As a Ph.D. student in the Social Welfare program, Daniel Jimenez is looking to make a difference in LGBTQ communities, and he is using education to get there.
Jimenez is from Castroville, a small migrant town in Central California. The product of five generations of Mexican-Americans migrant farm workers, he has seen how gang violence, drug use, poverty and oppression affect the community. He also understands first-hand how homophobia can affect individuals in that
“Growing up I knew I was different. I tried to hide who I was in fear of putting my family and myself at risk of harm or embarrassment for being gay. I grew up seeing injustice all around at different levels,” Jimenez said. “The struggles and hardships endured, propelled and inspired me to pursue a profession that would fight for underserved populations.”
After obtaining his bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University, Jimenez moved to Miami Beach. Motivated by the university’s diverse population, Jimenez applied to FIU feeling that a master’s degree in social work would enhance his knowledgeable in the populations that he was most dedicated in assisting.
“Through education and clinical training at FIU, I have researched the prevalence in mental health issues due to disparities that make the LBGTQ population statistically more vulnerable than the general population,” continued Jimenez.
Jimenez is already making his mark. During his clinical internship for his master’s degree he worked at a residential drug and rehabilitation facility. On his first day, he observed an altercation between patients that led him to realize that the facility needed specific services to address LGBTQ needs, so he started them himself.
“I proposed creating an evidence-based LGBTQ group and decided to incorporate psychoeducation into my intervention to share beneficial information regarding the LGBTQ population. My goal was to provide a safe space for LBGTQ individuals and allies to confidentially discuss their personal struggles, trauma, and reasons for using,” Jimenez explained. “We received many individuals who had never came out as LGBTQ to anyone prior to participating in the group. I felt personally responsible for ensuring all patients with a desire to participate felt comfortable and welcomed. I wanted to cohesively incorporate substance use and LGBTQ issues that might have led to substance use.”
Now, as a Ph.D. student in the Social Welfare program at Stempel College, Jimenez is excelling. In working with the LGBTQ population, he has seen disparities such as drug use, suicidal ideation and intent, social isolation, job discrimination, physical threats, as well as overall intolerance.
His goal to create a dissertation that focuses on the LGBTQ population. One of my areas of interest is within sex work and the male to female transsexual population. I wish to further understand the factors surrounding sex work and the interventions that can be applied to limit risk of harm and the necessity for sex work. Another area of interest is within male to male sex work within the immigrant population.
“I would like to further my education in policy through my Ph.D. program to advocate for these populations on a macro level, as well as other underserved ones,” he said. “After graduating I would like to pursue a career in Academia. It is my hope while in the social welfare program to gain the knowledge and expertise in order to make meaningful contributions to the profession and society.”