Palm Health Foundation proudly supports paid practicum experiences for FAU’s Sandler School of Social Work MSW students.

Through this support, we’re removing financial barriers to education and growing a capable behavioral health workforce in our community.

One of FAU’s outstanding MSW students, Amy Ferguson, was placed with the Palm Health Foundation team for her learning, and provided a reflection on her experience: 

APRIL 27, 2026- The scholarship I received from Palm Health Foundation to support my education was nothing short of life-changing and allowed me to focus on my education and practicum placement at Palm Health Foundation. About a decade ago, I lost both of my parents just three months apart. My mother was diagnosed with stage IV glioblastoma, a rapidly advancing brain cancer, and I became an early caregiver in my early twenties. Shortly after, I experienced the sudden loss of my father, followed by my mother’s passing.

This period of my life profoundly shaped me. While it brought deep loss, it also forced me to ask how I wanted to live moving forward. Ultimately, this experience led me to pursue an education and career in social work. When I began my graduate studies, I imagined moving toward an area that directly reflected my singular experience, not yet realizing that my internship placement would come to reflect so much more. While the scholarship provided support in funding my education, the time I spent as an intern with Palm Health Foundation was truly invaluable. Being a part of an organization that funds brain research is also deeply personal to me. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that FAU was on the consent agenda and that PHF would be funding research toward glioblastoma, which felt like a full-circle moment for me.

My year at Palm Health Foundation was spent working alongside the brilliant Dr. Heather DeStefano, where I gained insight into how nonprofit organizations and foundations function—particularly through the lens of trust-based philanthropy, donor relations, and funding rooted in equity and justice. I learned to hold multiple truths at once, becoming aware of looming policy changes that may impact the funding landscape of Palm Beach County while still maintaining a hopeful vision for the future. I also developed the ability to apply systems-level thinking to individuals, programs, and initiatives, shaping my perspective as a future practitioner and cultivating a deeper understanding of how environments influence both communities and individuals.

I participated in community initiatives like Healthier Boynton Beach, engaging with caregivers in my local community. During Train the Brain, I attended a neuroarts caregiver support group and together we painted and moved. I learned how invaluable support and community are, and how even brief moments of respite and joy with others can be nourishing. I also participated in qualitative research, assisting in the facilitation of a sensemaking session, which was one of the highlights of my internship. Taking minutes for the Community Investment Committee, I was able to watch meeting recordings and listen to the generative discussions that took place amongst community leaders. I learned about community resources, local non-profit organizations, and grant making.

The most valuable piece of knowledge I received from my time at Palm Health Foundation is the importance of holding a vision of the future, even if it can’t be seen or is yet to be known, especially in our changing world and the power of knowledge and shared language that ripples throughout networks, evoking not only community change but change from within. One of the skills I am walking away with is leadership and what that looks like.

I learned that human relationships and the distribution of knowledge are central to change. During my time at Palm Health Foundation, I was exposed to a number of mentors, resources, and knowledge, as well as the PHF framework centered on complexity and how to navigate and convene for change in uncertain times. This meant leaning into curiosity, compassion, and humility, and being open to what emerges within the environment based on a combination of factors ultimately out of our control. I am certain that much of the change that has taken place has been from the inside out and has changed the way I look at the world. I’ve learned that by applying the PHF framework, we can transcend our ways of thinking and begin to think more relationally and communally, moving toward collaboration—leaning into trust and presence to guide us and create global change.

In a world where we can be consumed by the endless news cycle, we sometimes simply forget the good that is happening—how simple acts of kindness can truly change someone’s life.

Growing up in Palm Beach County, I’ve seen many changes take place. When places change, it’s the people who hold the history and ultimately the vision of a bright future. As I move forward in my social work career, I remain forever grateful for the opportunity to be mentored by such innovative and kind individuals and will carry that with me as I continue serving the community that raised me.

Palm Health Foundation is committed to strengthening our local healthcare workforce. Amy’s story is a shining example of our investment in the future leaders of our community’s health advancement.