The Erie County Department of Social Services (“ECDSS”) is partnering with the University at Buffalo School of Social Work to deploy first-year Masters of Social Work interns into partner community organizations to provide assistance to Erie County residents. The Erie County Department of Social Services is partnering with ACCESS of WNY, Literacy Buffalo, SACRA, Matt Urban Center, Rural Outreach Center, Community Concern of WNY, and the Erie County Public Libraries in Springville, Kenmore, Cheektowaga, and Akron to provide this service. Interns are trained in the Department’s programs and services and can assist individuals with questions about applying.

“Deploying these highly capable, specially trained MSW students into the community makes information about Erie County’s social services programs more readily available to residents for whom a trip to the Rath Building is a hardship,” said Erie County Commissioner of Social Services Al Dirschberger. “The program also benefits MSW students in that they receive specialized training in the work of the Department which will be valuable to future employers.”

Each Community Partner organization will provide space for the MSW interns to meet with clients and answer questions about applying for help with food, heating bills, SNAP, WIC, legal assistance, home weatherization, health care, and other social services programs. The availability of the interns at each location is communicated via the ECDSS Facebook page and Twitter feed. Interns will work 15 hours per week at their assigned placements, and will be in the community beginning Wednesday, October 18, 2017.

For details about the Erie County Department of Social Services’ deployment of MSW interns in the community, contact Hannah Holden, Community Coordinator with the Erie County Department of Social Services at (716) 858-8679 or hannah.holden@erie.gov.

For more information:

On the Erie County Department of Social Services, visit http://www2.erie.gov/socialservices/ .