S ocial work requires commitment to service. And true commitment to service sometimes requires that certain brave souls enter the darkest corners of our humanity where the light is most needed, although certainly most of us wish to look away from these horrifying holes in our humanity. For Miss Alicia A. Perry, LSW/LASOP (Licensed Social Worker/Licensed Associate Sexual Offender Provider), she began her journey of service in 2014 when she served as an intern at EMAGES while still attending grad school. And she chose one of the more difficult challenges when she focused her internship on group therapy and rehabilitation work for sex offenders. We perhaps can agree that working with and rehabilitating those convicted of this most heinous and unpalatable crime is and was undoubtedly a level of Christian forgiveness, kindness and care that very few of us would even consider. It is also a level of pure human empathy that most of us could not and/or would not care to manage. And yet when we consider the common Christian call of “WWJD”, we can
much more easily understand her service. After going on to receive her master’s in social work from Governor State University, Miss Perry proceeded to recommit herself to her chosen work and now is the current Co- facilitator for Sex Offender groups at EMAGES, working with her charges once a week on their difficult road to hopeful and very necessary rehabilitation. As she recently explained quite simply and eloquently- “When you can help someone understand their assault cycle, and help them make meaningful, sustainable changes, it really is gratifying to see them grow, and witness real behavioral change.” Now focused on obtaining her Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) certification, Miss Perry nevertheless remains dedicated to “rehabilitating a population in which most are stigmatized on multiple levels, including housing, employment and mental healthcare.” When queried as to her own personal motivations she shared that
Doing the Difficult Work at EMAGES Because a Christian Spirit Embraces All
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