Clinical Social Worker Amanda Jennings has had the opportunity to be a positive, driving force in people’s lives through both her job and volunteer work. She works at a private practice in Valparaiso and sits on the board of the The Promise Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through community-based response and cooperation.
Ever since she was a teenager, she always wanted her career to revolve around helping people and being a positive influence in their lives. She obtained both her bachelor’s degree in sociology and master’s degree at Indiana University Northwest.
“I’ve always had a natural inclination for wanting to help others,” Jennings said. “I chose to go into social work because it is a very flexible profession and it fulfilled all of the things that I wanted to do with my life. Not only do I get to help people with issues, but I also help them improve their lives overall.”
Jennings explained that her daily goal is to be the best person she can and to constantly and consistently improve herself.
“I truly want to help others be the best versions of themselves,” Jennings said. “This is especially important now in the time of pandemic. Monitor your time watching the news and using the social media and do your best to have a strong support system of family and friends.”
When Jennings was in-between jobs, she wanted to get more involved with the community and began looking for places to volunteer. She heard about Family Promise of Porter County Indiana at the church she attends, First United Methodist Church in Portage. When she found out that the organization needed more people to get it off the ground, she decided to join.
Currently, Jennings is the secretary of the board, so her main role at Family Promise consists of keeping everyone connected and informed. She is also in on the Development Committee for Family Promise, which is tasked with raising funds and applying for grants in order to develop and sustain the organization.
“I am incredibly humbled to be where I am at today,” Jennings said. “I’m honored to have the chance to give back to others. At the end of the day, I’d like to believe that all the people I’ve worked with have given me just as much as I have given to them. It is a genuinely powerful and human connection.”