My Social Worker Profile
Caolan Ayres
Groups of Interest
Groups
-Immigrants/Refugees
-Homeless
As an immigrant, supporting those finding difficulties adapting to their new lives appeals to me as I have experienced this struggle personally. As this is the only marginalized group I can relate to through shared experiences, I feel my skills could be best utilized supporting these individuals
Volunteering regularly at homeless shelters and having peers who have experienced housing insecurity, I have always felt a responsibility to help these individuals and raise awareness around the issue which
Levels
Levels of Practice which interest me
Micro-levels
Micro
Homeless individuals often feel a sense of hopelessness when trying to come to terms with their circumstances. Due to their alienation from society by most people they feel they can't depend on others to help them, and being the source of support they need can be an important step in their eventual recovery. Providing them with counselling or helping them access services relevant to their case whether it be a women's shelter, employment services, addiction services, etc.
Working with refugees and recent immigrants at an individual level. This could involves helping those struggling to find work create a resume or obtain work/volunteer experience or access other employment resources. Another common struggle for these individuals is language or culture barriers which make them feel like outsiders. Helping them access courses to teach them English or working as an educator about Canadian society and culture in a way which helps them develop a stronger understanding of the country they live in could help these individuals feel less lonely or uncomfortable while adapting to their new surroundings.