Social Work Careers for Young People from Minority Groups

On this episode of Community Action, host Theodore O. Thackrey speaks to:

Patrick Clinton, Program Director for Social Work Recruiting Center (SWRC)
Carole Matthew, Chairman of SWRC's Advisory Committee on Recruiting Negroes and Director of Social Service at Interfaith Hospital
Josue Diaz, Member of SWRC's Advisory Committee on recruiting Puerto Ricans and Director of Social Service for NYC's Head Start Program

With a shortage of Social Workers in New York City, the SWRC is targeting recruitment towards Puerto Ricans and African Americans. The panelists discuss efforts to focus on college students and recent graduates who are best prepared to enter graduate school. The center offers potential recruits paid summer work experiences under the mentorship of a trained Social Worker. They describe challenges to recruitment such as the shortage of African Americans and Puerto Ricans who are seeking higher education and the lack of funding for scholarships for college graduates or dropouts who are unable to sacrifice a salary to return to school.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 151625
Municipal archives id: T2658