Since BHSC is full of wonderful staff that are making differences in the lives of those we see every day, we thought it would be fun if you got to know us better! Let’s learn about Andrea with her Fast Four about BHSC and being a Social Work Supervisor.
Andrea Frys has been a social worker at the BHSC Evans St. location for three years but recently she has accepted the position of Social Work Supervisor. Congratulations Andrea! As a social worker, Andrea works very closely with the families in our program. She is one of the first people that incoming parents and students work with when starting at BHSC. Andrea provides family support through education and linkage to other resources that families may need. The main focus the first time meeting with the family is to get to know their child’s strengths and needs along with their family dynamics and current support. The more information we obtain about the family the better understanding we have of the student and how to assist with their academic, physical, and social growth. Often we will hold Parent Trainings on topics that are universal parent concerns and have monthly Parent Support Groups. As part of the Social Work Team we utilize a trauma informed lens with our students, family, and staff. I am also the main contact for our PEDAL’s grant that funds our Social Emotional Program, the Second Step Curriculum, that is taught in most of the classrooms at Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. Now as the Social Worker Supervisor, I have the pleasure of working closely with our wonderful Social Workers who provide services to the families throughout our 8 sites.
1. What is your favorite memory at BHSC?
I really enjoy the Holiday Drive that Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center facilitates. The employees along with Board members assist our students’ families around the holidays. The Social Workers have the pleasure of being the liaisons between the families and the agency. Through my direct contact with the families, I have the opportunity to assist with the development of a list of items that the families need to decrease their stress of the season. Additionally, the Social Workers get to experience the joy and happiness of delivering the items associated with the Holiday Drive.
One specific delivery that comes to mind occurred the first year I was involved with the Holiday Drive. A single mom of 2 children resided with her mother. Our student’s mother greeted me at the door and was very gracious of the items that were delivered. She welcomed me into the house and offered me coffee. I was moved by the hospitality and graciousness that she offered despite the day to day hardships that her and her family endure.
2. How do you hope to grow in your position at BHSC or how have you grown?
I hope to continue to learn and grow in my knowledge base as a Social Worker and Supervisor. I want to focus on expanding on the Trauma informed initiative and it will continue to develop within Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. I am currently the PEDALS Champion and Master Coach; providing support and resources to our coaches of the Second Step Curriculum. My goal for this initiative is to ensure all of the classrooms, within the agency, utilize the Second Step Curriculum in some capacity in the near future.
3. How do you measure success? Success looks so different depending on the situation.
Success could be in the smallest sense of a preverbal student verbalizing their first word. In a bigger sense, a family struggling with housing obtains an apartment and now has the self-pride in being able to provide for their family. “Success doesn’t just come and find you, you have to go out and get it”.
4. What advice would you give to young people who want to enter into your field?
The Social Work field is both difficult and rewarding. It is a very rewarding field in that you assist families and students with needs and provide stability to otherwise stressful situations. The profession can also cause stress and a feeling of being overwhelmed with wanting to do more to help a family than you are able to. In those situations, professional support and self-care go a long way to assist in growing personally and professionally.
