Hey everyone! My Name is Jillian Vanderneut and I am a student in Adelphi University’s Infant Mental Health-Developmental Practice Master’s program. I was born and raised on Long Island, and remain close to the Garden City campus.

I transferred to Adelphi University as a junior during my undergraduate career. I graduated in May 2018 with my Bachelor of Social Work with a Minor in Children and Families. My passion for working with children, and their families has been a part of me even before beginning college. I discovered the Child Life profession while attending Towson University during my Freshman year. This changed my life for the better, and when I decided to transfer home, I knew what I wanted to do next. I went on to become a Project Volunteer at NYU Winthrop Hospital’s Child Life Department, and enrolled in Adelphi University’s Social Work Program. As I worked to complete my BSW degree, I had the opportunity to work with underprivileged youth of Long Island in multiple capacities, including foster care, care management and running recreational programs. I also teach dance at a local studio near my house, where I work with youth ages 2-17 (my favorite place to be in the whole wide world).

The Infant Mental Health-Developmental Practice program fell into my lap as I approached my final semester of undergrad. I knew from the moment I read about it, that it was exactly where I wanted to be. Although it has been only a few months since the start of the program, the experience has been invigorating and exciting thus far. In the program, I get the opportunity to learn from some of the top professionals of this growing field, and I could not ask for anything better than that. The staff and faculty within the program give you the opportunity to not only learn, but also to work in this field of practice, and to learn about yourself through reflective supervision, which is woven throughout the whole program.   Every day I find a new way to appreciate the dynamic between a caregiver and child, and I could not be more grateful for this experience thus far.

As I continue my journey, I will be completing my integrative project, essentially my thesis on Childhood Medical Trauma and PTSD in pediatric cancer patients and their families. The word “excited” does not even begin to describe how I feel about continuing on this journey in my education. After finishing this program, I will be enrolling in the Advanced Standing Masters of Social Work Program here at Adelphi University and will work to receive my LMSW.