Meet Alison Setili, St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund’s (CSF) spring/fall 2024 MSW (Master of Social Work) practicum student! In this Q&A, learn more about what Alison worked on during her practicum, key things she learned, and who she thinks would be a good fit for our practicum program!
The deadline to apply for our fall practicum is March 15! Learn more about qualifications and how to apply on our MSW Practicum Program page.
What degree were you pursuing during your practicum?
I was pursuing a Master of Social Work and a Master of Public Health.
What was your schedule like during your practicum?
I worked two days in person and two days remote over the summer, and a bit less in the fall. Setting up my schedule was extremely flexible. My schedule was formed around my availability.
What CSF department did you primarily work with?
I mostly worked with the Program Team.
What were some of the main projects or tasks you worked on?
Some of my main projects were developing a youth advisory council, writing a conflict of interest policy, and researching types of agency accreditation. I chose my projects to some extent, but they were also based on current projects, priorities and needs at CSF.
What interest areas or practicum goals would make a student a good fit for CSF?
This practicum is great for those interested in macro social work and the larger social work system. It’s also great for those interested in learning about grantmaking, nonprofit funding structures, and government funding.
What organizational processes or general systems did you learn about?
I learned a lot about the internal functioning of both grantmaking organizations and a variety of types of nonprofits. I learned how grant cycles progress, what interactions between agencies and funders look like, what documents and information funders may require from agencies, how policy impacts government agencies, and St. Louis area funding structures for mental health services.
Alison joins other St. Louis County interns in meeting with St. Louis County Executive Sam Page.
Did you interact with CSF’s funded partners?
Yes! I was able to visit roughly 10 funded agencies during site visits/check-ins. This gave me unique and valuable insight into the variable structures and cultures of local nonprofits. I interviewed various agency staff members about their experiences in direct client work. I interacted with agencies to schedule these meetings. I also met with agencies and other external organizations to discuss types of youth engagement.
How would you describe the culture at CSF?
I would say the CSF environment is both friendly and professional. The team puts a lot of effort into supporting one another, both with professional responsibilities and personal circumstances. They take their roles seriously, and I particularly appreciated how invested everyone is in improving processes and increasing positive impact on the community.