MAKING A DIFFERENCE – Tarsha Magee

Tarsha Magee, DSW, LCSW-BACS

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Access Health Louisiana

ON HOW SHE SERVES STUDENTS

Tarsha Magee is the licensed clinical social worker at Luling Elementary’s School Based Health Center. She started the job in July, and said that her first year in the role has been fulfilling and rewarding.

“I conduct individual sessions and group sessions,” she said. “I do assessments and treatment planning for things like anger management, anxiety and depression, grief and loss and behavior concerns. On a busy day I see nine students. The school has been very welcoming to me, and they’ve provided me a great space to serve the students here.”

Magee said she is at the school five days a week, which provides needed consistency for the students.

“I service students who need more intensive therapy,” she said. “I think having social workers like me on campus for therapy is very necessary because all of the mental health challenges that students and parents experience … things like the recent tornadoes and hurricanes and then there are students who have suffered loss and need grief and trauma groups.”

ON WHAT SHE LOVES ABOUT THE JOB

Magee is a first-generation graduate and doctorate student. She obtained her master’s degree from Southern University and her doctorate from Tulane University.

“My favorite thing is being able to see students get healthier and get better … to see where they started at and how they’ve grown,” she said. “Healthy families are healthy community members, and the fact that I’m here every day for the whole year really serves the students well. I am very grateful that I was chosen to be here to be able to contribute to the well-being of these students and their families. I am very fortunate.”