Hi, my name is Marissa Hernandez. I am a senior at the University of North Texas and I am gradating with a Bachelor in social work this spring of 2018! Like most people, I did not quite understand what adoption really was before Gladney. All I knew was that I wanted to help those in need to have a forever home. Therefore, my professor at North Texas linked me to Gladney and now I could not imagine doing my internship anywhere else.

Currently, I have been part of the Gladney team for about a month now. This journey that I am on has been eye opening to say the least. Working in the Domestic Adoption side as an intern for Jennifer Hart has been nothing but pleasurable. The reason for my experience being so delightful is because I see how much effort it takes as a team to make sure birth mothers and adoptive parents are both reaching a congenial experience. Seeing my supervisor, who is a caseworker, always advocating for the best interest for her clients at all times and other departments at Gladney giving the same support. This huge team working endlessly to make sure that each child and parent both become a family.  Since becoming more knowledgeable about adoption, in trusting the process and the amount of love this ride brings. There is no other place I would want to be a part of than here at Gladney. I am saying this from someone who once did not know the amount of happiness adoptions can bring at the end of the table. It’s like when that feeling of not wanting to get up at the crack of dawn to go for a run but when you see that beautiful sunset the rest of how you got there doesn’t matter anymore.

In my time here so far, I have attended orientations for AdoptED, Domestic Infant Adoption, and New Beginnings Pathway training. I have gone to a home study and watched an adoption finalization in the Fort Worth court house. Also, being present in meetings from legal, Domestic Adopted Parents checking on the status of where things are at for both sides of birth mother and adoptive parent. I have learned that all these tools given to me by Gladney are for me to be educated in the best practice, so I can make an impact in the community. My passions every day in wanting to help people is becoming a reality.  If I am not interacting with people, or attending a meeting, I am learning about how I can make a change. There is no greater feeling then knowing that my main goal is slowly being reached.