LEXINGTON, Ky. — After completing 30 hours of coursework and 500 internship hours over the course of two years, Tamara Vest got to walk across the big stage on Friday and graduated with a Master's Degree in social work from the University of Kentucky.
Vest’s motivation is rooted in her passion to help others and to create a better life for herself after a difficult childhood.
“Being able to come out on the other side and having so much success as a foster alumni, it makes that experience just so much more powerful and guiding for me so it even helps the healing process of it as well,” said Vest.
Her father, who was her primary caregiver, passed away from cancer when she was only 9-years-old.
“I had, you know, kind of a disadvantaged childhood, if you will, just to kind of sum it all up and, you know, I had multiple placements after I lost a parent and I went into foster care in Kentucky and experienced lots of things in that,” said Vest.
The lack of emotional and financial support she received in the foster care system led her to want to see changes. She got a Bachelor’s Degree in social work.
“That’s what really drew me to the field, is, you know, my past and the amount of opportunities that I could take with it, you know, there’s so many avenues,” said Vest. “And so I loved it so much during undergrad that I decided I wanted to master it.”
After she completed her Bachelor’s, she worked with Voices of the Commonwealth, where she focused on legislation and policy, and was also a caseworker.
While completing her master’s, she became a practicum student with Kentucky Youth Advocates under the supervision of Shannon Moody, the chief of policy and strategy.
“Our focus is on policy and making systems change through research and data and through the, you know, voices of folks who have experience,” said Moody.
Moody has seen Vest’s passion and dedication shine through.
“She’s real fiery. She is an advocate to her core, I think, and that’s what I really appreciate about her,” said Moody.
Vest was hired by the organization in February.
“My role as a policy and advocacy analyst is to take on projects that really help to educate the public and educate agencies on foster care experiences and elevate the voices of people who have that experience,” said Vest.
She will also be working on child welfare policy during the legislative session. Now that Vest has completed her master’s, she is looking forward to doing work that will help kids and families in the state prosper.