For Brittany King ’15, a fellowship working with at-risk youth with the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps was a factor in her early career. And now comes a chance to give back.
More than 12 years ago, Sociology Professor Corey Dolgen had the idea to create a service learning opportunity for students of behavioral and mental health. His model was embraced and kept alive by the Binienda Center as the WSU-RFK Fellowship in Youth Welfare. During this fellowship, students would work full time in the summer at a clinical treatment facility in Lancaster, working with at-risk youth at the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps, then complete six-credit internships during the year.
King is currently clinical director of Blue Hills Recovery in Worcester. In her own words, “We are an outpatient substance use treatment center and are in the process of opening our outpatient mental health program. My role as the clinical director is overseeing all clinical operations to ensure that our patients are receiving quality and compassionate care that meets state and federal regulations. While I am overseeing a treatment center now, the foundation of everything I do began at Worcester State University.”
King majored in psychology with a concentration in mental health services. This track allowed her to be exposed to the different fields within the behavioral health care industry. As she put it, “I was lucky enough to be selected my senior year for one of the fellowship positions at the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps. This fellowship allowed me to work as a direct care staff member in a group home for at-risk youth while also obtaining internship credits. This experience allowed me to see that I wanted to work in the behavioral health care field as a therapist. Each day, I got the opportunity to work side-by-side with the clinical team, which opened my eyes to the work they got to do. This fellowship experience started me on my journey to where I am now as a clinical director.”
King believes that her foundation at Worcester State University led her to the role she is in now. As she sees it, the community at WSU taught her about teamwork, leadership, communication, being compassionate, and always trying your best. Through her role as class president, president of honor societies, and in learning from peers and faculty daily, King recalls there always was an opportunity at WSU to grow as a person while also having fun.
“The community at WSU was one of the most valuable parts of my undergrad experience,” King recalls. “Without the experiences and opportunities I had at WSU, I would not be the therapist, clinical director, leader, friend, and person I am today.”
That person today is not only clinical director, she also plays a role in hiring. Students and alumni interested in jobs in behavioral health with Blue Hills Recovery should contact Brittany at: bking@bluehillsrecovery.com.
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