DHS Social Workers are Silent Superheroes: A Conversation with Clarence Craig
 DHS Social Worker Clarence Craig advises a colleague on a strategy.
Native Washingtonian and DHS Social Worker Clarence Craig has worked to improve the lives of District residents for thirty-one years. A graduate of Catholic and Howard Universities, he began his career at DHS in the Adult Protective Services (APS) unit immediately after college and says that he always knew he wanted to help people.
The APS unit investigates reports of alleged cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation by third parties, and self-neglect of vulnerable adults 18 years of age or older. APS provides protective services to reduce or eliminate the risk of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation.
Craig says that he never left APS in all of these years because he is afforded the opportunity to change and sometimes even save peoples’ lives. “One of my most memorable cases occurred last year when a client was suffering abuse at the hands of his caregiver. We received the tip from one of his co-workers who observed welts on his neck and face,” said Craig. Read more here.
MLK Alternative Transportation and Service Plan
Mary Kennedy* was born in the largest, most northwestern state in all of the United States. Her beautiful hometown is equal distance from New York City, Tokyo, and Berlin. She made the long journey to the District of Columbia from Anchorage, Alaska fleeing a Domestic Violence incident. After a string of mishaps, she is currently residing in low barrier, emergency shelter, and had been using the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (MLK) as a refuge during the day while the shelter is closed.
“After breakfast at SOME [So Others Might Eat] I used to go to the library to read books and use computers. Now I read and use the computers at the Day Center. I also like the lunch there and talking to the case managers,” replied Mary when asked about her alternative day plans since the MLK closure. Read more here.
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