By Mindy Ayala-Diaz
98ĚĂ and the Norfolk Navy Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) have completed the first full year of a partnership that pairs graduate counseling students with one of the region’s most vital military support organizations, offering real-world experience while addressing the mental health needs of military families.
A conversation in 2023 between Tammi Dice, Ph.D., dean of the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, and 98ĚĂ alumna Capt. Janet Days, ’99, following Days’ visit to campus, laid the groundwork for the partnership. Dr. Dice said they saw a clear need for more culturally aware, community-embedded mental health support for service members and their families.
From there, faculty in the Department of Counseling and Human Services — Brittany G. Suggs, Ph.D., Jeffry Moe, Ph.D. and Jamie Hartsfield — teamed up with the Navy FFSC team to build something new and innovative, Suggs said.
The partnership officially launched in fall 2024 with two graduate counseling students and two undergraduate human services students completing fieldwork hours at FFSC. Two more graduate counseling practicum students followed in spring 2025. Throughout the year, these Monarchs were embedded in the Norfolk FFSC Team, participating in everything from crisis response and group therapy to treatment planning and events.
"Our goal is to communicate our recognition of the diverse and multifaceted needs of military communities,” said Suggs, the internship coordinator for 98ĚĂ’s counseling department “We aim for our learners to become helping professionals who are well-equipped and capable of serving as supportive agents for military service members and their families. To our knowledge, this pilot collaboration between 98ĚĂ and Norfolk FFSC is one of the first of its kind in the local area."
The Human Services internship serves as the final experience in the undergraduate program. The internship consists of a 400-hour practical field experience, with a minimum of 100 hours dedicated to direct client service.
According to Suggs, the goal is to expand the collaboration to include a 600-hour counseling internship placement and potentially grow to other Fleet and Family centers in the region. Currently, graduate counseling students complete 100 practicum hours, with hopes that some counseling learners may eventually fulfill the full 700-hour clinical training requirement within the FFSC system.
The feedback has been positive from all sides. Adam Lefkowitz, FFSC’s Counseling, Advocacy and Prevention program manager, shared: “They were part of our team — and I was flooded with amazing compliments about their work.”
Student feedback has been equally glowing.
“It really felt like the organization was putting their best foot forward to make me feel like I was a part of their family,” said Richard Orcutt, a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling who participated in the internship program. “From their myriad programs to the exceptional staff, Fleet and Family is a truly fantastic practicum experience.”
The significance of the experience wasn’t lost on FFSC clinicians, either.
"As the largest Naval base in the world, Navy Station Norfolk presents a unique environment where diverse cultures and complex challenges create invaluable learning opportunities for mental health and clinical students,” said Michelle Chambers, a licensed clinical social worker with FFSC. “It has been truly rewarding to witness the empathy, compassion, competence and eagerness to learn displayed by the students I have had the privilege to mentor and supervise. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of future stewards of the profession."
As this innovative partnership grows, it's providing more than just practicum placements — it's shaping a workforce ready to serve and support a vital part of the Hampton Roads community.
“This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity,” said Tamara Waisome Scurry, a FFSC clinician. “It has bridged the gap between education and practice, and for me as a supervisor, it has reignited my passion for the profession.”