Meet the intern: Chelsie Klone shares her MSW journey with the Trust

This article references suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, dial 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Trevor Project, which provides help and suicide-prevention resources for LGBTQ youth, is 1-866-488-7386.

This fall, the Natrona Collective Health Trust was thrilled to welcome Chelsie Klone as an MSW intern on our program team. Now, just a couple of months into her internship, we’re not quite sure what we ever did without her! 

We caught up with Chelsie for a few minutes—between her school, work, internship, and family commitments—to learn more about her as she embarks on the final semester of her educational journey. 

First, tell us a little about yourself personally. 

I am a Wyoming girl at heart. I was born and raised here and take great pride in being able to raise my children in the community that raised me. 

Tell us about your education journey and how you plan to use your degree. 

I like to joke that going back to school has been my mid-life crisis. During the COVID lockdown, a dear friend lost his battle with mental illness and addiction. It was the third suicide in my life within a two-year time frame, and I felt helpless. I decided to go back to school, with two very small children at home, to pursue a degree that would allow me to work with individuals struggling with their mental health. 

Five years later, I am entering the final semester of the Master of Social Work program at the University of Wyoming at Casper. After graduation, I intend to apply for my provisional license and work toward full licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to provide mental health treatment in the Casper community. 

What made you choose this path? 

Looking back, I think I have always been a social worker at heart. My mother taught me the importance of kindness and helping others in any way I could. I was the kid on the playground who made friends with everyone despite our differences, and I’ve always had a soft spot for people who are struggling. 

As I got older, I began to notice how addiction and trauma affected my friends and community members. I tried to help, but I didn’t have the proper tools. I realized I could pursue an education that would equip me with the tools to make a real difference—without having to leave Casper. 

The last five years have been intense, to say the least, but I’ve kept my eyes on the end goal. It makes me emotional to think about where I was when I made the decision to go back to school and where I am now. It’s truly been an incredible journey. 

You’ve been with the Trust for a couple of months now. What have you learned so far? Has anything surprised you? What’s been the most rewarding? 

Everything about the Trust is intriguing to me; I have never experienced anything like this before. The work the Trust does in Natrona County is invaluable, but this work wouldn’t be possible without a team of incredibly smart, kind, and curious individuals. What has surprised me most is how driven the team is to make Natrona County a happier, healthier place—and how kind and welcoming everyone has been. 

It has been amazing to watch the way Trust team members interact with nonprofit organizations in Natrona County. So much of social work education focuses on building a solid understanding of privilege and power. Having the opportunity to do my practicum hours in an environment like the Trust has allowed me to see how privilege and power can also be used for good and to open the door for systemic change. 

Reflecting on my first semester at the Trust, the most rewarding experience has been witnessing how the organization brings community members together—across professions and lived experiences—to collaborate on solving some of Natrona County’s most pressing issues. As a community, we really are stronger together, and the Trust wholeheartedly fosters a space for unity. 

When you’re not working or studying, what do you do to relax and find joy? 

My family brings me the most joy. Spending time with my daughters, Parker and Avery, and my spouse, Tyler, replenishes my soul. We enjoy camping, fishing, playing board games, crafting, reading books, and spending time with Luna, our adorable boxer dog, and Zeke, our bearded dragon. Without my family’s support, my educational journey wouldn’t have been possible.