The Realistic Challenges of Social Work Among Poverty Level Residents

The Mohawk Valley consists of six counties; Schoharie, Otsego, Montgomery, Fulton, Herkimer, and Oneida County and with all of these counties, Oneida County has the largest population of more than 227,000. At the same time, the county also has the highest percentage of poverty, as being 15.7 percent.

Studies have found addiction to be a causal factor in poverty; poverty and addiction being interrelated to each other (Luoman et al. 2022). Three links between poverty and addiction include early exposure to addictive substances, instigating risk of addiction in adulthood, people living in poverty being more undoubtedly to have addictive demeanor, and substance abuse on a consistent and steady basis leads to poverty (Luoman et al. 2022).

Most who attend Oneida Center’s Adult Day Health Care program reside within Oneida County and fall below the poverty line. Since March is National Social Workers Month, it's essential to learn of the challenges and rewards of this critical position in today's healthcare world. As the program's social worker and graduate student working towards her LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) degree, Ms. Ashlee Tyo is highly respected. She lives by a set of standards and responsibilities when working with clients in the broader society.

"It is my responsibility to promote the well-being of these clients and be committed to them," said Tyo. "There are several key areas that social workers take seriously, such as cultural competence, privacy, confidentiality, referrals for services, and self-determination, which ensures that I remain competent in my work. While remaining ethically responsible to clients, social workers are also ethically responsible for the social welfare of the society, community and the environment."

Ms. Tyo addresses a particular case at Oneida Center's Adult Day Care Program that defines the importance of what the facility does. Such is the case of the Greniers. Robert Genier, Sr., 68, and his wife, Yvonne, 58, are a happily married couple attending the Adult Day Care Program for over a year. Mr. Genier started the program and, a little while later, encouraged his wife to join him in attendance. They have been together for 42 years, and Robert Sr. and Yvonne have persevered in their endeavors medically, emotionally, mentally, and physically, with the support of the Adult Day Care program. Living below the poverty line, they’ve endured various situations that have compelled them to question their potential to prosper. As a couple, their challenges have strengthened them both and as individuals. Recently, addiction has raised havoc on their relationship. The couple has worked diligently with the Adult Day Program's social worker, Ashlee Tyo, to obtain community resources to get better and improve their relationship.

Ms. Tyo assisted the couple individually and as a couple to find the resources they now use to maintain sobriety. Mr. Genier now attends an outpatient treatment service receiving ongoing assistance with his addiction. The couple have continued their connection in a healthy manner and happily as they celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary on March 1, 2025.

With great improvements in their relationship and communication following receiving resources they need in order to better themselves as individuals, such as taking advantage of outpatient drug therapy, connections to care coordination agencies, and their commitment to work with Ms. Tyo, Robert Sr. recently asked Yvonne to marry him again at the facility with some of their close family and friends. Yvonne said yes and the couple worked diligently with Ashlee and the rest of the team to plan an intimate, but formal vow renewal ceremony that they can celebrate and remember for the rest of their lives. The ceremony was held on March 7th, 2025 and with help of the facility's “donation closet” together with staff donations, the couple celebrated their day to remember, with flowers, music and new outfits.

The Geniers are a true example of how Oneida County folks can always better themselves if they take advantage of the many resources that both private institutions and county branches offer. Additionally, social work is all about addressing these resources to families and individuals so people can ultimately better themselves, striving to live their lives.

(This story and perspective was co-written with Ms. Ashlee Tyo)


Ashlee Tyo is a Social Worker with Oneida Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Kemble Street in Utica. She is a graduate student working towards her Masters in Social Work with her goal to become a LMSW . Beginning as a Direct Support Professional at ARC Herkimer in Herkimer, New York since 2014, Ms. Tyo was also a Care Manager at the Herkimer County Chapter NYSARC – LIFEPlan CCO NY from 2017 to 2024. She then moved onto to social work at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing in Illion, New York, from 2018 to 2019. Since June 2024, Ms. Tyo has been a social worker at Oneida Center Adult Day Care.