Upon working nonstop to keep up with the community’s growing demand for vital human services — from financial and medical assistance to housing and food services — the Monmouth County Division of Social Services (DSS) staff turned to its Monmouth ACTS network for additional support.
Monmouth ACTS, an innovative public-private partnership, connects county divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services with local community organizations to improve access to services.
Monmouth ACTS leaders saw an opportunity to strengthen the DSS workforce while supporting aspiring social service professionals.
In partnership with Brookdale Community College, Monmouth County launched Career Pathways, a unique initiative that provides employment opportunities in the Monmouth County DSS for students enrolled in the college’s human services program. It aims to provide students with real-world experience through a hands-on, paid internship while helping attract the next generation of human service professionals through education, training, professional growth opportunities and the opportunity to apply for full-time employment. Now, the program has successfully been in place for three semesters.
“We had six interns eager to come on board for the program last spring,” said Jennifer Dingler, social work supervisor at DSS.
The Career Pathways interns gained hands-on experience in income maintenance services, social work and field work.
“I developed a weekly rotation calendar, so the interns could rotate through our full range of work,” explained Dingler. “Some days, they processed SNAP applications and assisted in the call center; on others, they reviewed case management files and shadowed us in the field. At the end of the semester, we conducted a feedback questionnaire so we could improve the experience for future interns.”
Freehold resident Erica Conover participated in the Career Pathways program while studying at Brookdale Community College. Following her internship and earning her associate’s degree, she transferred to Rutgers University, where she anticipates graduating in 2026.
“When I was a receptionist at a behavioral health clinic, I saw the clear need for human services in the community. That’s when I knew that I wanted to get into this field,” she said.
During her internship, Conover spent two days a week immersed in hands-on learning. She visited day programs, observed how social workers interacted with their clients and shadowed her mentors during field work.
“The program showed me how broad social work really is,” she said. “At the county, you get to see what the different roles are and how they connect. It was great to have mentors who cared not just about my work but about me as a person.”
For Conover, she discovered that her true passion was to become an individual therapist, though her time at the county helped strengthen her résumé and solidify her career plans.
“The Career Pathways partnership is a perfect example of why Monmouth ACTS exists,” said Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “It brought Brookdale Community College and the Monmouth County Division of Social Services together to create a true win-win scenario — for students, our county workforce and its future generation and the community at large. We’re proud to see Monmouth ACTS making a real difference in Monmouth County.”
