100 Women, 100 Stories: Alesha Jacobs
Where do you live? Las Vegas, NV
What is your profession? Licensed Clinical Social Worker
How did you become a social worker? My path to obtaining my current role started when I was working as a Correctional Officer for the State of Nevada. Working as a Correctional Officer I came to the realization that I wanted more in my professional and personal life, where I would help individuals part of vulnerable populations achieve their life goals and/or treatment goals. Working in public safety I found myself observing a revolving door of inmates being paroled from prison and returning to the prison system in less than a year, or inmates being released to the community after serving their entire prison sentence and returning to the prison system again shortly after, partly due to having an “institutionalized” mentality of living their lives in as if they were still imprisoned and lacking hope. I conducted internet searches in the field of human services and found social workers have an array of areas they may specialize and practice in. I was drawn to the specific area of mental health due to working with inmates in prison who are diagnosed with mental health conditions. I was given the opportunity to return to the State of Nevada as a Clinical Social Worker Intern in the area of mental health, completed my internship hours and am currently licensed as an LCSW in the State of Nevada.
What did you study in school? I studied courses in the area of direct practice, which allows for me to have daily contact with individuals in a clinical setting. I knew I wanted to concentrate on direct practice due to wanting to have direct contact with individuals on a daily basis and understand their barriers at the ground level, instead of viewing a specific person’s barriers on paper from a macro practice perspective.
Has anyone been a mentor to you? Clementine Benjamin, LCSW
What role did she play and how do you feel about mentorship now? Clementine was my first Area Field Supervisor during my second year as a practicum student at UNLV. I learned about the process of social work, setting goals to achieve the best treatment plan outcome for my clients, advocate to establish or changes laws that may be in conflict with the social work profession, while also learning and working specifically with Veterans and the homeless Veteran population at the Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) located in Las Vegas, NV. I feel that mentorship is an important role that individuals should strive to provide in the personal and professional career. Mentoring from my perspective means to care for another individual and wanting that individual to achieve success in all areas of their life.
What’s the hardest thing that you’ve had to deal with in your career so far? Working for an agency where the salary does not meet the expectation of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The State of Nevada is the lowest paying agency among county and federal level, where we are paid the least. Once your internship is completed you only receive a 2% increase as a LCSW.
What has been a really rewarding moment in your career? Being able to be Preceptor to another UNLV social work student in their Bachelor’s of Social Work program. Being a Preceptor has allotted me the opportunity to expand myself in the area of education and learning to be an educator to other unique individuals.
What do you want to accomplish in your lifetime? My life goal is to publish a children’s book specifically one ethnic children dealing with the illness (mental illness) of a loved one. If anyone has any publishing resources that would assist this first time writer please let me know!
What’s something you want young women to remember when thinking about their future? To never limit themselves in any area of their lives. Know your ancestry and know the value of your position in your family. Be first in something! Whether it’s the first to receive a college degree or first to lead the females in your family toward goals of greatness.
What’s one thing you want to try to make an impact on in your lifetime? Educating others and becoming a published author.
