School of Social Work - Simmons College

SIMMONS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK 7
A Meaningful Place:
Matthew McCall ’07 M.S.W./Urban Leadership Certificate Program
Senior Consultant, Workforce Learning and Development, The Home for Little Wanderers, Boston, Massachusetts
A 2007 graduate, Matthew McCall works as a senior consultant advising on clinical
practices and services at the Home for Little Wanderers, New England’s largest child
and family agency.
“Simmons changed me into someone who not only can handle the responsibility
for agency-wide clinical training and oversight, but also program management and
operation,” he says. “I’m able to develop a vision for the Home.”
Learning to lead: According to McCall, the SSW’s
innovative curriculum on children and families and
the Urban Leadership Certificate Program’s emphasis
on facilitating change ably prepared him for a
position in the agency’s administration. As part of
his management responsibilities, he’s stepped in
to oversee a residential treatment program through
a time of transition, established philosophies of
treatment, and forged community and educational
partnerships.
“To help kids, you also need to be effective with
families and communities,” says McCall. “Simmons
gave me that specialized skill set.”
An invaluable resource: McCall retains strong
bonds to Simmons. He’s referred families to classmates
at other agencies and called up faculty members
Gary Bailey and Michael Melendez for insight
into practice issues. A SSW librarian helped McCall
locate some difficult-to-find research — and mailed
it. “Even though I’ve graduated, Simmons remains
committed to me and the work I’m doing,” he says.
Daily inspiration: McCall praises the SSW for
encouraging students to think hard about what it
is that motivates them — and to carry their answer
forward into their careers. McCall’s hasn’t changed:
“Despite everything that they’ve experienced, the
kids at the Home are so resilient and enthusiastic,”
he says. “If I can be part of that — even in a small
way — what an incredible thing to do with my life.”