Juana Vasquez, Secure Care Treatment Aide 1
NYS Office of Mental Health, Manhattan
Tip: "Do it now, it doesn't matter what your age is. Make up your mind and do it. You've got to have hope and believe that you can do it."
Juana began working for New York State in 2001 as a Time and Attendance Clerk at Manhattan Psychiatric Center. After taking the NYS Civil Service examination for Keyboard Specialist 1, she worked from June 2002 to September 2004 as a KBS.
Juana realized that she liked working with patients with special needs so she became a Mental Health Therapy Aide 1 and worked in that title from October 2004 to December 2006. In January 2007, she transferred to the sex offender ward as a Secure Care Treatment Aide 1 within Manhattan Psychiatric Center.
While working full time and attending school full time, Juana received her Associate of Science degree in 2002 and her Bachelor of Science degree in 2004. Both degrees in Human Services are from Touro College. She continued studies at Touro and graduated with her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in June 2008. Juana expects to finish her internship requirement by February 2009.
“I always was a strong person, but going to school made me an even stronger person. By the grace of God I overcame barriers and didn’t let anything stop me from my dream.”
To help pay tuition, Juana worked overtime while attending college and used the Partnership’s Tuition Benefits Program. She also took advantage of the services available from the Partnership educational advisors.
Juana’s goal is to use the MSW to obtain a social worker position that would allow her to work with individuals with mental illness or drug addiction.
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