Her selection from among many qualified applicants demonstrates her impressive experience, commitment, hard work, and service to transition-age youth from underserved minority populations.
Ursery currently works full-time as a residential care provider and crisis specialist, providing group therapy, medication management, and treatment plans for clients who struggle with suicidal ideation, mental impairment, and/or substance use.
She also volunteers as a court appointed special advocate with the Kalamazoo Family Court. In that role, she investigates, assesses, and identifies resources for children assigned to her, and reports their needs, wishes, and outcomes to the court. In addition, she is an active member and volunteer of the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health and the National Alliance of Mental Illness, where she works with families coping with mental illness.
“My overall goal in working in the mental health field is to help transform the lives of individuals that are disenfranchised and marginalized, especially people of color, through advocacy,” says Ursery. “I firmly believe my role…will be to help provide transitional youth and vulnerable populations with a firm sense of empowerment over their life.”
As an NBCC MFP-AC Fellow, Ursery will receive an $11,000 tuition stipend. All of her costs will be covered for the May 2015 MFP orientation meeting, where she will be recognized. In accepting the fellowship, Ursery also commits to a minimum of two years working with adolescents in transition after her graduation.