Fayetteville NC VA social worker recognized for going above and beyond

Meet Tracy Lewis, licensed clinical social worker. She is a native of Goldsboro, and graduate of Fayetteville State University and East Carolina University. She is a Face of the VA.

Tracy Lewis’ desire to help people led her to the social work profession. Her compassion and work ethic are why she is among the best of her peers as the Fayetteville NC VA Coastal Health Care System Social Worker of the Year.

Lewis, a Goldsboro, N.C., native, is a Patient Aligned Clinical Team (PACT) social worker at the Goldsboro Community Based Outpatient Clinic, where she has served Veterans and their families since 2013 when the clinic opened. PACT is a team of health professionals working collaboratively with the patient to provide for the patient's healthcare needs.

“She [Lewis] clearly represents the value and drive of a SW to serve others and she can speak clearly and fluidly about the role of a PACT social worker,” said Courtney Jenkins-Norman, PACT Social Work Supervisor.

A career in social work wasn’t her first choice. “I thought I wanted to be an RN [registered nurse] but I just thought that I could do more as a social worker.”

Prior to joining the Department of Veterans Affairs, Lewis worked as a social worker for a local hospital and in the North Carolina prison system, where she some timed worked with Veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Why VA?

“My dad was a Vietnam Vet and I saw what he went through trying to get the services that he needed,” Lewis said when asked why she choose the VA. “I was an advocate from him and wanted to do that for other Veterans.”

Rural roads to city streets

She supports Veterans in some of the more rural locations in the region--locations with fewer resources and a greater distance from the available resources.

“The population served by the Goldsboro CBOC often resides in rural areas with very limited resources, thus requiring additional measures to meet their needs,” said Theresa Morgan Heath, Caregiver Support Program Manager and Lewis’ former supervisor.

Lewis recalled a story of the relationship she established with a rural, elderly Veteran and his wife connecting them with resources to assist with fixing their driveway. “The carport was messed up so bad, he wasn’t able to go outside in his wheelchair,” said Lewis.  “I reached out to community organizations to assist in areas that the VA was unable to. And I continue to help them.”

And while the resources in the city are often more plentiful, Lewis says that ensuring that people are connected and understand the needs of Veterans is very important.

“Working with the community can be a challenge,” she said. “But a lot depends on your rapport. It’s about being open, listening, networking, and building relationships.

“Here in Goldsboro, I am very connected to the community. I can just pick up the phone and call the mayor if I need to,” she added with a smile.

According to her former supervisor, she is very community oriented. “Ms. Lewis is very active in the local community after hours and networks with community organizations to ensure the needs of the veterans in the community are known and supported,” said Heath.

Her networking know-how has paid off in a big way for some Veterans. Lewis worked with the City of Goldsboro to have public transit fares reduced—first by half and then eliminated. “Our Vets can now ride free, and I am proud that I played a role in making that happen.

“Knowing that I have helped someone and made a difference in their life makes social work rewarding.”