UW

Thirteen University of Wyoming at Casper (UW-Casper) students recently were inducted into the social work program.

They signed the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and recited the pledge to uphold these ethics throughout their professional careers.

Jeremiah Volk, adjunct instructor of social work, presented pins to the students while they signed their names to the pledge beginning the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program through UW-Casper.

“My 21-year marriage had come to an end, and I had no idea what I was going to do,” says Juli Jaber, a newly inducted social work student from Rawlins. “I woke up one morning, and it was like a universal pull: I was going to move to Casper and become a social worker. At that moment, it was like a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders. I moved to Casper and, at 50 years old, started the social work program at Casper College. Now, three years later, here I am at UW-Casper.”

The BSW program includes a practicum experience in a local agency where students earn a professional degree that enables them to apply for certification at the state level.

Career opportunities are available to social workers in a wide variety of state, federal and other public agencies; private, nonprofit organizations; and private, for-profit organizations including hospitals, mental health centers, schools, adolescent treatment facilities, child care centers, nursing homes, substance abuse treatment centers, public assistance agencies, probation and parole offices, correctional centers, community action agencies and research facilities.

UW-Casper is a branch campus of UW and a division of the UW Outreach School that began in 1976.