The Joe Hall Scholarship Advances Education for Students of Color at UC’s School of Social Work

Armed with a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising, Kate Barnes worked in corporate retail for six years before realizing she “wanted to work in a profession that connected and supported people in the community.” Unsure of which field to pursue, she interviewed professionals in a variety of mental health–related careers, including a school psychologist, clinical psychologist, licensed counselor, and clinical social worker. That’s when it clicked.

“I felt that social work most aligned with my goals and personal values,” she says. On June 11, 2011, she earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from the UC College of Allied Health Sciences, and today she works with adolescents with behavioral and mental health issues as Director of School Based Day Treatment at The Children’s Home.

For Barnes, the scholarship was instrumental in helping fund her education and reduce financial stress after graduation. “The scholarship was meaningful as a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) social worker and helped me feel supported in pursuing my education,” she adds. “Most advanced roles in social work require higher education and licensure, which require more financial resources to achieve. The scholarship can be instrumental in encouraging those who want to advance their careers.”

The scholarship also helped Barnes launch her career in social work, enabling her to establish a strong relationship with The Children’s Home and its staff and clients. Two days after graduation, Barnes began working full time at The Children’s Home as a therapist for a local public school, and she’s been working at the agency ever since.

“I have really enjoyed my career at The Children’s Home. I love the clients we serve, the people I work with, and the spirit of the agency,” Barnes says. “Over the last 10 years, the agency has worked steadily to meet the evolving needs of the community we serve. This is incredibly important to make sure that our interventions are not stagnant since our clients are not.”

The scholarship also plays an important role in helping combat the current workforce shortage and diversify the social work field, which is predominately made up of white women.

“There is a large minority population in Cincinnati, and it’s important to attract a workforce that represents the people we’re serving” says Field Instructor and Chief Clinical Officer for Best Point Behavioral Health Debbie Gingrich, LISW-S.

The real-life experience the scholarship provides, particularly for a helping profession, is invaluable, says Field Instructor and Chief Operating Officer of The Children’s Home Pam McKie, LISW-S, who graduated from UC’s School of Social Work in 1987. “We have a large repertoire of opportunities for these students. With 30-plus programs, we offer a breadth of career paths as well as opportunities for deeper dives into programs they’re passionate about so they can really understand options and what is for them or not.”