Diane Aguilar has always wanted to work with children. While studying Psychology with an emphasis in Child Development at UC Davis, she gained experience volunteering with foster care youth and vulnerable populations. Aguilar knows she wants direct engagement with children, so her advisor pointed her towards social work and encouraged her to pursue her MSW.
For Aguilar though, it was a goal that seemed unrealistic. The oldest of five children from a low-income family, she'd already racked up four years of student loan debt during her undergraduate studies. But when she applied to the School of Social Work, she was awarded a Child Welfare Scholarship, giving her access to specialized child welfare courses and field placements.
"The Child Welfare Scholarship Program made it possible for me to move forward with my education without incurring more financial burden, and I don't think I would be in the program without that support," said Aguilar.
"There's an educational component within my Child Welfare Scholarship program that focuses on exactly what I want to learn," said Aguilar. "The curriculum is preparing me for a career doing what I'm most passionate about." Upon graduation, child welfare specialists work in child welfare social work, child maltreatment therapy, program management, community organization and policy-making. Aguilar plans one day to own a private practice doing clinical work with maltreated, traumatized and endangered children and their families.
Aguilar is active in the Child Welfare Student Association, a group focused on strengthening students' professional development and raising awareness of child welfare issues through advocacy, education, community outreach and dialogue. "There's a necessary bond that develops when you deal with abused, neglected, and vulnerable children and their family systems," said Aguilar. "It's a very tough job, so we really rely on each other."