Social Workers Month Spotlight – Matt Stukalin
Matt Stukalin (LCSW) leads Greenwich House’s Counseling and Youth Activity programs within the Queens and Manhattan Family Justice Centers (FJC). Facilitated in partnership with the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), he represents the Greenwich House Center for Resiliency and Wellness in an ongoing effort to increase community access to trauma informed care.
Read our Q&A below to learn more about Matthew’s passion for social work and why he views it as a vehicle for empowerment.
What do you do at Greenwich House and what types of clients do you help?
I lead and supervise an interdisciplinary team that provides counseling services and wellness-based play activities for children and adolescents impacted by domestic violence, intimate-partner violence and gender-based violence. We meet with them on-site in our Youth Activity Room, while their parents or guardians receive mental health support, legal consultation, and case management assistance from FJC staff and our Greenwich House counseling team.
How do you feel that social work can empower individuals and communities at large?
As social workers, we take a very holistic approach with each individual. By fostering their personal growth and goals for the future, our clients become stronger individuals within the greater context of their families, interpersonal relationships, and the community.
What do you believe is the most empowering aspect of social work?
Social work is a constant source of fulfillment. There’s always an opportunity to examine ourselves, challenge our own beliefs, and grow as people. There’s always an opportunity to better the lives of others and strengthen our community. I derive personal meaning from empowering others to advocate for themselves and live a richer, more meaningful life.
How are you increasing accessibility to licensed social work services?
All our services from the Family Justice Center are free and confidential. And at the Center for Resiliency and Wellness, no one is ever turned away. All our teams are in-person and on-site. We’re constantly doing outreach and spreading the word, because we want people to know we always have caring, knowledgeable social workers available to meet with them. Clients who require additional mental health services may be referred to the CRW primary center location.
Any pearls of wisdom for someone new to the field that’s pursuing a career?
Maintain humility and healthy curiosity. View every relationship, both professional and personal, as an opportunity to learn and grow. And don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone.
Prioritize self-care as well. We care so deeply for others and we try to give them 100%. But also leave ample time for yourself – personal relationships, hobbies, and activities that bring you joy. We need to take good care of ourselves so we can rest, rejuvenate, and recharge. This allows us to be at our best for ourselves and others.
For more information about our trauma-informed mental health services, visit greenwichhouse.org/health-services/crw