Merrill Center Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) excited new interns by giving them welcome bags on its annual Intern Orientation Day. Roughly 59% of interns who join the company through its internship program become employees shortly after. The events held during this day allow participants to learn more about Merrill Center CSU and ɫ��ɫ and connect with key members of their would-be employer's team.

Merrill Center CSU's administrator Lisa Hecker has taken in 10 to 15 interns for the past three years, and none of that would have been possible without her team's support. Recently, an intern who completed their internship sent a letter sharing the value and profound impact they got from the internship.

Below is the letter from the intern expressing their experience:

Hello Natalie, 

My name is (blank) and I recently completed my BSW internship with Merrill. I wanted to take a moment and share my experience with you in hopes of shedding some light on the value Lisa and the team at Merrill provided in my career as a future Social Worker. 

I have never worked for an agency that values its employees, and members, as much as Merrill. And it originates from the top. Lisa Hecker operates with an open-door policy and makes it a mission to meet with each employee as often as her busy schedule permits. I was at Merrill only a few months and I personally met with Lisa twice per week for supervision, and at least twice per week just to check in. During these check-ins, Lisa asked personal questions on how I think the agency can improve and where we may be falling short. Some of the things I mentioned in the first week were implemented the following day. It truly is a special place to work.  

As I’m sure you know, at Merrill, we work with a population of mostly homeless individuals with diverse backgrounds.  The barriers our members face to overcoming a crisis are ones I saw every day, and it broke my heart. These barriers include cultural identity, chronic mental illness, substance abuse treatment, social class, race, economical/political barriers, infrastructure, education, access to quality care, insurance, isolation, and there are honestly, many more. I could probably write a novel on each of the barriers mentioned but there is one I didn’t mention which really demonstrates them all. And that one is being heard. Simply treating our members as human beings, listening to them speak, and allowing them to be heard, gave them a sense of hope and empowerment they certainly didn’t have when they walked in the door. 

At Merrill, members' voices are heard, valued, and held at the highest standard. Just in my short time with the company, I witnessed this first-hand. I noticed that every employee of the Merrill family is driven by a call to serve, which is reflected in the work they do, every day. I watched them help people transition out of jail and back to their community, make progress in recovery, “re-imagine” their lives, and stop the cycle. I learned that many employees at Merrill are either in recovery or have some connection to mental health challenges in their families, which provides a deeper level of compassion, empathy, and understanding for each member we served. Pain recognizes pain.  

Throughout my experience in the field, I’ve learned that to adequately help people, one must actively connect with clients to make them feel heard and valued. In doing this, rapport is built, a relationship is formed, and people are more likely to trust the process of healing. This experience has, without a doubt, made the greatest impact on my education and I am so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside this incredible team. Every day was different, and many situations were challenging, but the team was always standing right by my side ready to help. This was the best hands-on learning experience I’ve had, and I believe it has truly prepared me to enter and thrive in my master’s program at the University of Southern California. 

So, I just want to say thank you for allowing me to work in an environment that will undoubtedly shape my career as a future social worker. I am eternally grateful for Lisa and the entire Merrill staff. My great hope is that I can find my way back to the Merrill family upon completion of my MSW (if Lisa will take me, that is). 

I wish you all well and look forward to serving our community together in the near future.