Today we’d like to introduce you to Frances James.
Hi Frances, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was employed as a Training “Super” Supervisor for DC Child and Family Services. I was responsible for training new social workers every facit of child welfare in a three-month time period. The new social workers were expected to obtain their social worker license within this three-month period of time. Social Workers were being hired from all fifty states and a lot of them were not passing the licensure exam and would have to return to their city of origin after three months. I began setting aside time for social workers to study and developed a curriculum for them to work so that they could pass their exam. I also started working with other social workers at the agency that were seeking to get their clinical license at 7am in the morning and they were passing. As a result, the new social workers in my unit were passing their exam and they did not have to return to their city of origin.
After a couple of years, I decided to leave DC Child and Family Services and enhance my curriculum. I travelled to Boston to meet Steve Antler the author of the books that I was using, and I took his two-day study course. I developed a six-week course and a two-day course called Social Work Prep. I also travelled to Atlanta, Louisiana, DC, Alabama with my two-day course. I also have taught my course at Catholic University, UDC, Southern University, Morgan State University, and Grambling University.
Currently, I do mostly tutoring for social workers wanting to pass the licensure examination and will do a class if universities contract with FAJ, Inc. I also have a private mental health practice and a mentoring business for up-and-coming new social workers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I started teaching my classes there was not a lot of competition. There was one other person that was only offering a two-day class and her information was antiquated. Given that there was not a lot of competition, people were looking for something different. In addition, I was a woman of color and people of color were open to someone who could relate to their challenges. There were not many struggles, as I taught my classes out of my home, except when I travelled.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Full time I am a Senior Crisis Intervention Specialist for a small inner city hospital. I work in the Emergency Room as an evaluator of pts that are suicidal, homicidal or have mental health challenges of any age. My job is to evaluate them, get collateral information and conduct an assessment and make a determination with the physician of the best placement for the pt, whether it is discharge with resources, crisis bed, or admission. This job has helped me to learn a great deal about the mental health profession. As a social worker I have work in child welfare, the school system, nursing homes, mental and a mental health clinic. My varied experiences have helped me to be well versed when I teach my social work prep classes.
I am most proud of my social work classes as I have taught and supported approximately 2000 social workers with becoming licensed in DC, MD, VA, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia as a one woman show.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I meet people where they are. I try to get on their skill set and work with them until they understand the concepts. I try to stay abreast of the new and upcoming standards for the licensure examination and the social work field in general. I am a people person and understand that everyone is different and learn differently and therefore I must alter my style to help them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fajexams.com
