Learning by doing: Wayne State MSW student awarded for on-the-ground practicum impact
Megan Porath, a project coordinator for the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice (CBHJ) at the Wayne State University School of Social Work, has been awarded $15,000 from the Michigan Behavioral Health Internship Stipend Program (MI-BHISP). The program aims to increase the number of qualified behavioral health professionals in Michigan by providing stipends to support qualified students who are completing unpaid internships.
“Internships are where classroom learning comes to life. They’re essential for helping students develop the real-world skills, confidence, and perspective needed to become effective and compassionate social workers,” noted WSU Social Work Director of Practicum Education Chandra Carr. “Megan’s ability to integrate direct practice with systems-level work is a powerful example of how learning by doing experiences shape well-rounded, mission-driven professionals.”
Porath is currently a student in the School of Social Work’s master’s program and is pursuing a concentration in interpersonal practice. Although she received a bachelor's in English, Porath began her career working for several years in financial services. While she felt she was providing good work for her clients, 
Porath felt that something was missing in areas that are truly important to her and her yearning to do meaningful work that aligned more closely with her personal strengths and values.
Much of what she felt was missing has been found in her work as an intern with the Southfield, Michigan-based Journey to Healing, a nonprofit organization that focuses on holistic wellness and healing from trauma and grief. In her internship, Porath is conducting group therapy sessions at shelters, providing after-school programming including social-emotional learning workshops for children, and conducting one-on-one wellness check-ins.
“When I tell people what I’m doing, they often ask if this type of work is emotionally draining or challenging,” Porath said. “In the spaces that I’ve worked in so far, I’ve found it really reaffirming to know that these people are going to be ok because they are clearly trying and they’re getting help and they’re showing up for themselves. We might be talking about serious topics, but we’re able to joke around while having meaningful conversations. I really see the vitality and strength in my clients, and it’s been very rewarding.”
To support her own mental health and well-being, Porath turns to music, something she says has been instrumental in her own healing journey. As a full-time student, a full-time employee at the CBHJ and working several hours per week for her internship, Porath’s songwriting, poetry, and performances as a member of the Americana band Constance & The Reminders help to keep her own mental health in check.
“Songwriting and poetry have been very important tools for the healing journey that I’m on because it enables me - in a safe and contained way - to express some really difficult things that I’ve experienced and healed from,” she said. “And it’s really empowering to tell those stories in a way that resonates with me and potentially with other people.”
Within the master's program, Porath is pursuing a concentration in interpersonal practice. With an interest in both micro and macro social work, she is gaining experience in both areas - through her macro-level work at the CBHJ, where she contributes to projects aimed at systemic change, and through her micro-level internship at Journey to Healing, where she works directly with individuals in need of support.
I was drawn to Wayne State because of its location in Detroit and the opportunity to learn alongside others who are engaged with the city. Being here allows us to explore the unique challenges and opportunities that shape Detroit, which isn’t something offered in the same way by any other social work program in the state. That distinctive focus was a major factor in my decision and remains one of the program’s greatest strengths. – Megan Porath
Porath’s ability to gain real-world experience in both direct practice and systemic reform reflects Wayne State’s College to Career initiative and its commitment to providing students with hands-on learning opportunities that bridge classroom knowledge with professional application. Her stipend award further aligns with the university’s Prosperity Agenda, which prioritizes reducing financial barriers for students pursuing careers in high-demand fields, ensuring that aspiring behavioral health professionals like Porath have the support they need to enter and strengthen Michigan’s workforce.
About the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice
The Center for Behavioral Health and Justice at the Wayne State University School of Social Work delivers actionable data, person‐centered research and evaluation, and collaborative technical assistance at the behavioral health/criminal legal intersection to empower community partners to adopt high‐impact care solutions. We envision a society that prevents, deflects, and diverts people with behavioral health concerns from the criminal legal continuum to appropriate care settings as a means to optimize individual and community wellbeing.
Writer: Sarah Freeman and Editor: Betsy Vanderstelt