Danelle Stiffer Interview

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Interview with Danelle Stiffer, Spaulding for Children

Therease Taylor
Wayne State University
SW3010: Practice Methods I
Professor Lois Garriott

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Throughout my educational journey of becoming a social worker, I will have assignments

that require professional assistance. When I read the requirements in the syllabus about
interviewing a social worker with a BSW only in social work, it sounds simple I thought how
hard could it be. I began my search by making a list of agencies contact. I had no idea finding a
social worker with only their BSW in Social Work would be so difficult. I contacted over twenty
agencies seeking a social worker that only had their BSW in Social Work. The search became
more difficult by the day.
Don Bosco Hall located in Detroit, Mi staff members were not willing to assist me with
an interview. I contacted Spectrum Human Services located in Westland Mi, I left various
messages for the Director, but my calls werent returned. I contacted The Arc located in Westland
Mi, the social workers there had their MSW. I contacted Vista Maria located in Dearborn
Heights Mi, they only had one social worker with her LBSW her degree was in Sociology,
however, a few years back she worked under a social worker that had her MSW so she was able
to obtain her license under her employers degree. I contacted Jarc located in Farmington Mi, the
social workers there had their MSW in Social Work. I called the Judson Center located in
Southfield Mi, I left messages with the coordinator who handles volunteers and inquiries, she
never returned my calls. I made several attempts trying to contact someone at the Covenant
House located in Detroit Mi, however, the phone would just ring and no one answered. I
contacted Easter Seals of Michigan the social workers there also had their MSW in Social Work.

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The responses were the same with all the following agencies I contacted Affirmations
Ferndale Mi, Adult Well-Being Services in Detroit Mi, Community Living Services in
Farmington Mi, Gateway Community Services Detroit Mi, Heartland Hospice Southfield Mi,
St. Annes Mead of Southfield Mi, Barton Elementary School of Detroit Mi, Camelot Nursing
Facility of Westland Mi, Wayne County Lincoln Hall of Justice in Detroit Mi, Girls Town of
Belleville Mi, Boysville of Clinton Township Mi, and Henry Ford Health Systems. I had one
more agency on my list to contact but by this time I was frustrated and overwhelmed. I knew I
had to complete this assignment successfully.
I called the last agency Spaulding for Children in Southfield Mi After I explained the
reason for my call to the receptionist she transferred me to the Directors voice mail her name was
Jamie Bozark. I left a very detailed message about the interview assignment. I hung up the phone
feeling hopeless. That was the last of many voice mails I had left in last couple weeks. I was
feeling like no one wanted to help, either I was told no our social workers only had their MSW
in Social Work or their BSW was in another field. My calls were not being returned and when I
was on the phone seeking assistance with this interview I felt as if the person on the other end
could care less. I felt this way because of the voice tone and the impatience I sensed from the
person I was speaking with. A couple agencies I called the person would rush through the call
and not offer any further assistance.
This assignment required a lot of effort from me I needed assistance, but I was having
trouble finding it which was very frustrating. If I was a Consumer trying to obtain social work
assistance or needed services and my journey was like this I would feel like I was at a dead end.I
received a call from the Director she told me she received my message and she emailed two of
the social workers that work there that only have their BSW in Social Work to ask if one of them

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could do the interview with me. I explained to her how hard it had been to find a social worker
with only their BSW and was willing to do the interview. She said she understood how difficult
that could be and ensured me I would hear from one of the two social workers. At 3:00 pm on
Friday I received a call from Danelle Stiffer she said she would be pleased to do the interview
and she also confirmed that she only had a BSW in Social Work. As anyone could imagine I was
ecstatic about the call. We scheduled the interview for 3:45 pm the same day. On Friday February
8, 2013, I interviewed with Danelle Stiffer at Spaulding for children located in Southfield
Michigan. I went to the agency to meet with Danelle the environment was very calm and quiet.
Danelle welcomed me to her agency and led me to the back where we set in a large room with
chairs and tables arranged in a circle. When we set down I told her my name again and begin to
explain the reason for the interview. Danelle was very approachable and willing to offer her
assistance to me.
While attending Wayne State University taking classes she learned that she could be a coop student at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. Danelle spent six months at the resort she
said this is when she decided to go to school for social work. Before graduating she completed
her internship with Spaulding for Children where she currently is employed. After receiving her
degree at Wayne State University she was hired at Spaulding and worked in Wendy's Wonderful
Kids Program. This is a program that works with children with disabilities and special needs.
Danelle stayed in that position for a year then she transitioned into being an adoption worker, IPP
Specialist, (Individual Permanency Specialist).
The goal at Spaulding is a permanent home for children this, placed in foster care homes,
transitional living, or adopted if they are younger than fourteen. They have several different
departments within Spaulding foster care, licensing program, adoption program, Wendys

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Wonderful Kids Program and prevention programs. They are also connected directly with the
National Resource center and Training Institute. There are two different levels in the agency
appla this is when a child is under sixteen. They also recognize within the agency that if a child
is fourteen years of age they can say if they want to return back home or they can move towards
emancipation. There are times when children are removed permanently from their homes and the
parents rights are terminated. If this happens the child becomes a ward of the state and other
directives are used. If the parent has mental health issues the court may appoint a guardian to
help make decisions that the parent may not be able to make, but the parent is still involved in
that childs life.
Danelle has successfully closed four adoptions and is working towards her fifth. She
appeared to be very comfortable with her position and supportive of the mission of the agency.
She says the goals are realistic and they work for the good of the children they are helping. She
described her agency from start to finish they work directly with the courts through referrals for
child placement. When children are removed from their homes they are often referred to
Spaulding because they have a variety of services and resources that work in the best interest of
the child. When children are removed from their home if the parents are involved the agency
works with the families within the Mezzo Level to help return the children back home. They
work with the parents within the Macro Level providing resources, supervised visits, group
therapy, community resources, drug screens, substance abuse counseling and other services that
the child and family may need. The children are evaluated to determine the goals and
interventions that will take place. A child may only require social work services and they will
work within the Micro Level and thats directly with the child. Danelle explained not all children

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come in needing extensive resources there are times when they only receive social work services
and after goals are met the child is returned back home.
In conclusion, my search for a BSW Social Worker was actually BSW research that I
learned plenty of new information from. This also encouraged me to continue on to the Social
Work MSW Program after graduation. The agency visit was very interesting I was able to see
how things were in a social work environment. The interview with Danelle was pleasant and her
feedback was a positive addition to my opinion of social work. I can see myself using a lot of the
knowledge and information I obtained from the interview. The environment was very emotional
and I can see how there can be challenges working with precious children. I could sense the
willingness to help rather its a student from Wayne State University School of Social Work or a
child in need, the compassion was in the air. Spaulding for Children is an agency I would love to
visit and intern in the near future.

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References

Interviewed by Stiffer, D[,2013, February 8]. Danelle Stiffer, Spaulding For Children, Retrieved
2013, February 6. http://www.spaulding.org