We are excited to welcome Lindsay Ditlow, who is joining us as one of our 2024-2025 interns. Lindsay grew up in Dayton, Ohio. She received her undergraduate degree in Organizational Psychology at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Lindsay is currently a Graduate student at West Chester University of Pennsylvania working towards her master’s degree in social work (MSW).
What inspired you to choose your major?
I chose to major in social work because I have a passion for supporting children and families in my community. I was initially drawn to the field with an interest in becoming an animal assisted therapist, however, once I began my MSW I recognized I have a strong interest in working directly with clients while also supporting an organization through program development, collaborating with volunteers, and creating opportunities for vulnerable populations. For me, social work means having a career that will offer support to vulnerable populations, empowering others through self-advocacy, participating in community engagement opportunities, and promoting social change through intentional programing.
What projects will you do during your internship at Touchstone Foundation?
I will be working with our Programs Manager on initiatives like our Student Symposium (on September 27th at IU13), mental health career scholarships, Mental Health Access Assistance, and clinical fellowships.
How will these projects prepare you for the future?
These projects will allow me to have a role in advancing career pathways for students with an interest in a career in mental health services. As a Programs Intern, I will support a wide variety of initiatives that will further my knowledge in program development and implementation. Projects that I will contribute to at Touchstone will allow me to begin my career goal of promoting awareness of mental health programming and increasing access to mental healthcare in Lancaster County.
What do you hope to learn through this internship?
I hope to learn more about the needs of our community members, particularly parents and children. Understanding what our community members would benefit from and, ultimately, offering a pathway to the tools for them to live a more fulfilling life is something I hope to learn more about. From talking with community members and service providers to developing or implementing a program, I hope to learn more about creating opportunities for others so that they can feel supported, empowered, and safe every day.
Tell us something interesting or exciting about yourself?
Something important to know about me is that I love animals and am passionate about animal welfare. I have certification in Natural Lifemanship, an evidence-based mental health program that is founded on the science of human-animal relationships and attachment theory. I enjoy learning about alternative solutions to traditional talk therapy and hope to offer animal-assisted or nature-based programming to children and families at some point in my career.
