Behavioral Health and Human Services Alumni Stay Connected

Since approximately 2015, Community College of Philadelphia has maintained a close relationship with One Day at a Time (ODAAT), a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization. For more than 40 years, ODAAT has offered drug and alcohol services to individuals seeking shelter and support in their recovery efforts. The organization also provides HIV/AIDS prevention education, homeless shelter services, violence prevention, youth mentoring and more.

Ebony Gardner, LCSW, the organization’s clinical director, saw an opportunity to work directly with community college students when she first started at ODAAT, which prompted her to reach out to CCP’s Behavioral Health and Human Services program. “It's always been a passion of mine to help people, and when I got here, I saw an opportunity to host interns in some of our departments,” Ebony said. “I supervise our HIV programming, and a few of our CCP interns have supported that program, as well as our shelter sites.”

That’s how Ebony originally became connected to Alita Mapp, who currently serves as ODAAT’s assistant director of Program Operations. Alita was one of Ebony’s first interns, working in case management for the HIV program and at the food bank. Applying case management curriculum to her intern work at ODAAT, Alita soon discovered her niche. “[The BHHS curriculum] allows you to see what you would like to do in this field.  When I took the case management class I was like, I love this, I want to do this.” Alita went on to graduate from CCP in 2017.

When Alita received an email from Kerry Arnold, a BHHS assistant professor, saying that Methodist Services was hiring RAs for their transitional

 housing program, she applied and got the job. She was promoted within two to three months. “I was given my own program to run, a permanent supportive housing program, as a case manager because of the work I did as an RA and the wealth of knowledge and experience I gained being at CCP,” she said. “CCP is the best, hands down.”

Now, Alita is back at ODAAT as a full-time staff member, doing medical billing, managing programs and more. “CCP changed my life,” she said. “Before CCP, I was working job to job, trying to figure it out. ... It gave me purpose. It ignited my passion.”

Lakyeea Homsey, a 2008 CCP graduate, also described her experience with the College as “life changing.” More specifically, she spoke of an early experience in the BHHS program. “My first class was Helping Professions with Dr. Terrilyn Hickman, and that class changed my life. She changed my life.”

When Lakeeya first started at CCP, she didn’t realize that financial success was possible for folks in the behavioral health field. But Dr. Hickman taught her that wasn’t true. “She said, ‘Don't let anyone say social workers cannot make money.’ And she wrote her name on the board, and she wrote her credentials: LCS,” Lakeeya said. In that first class with Dr. Hickman, Lakeeya learned exactly what she needed to do to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Now, Lakeeya is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker herself, a therapist, motivational speaker and a wellness coach. And she considers herself quite financially successful. Lakeeya said that she owes much of her success to CCP. “They gave me the strength, the self-esteem and the confidence I needed,” Lakeeya said.

CCP students are on the forefront of recovery efforts in Philadelphia. The BHHS program provides a unique opportunity for students to take on vital work experience prior to graduation, guided by staff and faculty that continue to maintain relationships with pertinent organizations throughout the city. The BHHS department has been applauded time and time again for their ability to connect with and inspire students, using compassion as a tool for teaching.

Ebony, Alita, and Lakeeya currently serve on an advisory board for the BHHS program, giving back to the College and helping the program respond to the needs of the community at large.