen to their thoughts and ideas.
March is National Social work Month and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The intersection of social work and the needs of a community are demonstrated by the work performed by employees of the DES Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). The services and supports DDD provides to members tap into the potential of each individual member and empowers them to lead self-directed, health and meaningful lives. We are grateful for the passion and dedication exhibited by our social workers.
By Lyn Riley