MESA, Arizona -- Oct. 31, 2024 -- The Family Involvement Center (FIC) and the Mesa Community College (MCC) Social Work Program are accepting applications for scholarships in the FIC-MCC Resilient Roots Apprenticeship Program (RRAP) through Nov. 24 for the first cohort starting in January 2025. Applications will continue to be accepted through April 2028 for cohorts selected every six months.

Participants selected for the program receive a year of college tuition covering the cost of Live Online social work courses at MCC, a computer to access classes and a monthly stipend to cover the cost of internet service and other expenses to remove barriers to succeed in the program. Social work is the nation's No. 1 helping profession and the MCC Social Work Program is the top contributor of quality students to schools of social work in Arizona.

After completing the first six months of the program, which includes work experience through an internship and peer support certification, participants are eligible to apply for a paid position in a U.S Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship position in peer support and continuing education guidance.

Applicants should be a parent who is recovering from opioid use or other addictions desiring to launch a career helping others with similar life experiences. Ideal program participants are parents who have experiences with the child welfare system, who have earned a high school or general education diploma, have lived in Arizona for at least 12 months and can commit to completing course expectations, which include attending twice weekly Live Online classes and completing homework.

“One of the heartfelt benefits of this program is that it takes experiences that would be negative factors in most hiring situations and recognizes them as the advantage of authentically relating to parents struggling through recovery and dealing with the child welfare system,” said Deidre Calcoate, FIC executive director. “The stigma of the past is diminished for the parents as well as their social workers. Possibly an even greater benefit of this program is its potential to change the lives and outcomes of the participants' children who also benefit from their parents' recovery and employment."

“We have seen such enthusiasm and confidence in the more than 60 parents who have completed the program,“ said Shakira Pipher, director of the MCC Social Work program. “Taking lessons learned from difficult experiences and drawing on them to build rewarding careers in child welfare speaks to the transformative power of education and resilience of the students.”

FIC Resilient Roots Mentor Coordinator, April Gonzales, was 10 months sober and had just given birth to her son when a friend shared a flier about the FIC-MCC RRAP social work program. She said she was seeking a purpose and career so applied and was called for an interview. That was the step that took her from what she describes as “dark times into something positive and beautiful.”

Gonzales shared, “In front of a five-person panel, I said that I wanted to be transparent. I had been to prison and was in recovery. They said it didn’t matter and I was what they wanted. Never had any agency rep or job interviewer said that to me.”

Gonzales is just a few credits away from her Associate in Arts degree at MCC. The online courses provide some credits toward a degree. Success has been slow but steady being a single mother, working full time and going to school. She emphasizes that is what makes the program so valuable. It meets people where they are in life and helps them step by step.

Kristy Dupree, now the Resilient Roots success coach, was in the first group of the RRAP program. Successful in recovery, she was regaining custody of her children when an Arizona Department of Child Safety case worker recommended she apply for the FIC-MCC program. Two days later she had an interview but little confidence.

“The program team surrounded me with support from day one,” Dupree said. “They helped me realize my ‘lived experiences’ have worth. My life changed. In four years, I went from being in such a low place to speaking in front of the Arizona Legislature on Department of Child Services matters. Being at FIC, I am giving back. ”

Initially launched in fall 2020, as the Parent Peer Support Social Work Scholarship Stipend Program, RRAP was made possible with support from a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to FIC, and is designed to develop careers for individuals based on their life experiences so they may help others dealing with similar circumstances. Visit mesacc.edu/social-work to learn more and apply to participate in this innovative, community-driven, life changing, career-building opportunity.

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Media contact: Dawn Zimmer, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu, 480-461-7892

Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement, service-learning and innovative approaches to education. Host to more than 24,400 students annually, MCC offers degree and certificate programs at its two campuses and additional locations. On average MCC students provide 23,000 hours of community service annually. For more than 50 years, the college has served as a resource for education, workforce development and lifelong learning. MCC is transforming student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. MCC is a Hispanic Serving Institution. Nearly 50% of MCC students are the first in their families to attend college. MCC has the largest indigenous student population of all the Maricopa Community Colleges. The American Indian Institute serves students from 22 federally recognized Arizona tribes and out-of-state tribes. Our diverse student body includes hundreds of international students from around the world. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to attain their goals. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, on the traditional territories of the O'odham, Piipaash and Yavapai Peoples, MCC is one of 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Visit mesacc.edu to learn more.

MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org.

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.