National Social Work Month: Lucia Marquez

March is National Social Work Month and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The intersection of social work and the needs of a community are demonstrated perfectly 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, healthy and meaningful lives. We are grateful for the passion and dedication exhibited by our social workers and would like to highlight a small sample of the exceptional team we have working within this community.

How long have you been a social worker?
I have been with DDD Early Intervention Program (birth to age 3) for the past 8 years and 9 months.  May 18, 2019 will be my nine-year anniversary.

Please list any degrees, licenses, etc.
I have a Bachelors in Social Work from Arizona State University and am bilingual in both English and Spanish.

Why/How did you get into social work?
When I decided to leave the US Army, I wanted to go back to school full time to educate myself and learn how I can help children.  In 2007, my idea of a social worker was one that worked for Child Protective Services.  I’m not in DCS, but working for DDD, I still get to serve children and their families.

What motivates you to do social work?
Seeing the progress the children make in their development and seeing the progress the parents and caregivers make as teachers of their children with special needs.

What advice would you give someone considering social work?
The nice thing about social work is that you may choose to work in one setting and/or age group and change to another at another point in your career.  I haven’t changed the age group I work with, but I know other social workers who have, which I know can help enrich their skills and abilities to work multiple settings or groups of people.

By Lyn Riley