Resume - University of Michigan School of Social Work

Tim Polakowski
trpolakowski@gmail.com
OBJECTIVE
Seeking a position in geriatric social work in case management or interpersonal practice and provides me
professional growth.
EDUCATION
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Master of Social Work; Concentrating in Interpersonal Practice and Aging and Families, Expected April
2011
• GPA: 3.9 • Geriatric Scholar • Dean’s Scholar
Manchester College, North Manchester, IN
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Spanish; Minor in Gerontology, May 2008
• GPA: 3.95
• Summa Cum Laude
Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Fall 2005 – Spring 2006
Courses in Spanish language, literature, and culture
AWARDS
• 2008 Richard J. Wood Student Community Commitment Award, Indiana Campus Compact
• 2007-2008 Capstone Senior Leadership Award, Manchester College
• 2006-2007 Outstanding Student Leader of the Year Award, Manchester College
FELLOWSHIPS
Fulbright Scholar, South Korea English Teaching Assistantship, July 2008 – August 2009
• Instructed English and American culture at Gakri Middle School in Ochang, South Korea
• Studied Korean health care and gerontology issues when time and language ability allowed
SOCIAL WORK RELATED EXPERIENCE
Fox Run Retirement Community, MSW Intern, May 2009 – Present
• Conduct assessment, care planning, and dischare planning in a continuum-of-care setting
• Facilitate grief support groups and programming activities for the residents
• Plan and facilitate care conferences for residents and families with the interdisciplinary team
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Graduate Student Staff Assistant, August 2009 – Present
• Recruit and connect with prospective students of all backgrounds
• Promote the field of Social Work through various recruiting endeavors
Bridging Communities, Inc., MSW Intern, August 2009 – April 2009
• Provided case management services to impoverished elders of southwest Detroit
• Offered bilingual and translation services to clients when needed
• Coauthored a large grant of $90,000 to fund an intergenerational program
Dr. Jorge Prieto Family Medical Center, BSW Intern, February 2008 – April 2008
• Provided medical social work services to clients in a Hispanic community of western Chicago
• Aided struggling clients to understand and pay medical bills, child support, etc.
• Completed client-centered psychosocial assessments and intervention plans
Manchester College, Resource Manual Author/Intern, May 2007 – August 2007
• Authored a hundred page resource manual, written in Spanish, for Hispanics of local communities
• Preformed a needs assessment by networked with scores of local Hispanics and community agencies
• Obtained grants and scholarships in the amout of $4,000 for materials and labor

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Student Union, President, University of Michigan School of Social Work, January 2010 – Present
• Chair and organize two weekly meetings comprised of students and school administrators
• Revise the current constitution and policies governing the organization
• Develop the budget and enact policies to ensure financial stability
• Plan social events to increase unity among the student body
Manchester Activities Council, President, Manchester College, September 2006 – December 2007
• Planned and led weekly meetings
• Played an integral part of the planning the logistics of the campus events
• Reenergized and united the entire student body through our programming
• Encouraged teamwork and open communication amongst the group
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Teaching English as a Second Language, Tutor, N. Manchester, IN, February 2005 – December 2007
• Assisted in language classes to local Hispanics and the annual fundraiser
TREK Camp, Counselor, Northern Illinois Hospice, Rockford, IL, July 2006 and 2007
• Attended a weekend retreat to mentor grieving children
Northern Illinois Hospice, Intern, Rockford, IL, May 2006 – August 2006
• Shadowed an LCSW on home visits to counsel the terminally ill and their families
Peabody Nursing Home, Volunteer, North Manchester, IN, September 2004 – May 2005
• Visited with residents on a weekly basis and assisted them with household chores
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE
Edna Gates Conference on Alzheimer’s Care, Troy, MI, November 2009
• Gained knowledge about therapeutic interventions and attuned professional conferences
AATP Counseling Clients with Anti-Social Personality Disorder, Oaklawn, IL, March 2008
• Completed a specialized, daylong seminar worth 6 CEU’s
Creative & Effective Interventions for Survivors of Trauma, Onarga Academy, April 2006
• Gained knowledge about therapeutic interventions and attuned professional conferences
SKILLS
Computer: Proficient in Windows and Macintosh operating systems, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft
Word, Microsoft Moviemaker, Macintosh iMovie, and Internet research; Adequate in Microsoft Excel
Languages: Fluent in both verbal and written Spanish
Basic skills in verbal and written Korean

I can and I will. I think all social workers should have this attitude. I firmly believe the
following: “Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” Meaningful life, nor
effective social work, is something that effortlessly happens. As a professional, I will be thorough
in my work and always strive for solutions. I understand that there will be difficult times, but that is
when I will force myself to work harder and be more creative.
It is about helping people. I, along with many other social workers, have the skills suitable for all
levels of social change—the people skills to help individuals and their families, the problemsolving
skills to find solutions, the organizational skills to help people collaborate, the management
skills to affect systems and policies. No matter the work I do, I will never forget to work with
people-in-environment; understanding adversity, empowering inner abilities, celebrating diversity,
and admiring resiliency.
I bring dedication, innovation, and receptivity. I do not thoroughly enjoy experiences until I am
fully immersed, until I can take ownership in them. This often leads various leadership roles. I
enjoy creative innovation—not in that every idea that I create is brand new, but in that I have been
successful at innovating new from the old. I believe that the only absolute in social work is that
there is no absolute. I see benefits of staying in the gray area, hope to pull others there, and am
pleasantly surprised when people have to pull me back to it. I can and I will... create.
Please view my attached resume for my educational and professional experiences displaying my
passion and dedication for geriatric social work.