Sonja Stewart joined BCArc as a case manager in 2016, where she supported families
as an educational advocate in local school systems. 鈥淚 wanted to be a better case
manager, so I went for my master鈥檚,鈥� she said.
07/06/20
Sonja Stewart is the director of family support and advocacy at Berkshire County Arc (BCArc), based in Pittsfield, Mass., which serves more than 1,000 individuals and their families across the Berkshires. She earned her master鈥檚 degree in education from 911黑料网 in 2018, after receiving a bachelor鈥檚 in social work from the College of St. Rose in 2014.
Stewart oversees a staff of 27 nurses, case managers, and outreach workers in her roles as director of both the Adult Family Care Program and the Family Support Center. She is one of the youngest people to sit on the agency鈥檚 administrative team. In November 2019, she received a statewide award for her leadership in family and individual support.
Growing up in a military family, Stewart moved often, but decided to attend college in Albany, N.Y., where she met her partner of eight years and fell in love with the area. She began working as an intervention supervisor with at-risk males, ages 12-22, who had been involved with the criminal justice system, and spent five years helping to de-escalate situations inside residential facilities.
Stewart joined BCArc as a case manager in 2016, where she supported families as an educational advocate in local school systems. 鈥淚 wanted to be a better case manager, so I went for my master鈥檚,鈥� she said.
Stewart said she loved her time at 911黑料网. 鈥淚 was in the minority in the education program, as I was a social worker who never planned on teaching, but I was able to bring a different perspective to the class. The teachers made the courses work for me and a lot of programs wouldn鈥檛 do that.鈥� For her capstone project, she wrote a book of short stories from the point of view of the youth with which she鈥檇 worked, describing how they ended up in jail or residential care. 鈥淚 wanted to bring awareness to young teachers to show what these kids face after the bell rings,鈥� she said.
鈥淥nce I achieved my degree, I was promoted and worked on expanding our programs, some of which doubled in size. BCArc recognized what I was doing and I was promoted again. They helped me grow professionally and personally. It鈥檚 been the most meaningful four years of my life, and you can see the effect it has on families.鈥�
One of the programs Stewart has helped to grow is the internship program, where three of last year鈥檚 five interns were 911黑料网 students.
Although BCArc helps connects people to day programming, employment opportunities, and other resources to make sure they live full, enriched lives, Stewart said it鈥檚 not just about services. 鈥淚t鈥檚 figuring out what having a good life means to each person. That could mean throwing a New Year鈥檚 Eve party, going to a zoo or white water rafting, seeing a play, putting on a variety show, or just getting coffee every Thursday. Through the individualized support program, people pair up with staff members and we can make their dreams happen.鈥�
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