USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging Logo

Engaging Communities, Advancing Research

University of Southern California Logo
University of Southern California Logo
  • About
    • About Us
    • Congressman Edward R. Roybal
    • Accessibility
  • Research
    • Funded Research Projects
    • Community Partnerships
  • News
    • Publications
    • Latest News
    • Media
  • Our People
    • Faculty
    • Staff
    • Doctoral Students
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Board
  • USC Roybal Twitter
  • USC Roybal Facebook Page
donate
Menu
  • About
    • About Us
    • Congressman Edward R. Roybal
    • Accessibility
  • Research
    • Funded Research Projects
    • Community Partnerships
  • News
    • Publications
    • Latest News
    • Media
  • Our People
    • Faculty
    • Staff
    • Doctoral Students
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Board
https://roybal.usc.edu

USC Collaboration Fosters Future Social Workers

  • News
  • USC Collaboration Fosters Future Social Workers
Share this page: Share this page on TwitterShare this page on FacebookEmail
February 21, 2014

By Maya Meinert

CHAS students
CHAS students Marlene Isidoro, left, Gabriela Ramos and Alicia Gonzalez present a research project on bullying in their internship class.

Cynthia Lemus knows what it’s like to care for an ill, elderly family member. The emotional, physical and financial toll can be nearly unbearable.

“My grandma was really ill, and I didn’t like to see her like that,” said Lemus, an 18-year-old high school senior. “While taking care of her with my mom, I realized that other families [in my community] also go through this, or worse, and I wanted to be someone in their lives to help them out and let them know they’re not alone.”

Stories such as Lemus’ are why educators reached out to the USC School of Social Work to consult on the establishment of a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) high school focused on providing an understanding of real-life issues and preparing students to become their community’s health care givers.

The result is the Community Health Advocates School (CHAS) at the Augustus Hawkins Schools for Community Action campus in South Los Angeles. Augustus Hawkins also includes schools focused on technology and social entrepreneurship, and together with CHAS, the campus provides educational experiences designed to prepare students for relevant careers in Los Angeles that would benefit the individual student and the greater community.

USC School of Social Work Logo

USC Montgomery Ross Fisher Building
669 W. 34th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411
Phone: (213) 740-1887
Email: uscroybal@usc.edu

  • About
  • Funded Research Projects
  • Publications
  • News
Follow
  • USC Roybal Facebook Page
  • USC Roybal Twitter

© 2025 University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Subscribe to USC Roybal Institute Newsletter

× Error! Select at least one newsletter to subscribe to.