2019-20 Field Spotlight: Clackamas County Health Centers Medication Assisted Treatment

Field Instructor Cat Caruso is a social worker with Clackamas County’s primary care clinics. She works with the Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs. This was Cat’s first year having an MSW intern, however she has been working with the Mentor program over the past 5 years, so she is no stranger to supporting social work students. She found the mentor program immensely satisfying, and knew she wanted to continue to engage and learn alongside students.

Cat also had an amazing experience with her Field Instructor when she was in the MSW program, and wanted to pay it forward and share that experience with current social work students.

A relatively new program in Clackamas County, the MAT team works alongside primary care professionals in an integrated healthcare setting. A unique and dynamic internship opportunity, as Lynn was able to observe the implementation of the service delivery aspects of the program, and move into direct practice serving the program participants. The program primarily serves people who are living with opiate use disorder, but also works with alcohol use disorder. The team interacts with participants in the clinic, is responsible for panel management, supports people in filling out required paperwork, and therapy.

Lynn has a history of mostly mezzo and macro practice, and wanted to concentrate her Advanced year in a more micro setting that integrated her strong pre-existing skill set. She was drawn to the MAT work to challenge herself in a new setting, and deeply interested in working with people experiencing substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health disorders.

Cat and Lynn immediately bonded when they met, they both identify as feminists and radical social workers. Lynn shares “I immediately knew I would learn so much from Cat, about the delicate balance of striving for social change, and also how to work within systems.” Lynn has observed Cat truly embodying social justice practice, gently calling in people to maximize the possibility for change while staying in relationship. Lynn experienced feeling deeply valued in her placement and supported as a person living with chronic health issues. Cat told her early on that living with chronic illness didn’t make Lynn any less of a clinician, and because of this accommodating and holistic approach, Lynn feels like she was able to get so much more out of her placement.

Cat continuously used their supervision time to check in and make sure Lynn was engaged in the type of practice that met her learning goals, and created space for Lynn to explore everything that comes up in a learning experience in a supportive way. One supervision session Cat told Lynn the most important thing you can do is let yourself be human, and this message was deeply validating and energizing for Lynn to hear. Lynn has learned so much in her time as an intern with Cat, and has a newfound passion for working with people experiencing substance use disorders.

Thank you so much Lynn and Cat!