Interview Questions

Name: Amy Chesebro, MSW
Title: Jail Diversion Program Manager
Received Degree from: University of Montana

How did you come to work at your organization?
I completed my first MSW practicum at Missoula Probation and Parole where I met Theresa Williams, the Jail Diversion Program Manager at that time, and sought out the Jail Diversion Program as my next practicum opportunity. I was able to complete my second MSW practicum here, and last semester of grad school I was hired on as a Case Manager. Then when Theresa moved on to a new position I applied for and got the position of Jail Diversion Program Manager.

What do you appreciate most about supervising practicum students?
I like being connected to the University and sort of keeping my finger in academic thinking, especially in the criminal justice field. You can get separated from the social work field here. For me it’s really nice to stay connected to those values by discussing them with students and talking about how they apply to real world situations. I like that connection to academia and watching students figure things out as they go through the program.

What does being a social worker mean to you?
A lot! I feel like there is so much to social work because it encompasses everything. However, if I was to boil it down to one thing, I think it is about empowerment. How do we empower people to live their best lives, whatever that means for them?

 How does your role as a social worker relate to your role as a supervisor?
I feel like this goes back to empowerment. I think it absolutely applies for helping students figure out what it means to be a social worker; empowering them on that journey and challenging them to figure out what that means for them. That is something I take very seriously at the Jail Diversion Program; challenging and pushing people a little bit to get out of their comfort zones and think about things from a more critical stand point. In this intersection between the criminal justice system and social work, critical thinking is very important.

What is the most important thing you hope your practicum students take with them to their careers?
Questioning. I hope they question, and feel confident enough in their abilities to take that step back and question the systems they are working in; why they work, or don’t work. And, I hope they take that empowerment piece to know that there are things they can do to create change, even if it is really slow. Also, finding a balance in working within the same systems they may want to change and creating that change is crucial.

 What is your favorite quote that exemplifies social work?
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." – Theodore Roosevelt. I feel this really encompasses me and my job.

Any final words of wisdom?
No, I am still learning and figuring things out as I go.