We’re comfortable to share that CancerCare’s Director of Social Work Administration, Angelique Caba, LCSW-R was not too long ago awarded the Mid-Profession Chief Award by the Nationwide Affiliation of Social Staff (NASW), New York Metropolis Chapter. Congratulations, Angelique! In at present’s weblog publish, she discusses her expertise in social work and what led her to CancerCare.
What began you in your profession path in social work?
I believe the principle cause I ended up in a serving to occupation was largely as a result of my dad. He’s not a social employee or a therapist however I bear in mind him telling me from a really younger age how vital it was to all the time have somebody to speak to, whether or not it was household, associates, or knowledgeable. Initially, I assumed I used to be going to pursue a profession in psychology, however in school I took an introductory social work class and I knew immediately this was undoubtedly what I wished to do. Social work simply felt extra natural to me – a way more in-depth, hands-on strategy. I favored that there have been so many various scientific approaches or interventions you would absorb supporting your purchasers, whether or not that concerned the social employee being extra of a listening ear or taking over a extra directive and interactive strategy, the place the consumer and social employee work collectively to discover a solution to cope.
Had been you initially keen on oncology social work, or was that one thing that got here later?
I didn’t initially begin out my social work profession pondering I might be keen on oncology social work. In reality, I began out working in kinship foster care however knew quickly after this was not what I wished to do long-term. I then started working at a particular schooling faculty for kids recognized with emotional and behavioral issues. I completely cherished the scientific work, cherished working with youngsters, and cherished that no day ever appeared the identical. Each single youngster was very completely different, and I cherished the problem that posed.
Then, in 2005 my then-boyfriend, now-husband was recognized with most cancers. As with every most cancers prognosis this was utterly sudden and shifted issues for me not solely as an individual however as a clinician. It was at this level that I actually knew I wished work in oncology serving to to assist these affected by most cancers.
What are a number of the packages that you simply’ve created or managed at Most cancersCare?
Previous to my present position, I used to be Most cancersCare’s Youngster and AYA (Adolescent and Younger Grownup) Program Director. Once I first started working as a part of Most cancersCare for Children this system was very small and solely consisted of about two social staff. Since then, the variety of social staff devoted to working with youngsters has greater than doubled. As a group we’ve labored collectively to construct up this program to the place we are actually. We host a lot of bigger scale seasonal occasions, our particular person counseling program has grown, and the variety of households that we work with is considerably bigger.
Along with our youngster and younger grownup packages, I additionally oversee our Spanish language providers and translations. We’re undoubtedly seeking to develop our Spanish language packages, together with our publications. I’m presently working with considered one of our bilingual oncology social staff, on recruiting for a Spanish language phone assist group. This might actually assist us in reaching extra of our nationwide purchasers the place assist providers aren’t available. We’re additionally hoping to develop the variety of bilingual oncology social staff after which possibly down the road we’ll be capable of do an internet assist group in Spanish to stretch our attain even additional.
Why is it vital to supply providers for kids and for Spanish-speakers affected by most cancers?
I believe it’s extraordinarily vital to supply emotional assist providers particularly tailor-made for kids dealing with most cancers as a result of developmentally they’re in a really completely different place than adults and don’t all the time have the verbal expertise to appropriately specific what they’re feeling. Having the ability to have a spot the place they’ll play it out or simply specific themselves in different methods is big, particularly for his or her mother and father who usually wrestle with how finest to assist them
Our youngsters’s program, Most cancersCare for Children supplies assist to youngsters and households affected by most cancers, together with those that are bereaved. It may be particularly troublesome for folks dealing with a most cancers prognosis to take their very own self-care into consideration whereas additionally caring for the wants of their youngsters. So loads of the work that we do with mother and father focuses on how they’ll assist and talk with their youngsters in a means that helps them really feel as if they’re a part of the method.
For Spanish-speakers affected by most cancers, there are sometimes added layers of complexity. For instance, for these of us whose first language is English medical phrases are sometimes complicated or obscure. Now think about what that have to be like for somebody whose first language just isn’t English. Even with an interpreter a few of these phrases are nonetheless obscure. The opposite factor to contemplate is the particular person’s tradition and the way their cultural norms play a task in how they impart with their medical group and the way or even when they make their wants recognized.
At Most cancersCare, an enormous a part of our work with Spanish-speaking purchasers includes encouraging them to advocate for themselves. We frequently inform them that they’ll query the physician and actually we encourage them to take action. We additionally make it clear that it’s properly inside their proper to say no to the physician and even push for a second opinion. We frequently encourage them to carry a cherished one to their appointments for emotional assist somewhat than having them interpret. Due to the advanced medical jargon it’s particularly vital that this be executed by skilled medical interpreters, which they’ll request throughout and even earlier than their appointment.
What are a number of the most rewarding elements of your job?
I believe that in oncology social work, a number of the most rewarding moments aren’t all the time the happiest . When wanting again, I’m reminded of a Hispanic household I labored with a number of years in the past – a single mother of three who was recognized with terminal most cancers. Every member of the household had their very own social employee and I used to be working with one of many teenagers. The mother couldn’t bear to inform her youngsters that she was dying. I imply think about, how does anybody say that to their youngsters? Mother’s social employee labored individually together with her, not solely to empower her to have this dialog but in addition taught her what language to make use of. We ended up having a household session and it was most likely one of the vital emotional classes I’ve ever had. We have been all there: mother, her three youngsters and us as their social staff working as a group to assist assist them. I really feel like that was rewarding as a result of I don’t know if that dialog would’ve occurred in the event that they weren’t at Most cancersCare. I might say that, for me, is among the most rewarding issues of the job, with the ability to assist mother and father in having these types of open communication. As a result of as troublesome and painful as it’s, it truly is vital for the household.
What do you love to do outdoors of Most cancersCare?
Most of my time outdoors of right here is spent with my two, quickly to be three, youngsters and my husband. They’re my every part so I might simply spend all my time with them and be comfortable. Apart from that, I’m obsessive about studying. I don’t go away my home with out my Kindle and I just about learn day by day.
Do you may have any hobbies, expertise or pursuits that your colleagues could be shocked to study?
Some folks could not know, however I’ve been coaching in martial arts since I used to be 11 years outdated and I’ve a second diploma black belt. My husband and I might usually prepare and take class collectively however we haven’t educated since having our children so sadly it’s sort of been on hiatus. One thing else folks could not know is that I began taking part in violin once I was six and performed with the New York Youth Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie and Avery Fisher Halls. As soon as I began graduate faculty although I shortly realized that persevering with would require extra time than there really was within the day so I made the choice to cease taking part in professionally.