MSW grad Kasey Demps sets out for England with high hopes and a plan 
Kasey Demps |
Sept. 22, 2008 - Kasey Demps, who just received her MSW degree from the Indiana University School of Social Work, is ready to take her next step in forging a career in social work.
She is heading to England and in a way, we are going along, too.
Kasey has agreed to provide updates that will run on the school’s web site that will detail her experiences in England.
Demps is set to take off for London on Sept. 23rd. She has been working with an agency to setup a job there and expects to have a position with an organization that’s the equivalent of the Indiana Department of Child Services here. She is likely to be part of a team and have her own caseload.
While she may stay in London, Kasey knows she could easily found herself living and working in the city’s outskirts.
“It’s a pretty big challenge,” Kasey, who is excited by the prospect of the move. She is preparing to go for 6-months. Other people have gone and stayed longer, but Kasey’s real goal isn’t to remain in England, but to come back to Indiana.
Kasey has an undergraduate degree in psychology from Purdue University and was working with kids with disabilities. She found herself involved with Medicaid waivers and policy-related issues.
“That kind of revved me up to want to go back (to school,) she said of dealing with policy matters. She started the MSW program two years ago and choose the policy and leadership concentration. It gave her insights into non-profit management, community development among other things.
Now, she wants to spend some time working with clients to balance her “macro” outlook. “I felt like I could use a little more experience on my resume, before I got my first major job out of school,” she said of her upcoming work experience in England.
“I felt I needed to be more rounded. I needed more micro-experience and that’s what I will be getting when I’m over there.” She’s also curious to see how another country deals with social work issues.
After a stint in England, she plans on returning to Indianapolis to find a social work job. Kasey realizes she will most likely start in an entry level position with a goal towards moving into administration. “That is what I want to do. I want to be an administrator.”
There are a number of non-profit agencies that are highly competitive to get into, Demps noted. “I know I need to do a lot to make my resume stand out to get the jobs where there is some upward mobility.
Will her trip pan out the way she hopes?
Stay tuned.
| 
