• Child Welfare practice area: Permanency: foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I spent the last 15+ years working in advocacy and political campaigns, with a specific focus on social policy (health care, education, food programs). I have always been service-oriented, it was one of the main reasons why I started working in politics. I had a desire to change programs and policies that would benefit the largest number of people. However, it became almost impossible to accomplish anything because of the way politics is these days.

I want to be a support system for children in foster care and to help parents attain the goal of permanency. I have two young children and have been able to connect with parents and foster parents on the unique challenges of parenthood.”

I started my M.S.W. at VCU in 2024; while the field of social work and human services is relatively new to me, my background in social policy gives me a strong baseline to understand and advocate for policies that benefit the clients we serve, particularly in the child welfare space. 

I did my generalist field placement at Charlottesville DSS in foster care, which gave me an opportunity to provide case management and assessment, and to better understand the court process. I am also doing my clinical field placement at Charlottesville DSS with the prevention team, while I am working full-time as a family services specialist in foster care. 

I am a regular volunteer with a Charlottesville-based nonprofit, Stepping Stone. This organization provides essential items (diapers, clothes, car seats) to under-resourced families in the community with children from ages birth through 3.

I have two young children who keep me very busy. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family, running, hiking, yoga and cooking. 

• Child Welfare practice area: In-home services/family preservation; permanency: foster care; permanency: adoption
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

As a dedicated Child Welfare Stipend student with a strong social work foundation, I began my studies at Brightpoint University and continued at VCU, where I will earn my B.S.W. I gained valuable experience during my practicum at Chesterfield County Colonial Heights DSS, focusing on child welfare and CPS investigations. I am currently interning there with the permanency/foster care team. I have also volunteered as a court protective order advocate and as a victim advocate with SMART (Sexual Assault Multidisciplinary Action Response Team), both through Safe Harbor.

My interest in child welfare stems from my experiences as an adopted individual, fueling my passion for supporting children and families in foster care and adoption. I've witnessed the effects of trauma and the importance of strong support systems.”

Driven by my personal journey as an adopted individual, I am passionate about supporting families in foster care and adoption services. I focus on preventing child abuse and addressing the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). My commitment to trauma-informed care and social justice fuels my drive to create positive change for children and families.

With a love of outdoor activities and a background as a pastry chef, I bring a balanced perspective to my work. I am eager to apply my education and experience in a child welfare role to help shape a brighter future for those I serve.

• Child Welfare practice area: Permanency: foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I am a Richmond, Virginia, native and a proud product of Richmond Public Schools. As a first-generation college graduate, I earned my bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University in 2024 and am currently pursuing my graduate degree in social work. My professional and field experiences reflect a strong commitment to child welfare and supporting vulnerable populations.

Growing up as a minority in my community, I saw firsthand how systemic challenges impact children and families. Child welfare allows me to combine my lived experience with my commitment to protecting and supporting vulnerable children and families.” 

I have interned with ForKids in Chesapeake, Virginia, a homeless shelter serving families, where I gained valuable experience working with children and families facing housing instability. I currently work with children in a residential treatment facility, an experience that has deeply shaped my interest in child welfare and trauma-informed care, particularly within marginalized communities. 

During my first year of graduate school, I completed my field placement as a geriatric social work intern at Hermitage Richmond. I am now in my second-year field placement with the Richmond City Department of Social Services in the foster care unit, further strengthening my passion for supporting children and families involved in the child welfare system.

I am also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, which has reinforced my commitment to service, advocacy, and social justice. Outside of work and school, I enjoy attending church, traveling and spending quality time with family and friends. My long-term goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families.

• Child Welfare practice area: Permanency: foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I received my B.S.W. from Virginia Commonwealth University and will be graduating in May 2026 with my M.S.W.. My undergraduate field placement was with Rams in Recovery, which provided me with a foundational knowledge regarding substance use recovery and treatment. This knowledge is extremely relevant to child welfare practice and has helped me when working with this population at my field practicum at Henrico Department of Social Services in the foster care unit.

My interest in child welfare is founded upon the idea that all it takes is one caring and present adult to make a difference in a child's life.”

It is in an honor to witness biological parents make positive changes in their lives once they receive the necessary resources to do so. Achieving reunification takes an extreme amount of dedication and resiliency from parents. Having a role in preserving family units provides me with a strong sense of purpose and passion. Other times, I've seen kinship families rise to the occasion and be the familiar support that foster children need. Every family presents with different needs and strengths, and outcomes vary, but supporting children and families during such a challenging time in their lives is a great privilege. 

Outside of school and work I enjoy spending time with friends and family, staying active and reading. I also find much joy from theater and the arts, which I believe can build both community and awareness. My participation as a teenager in a community theater play about foster care was my first introduction to the vast and unjust experiences that foster children face, which sparked my passion for working in child welfare.

• Child Welfare practice area:  In-home services/family preservation
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

My undergraduate degree is in government and international politics with a minor in legal studies. My social work field placements have been at Communities in Schools and a local Department of Social Services.  

I believe that healthy, supported children are more likely to become healthy supportive adults."

My professional and educational experiences have given me a deep understanding of how profoundly childhood experiences shape a person’s emotional and developmental well-being. I have witnessed how trauma, lack of support and instability can affect outcomes for children and families. I have also seen how timely intervention and trauma-informed services can create long-lasting change for individuals, families and communities. 

These experiences strengthened my passion for working with children and families to help address their unique needs, support their growth as a family unit and promote intergenerational healing. Outside of work and school, I enjoy spending time with loved ones, listening to music and dancing the day/night away.

• Child Welfare practice area: In-home services/family preservation; permanency: foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Northern region

I have years of experience helping families move through crises to stability, by employing holistic strength-based approaches that improve health outcomes and quality of life. I graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a B.A. in communications and hold a Community Health Worker, CHW certification from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Health.

Getting compensated to assist people in improving their life is like being rewarded twice.”

Presently, I’m in the last stretch of completing a Master of  Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. I am gaining more experience within the child welfare arena through my field placement at the Department of Social Services in Arlington as a foster case worker.    

I enjoy working with youth and children but also enjoy collaborating with older adults, and have an increased interest in the areas of hospice and geriatrics. Outside of work and school, I enjoy spending quality time with family and visiting the outdoors, where I like to mountain bike and hike.

• Child Welfare practice area: In-home services/family preservation
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Northern region

I hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration, master’s in public administration and am currently completing my final semester of the Master of Social Work program. My work experience includes working with at-risk youth, children and families in mental and behavioral health services and at the Department of Social Services.

My desire to be a social worker goes beyond acquiring qualifications. I want to effect positive change in my community, where minority representation matters.”

My strengths include coaching, collaborating and coordinating with various stakeholders. I am detail-oriented, highly enthusiastic and committed to working with children and families. I enjoy working as part of a team to achieve a common goal, enhancing organizational growth and development. 

My current field placement is at Fredericksburg Department of Social Services, where I'm gaining hands-on experience in child welfare and family services. Prior to DSS, I was placed at Bridging The Gap Family Services.

My areas of practice interest include family preservation and in-home services. In my future social work practice, I envision addressing and making a positive impact by listening and creating a safe environment that fosters open communication to help children and families access available information and resources. 

I also have experience volunteering with my church community as a staff parish relations committee board member and a parent mentor facilitator for teenagers. 

I enjoy traveling, cooking, listening to afro beats music and spending quality time with my family.

• Child Welfare practice area: In-home services/family preservation
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I am a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) student and emerging clinician who approaches social work as both a calling and a responsibility. I plan to pursue my Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential following graduation, with the intention of working alongside children, adolescents and families whose lives are shaped by systemic inequities.

Child welfare is meaningful to me because it requires practitioners to hold complexity with care.”

I completed my Bachelor of Arts in sociology at Southern New Hampshire University in August 2024, and as a first-generation college student, I am constantly learning how to navigate academic and professional spaces that were not built with people like me in mind. Much of my growth has come through trial, reflection and persistence. 

During my first semester of graduate training, I was offered a position at my first field placement, an experience that affirmed my place in this field and strengthened my trust in my developing clinical voice. My field work has centered on child welfare and family-serving systems, where I have seen both the harm caused by rigid, punitive structures and the possibility for healing when care is rooted in relationship, humility and accountability.

My interest in child welfare is grounded in a justice-oriented commitment to protecting children while also honoring family integrity and resisting practices that disproportionately harm Black and marginalized families. I am particularly drawn to trauma-informed care, adolescent mental health and family preservation work that centers dignity, voice and long-term healing rather than compliance or surveillance. 

Alongside my academic and professional training, I remain deeply connected to holistic and community-based forms of healing. I have practiced Reiki since 2018 and am a Level 3 Usui Reiki Master. This practice serves as a personal outlet that helps me recharge and remain grounded in my spare time, which I view as complementary to clinical social work, since it supports nervous system regulation, emotional safety and sustainability in helping work. 

Outside of work and school, I prioritize reflection, restoration and creative care as essential practices. I strive to show up in this field with honesty, humility and a deep respect for lived experience. I am committed to justice-centered practice that affirms the inherent dignity and worth of every person and family I serve.

• Child Welfare practice area: In-home services/family preservation; permanency: foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Valley or Central region

With an educational background in sociology and social work, I am a committed lifelong learner dedicated to strengths-based practice and child safety. I believe true healing occurs when families are empowered to lead their own reunification through self-determination.

I chose child welfare because rather than 'monitor' families, I’m interested in actively partnering with them to dismantle cycles of trauma.”

My professional foundation is built on internships with Harrisonburg/Rockingham DSS and Charlottesville DSS, where I gained experience in Virginia-specific documentation, multidisciplinary collaboration and trauma-informed care. Through my volunteer work with Blue Ridge Foster Love, I have developed skills in resource navigation. 

I plan on pursuing licensure to better serve children impacted by adverse childhood experiences. Recognizing that effective advocacy requires resilience, I prioritize self-care rooted in spiritual growth and community connection.

• Child Welfare practice area: In-home services/family preservation
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

My first experience in child welfare-related work was as a research assistant on a project examining child welfare worker retention. In this role, I have explored factors such as burnout, compassion fatigue and perceived support from coworkers and supervisors. This work has broadened my understanding of the importance of self‑care in this field and highlighted the value of strong relationships with colleagues and agency partners.  

I am committed to meeting families where they are to access the tools and supports that promote safety and stability. I believe with the right support, families can stay together.”

It also deepened my appreciation for professional support networks and healthy organizational cultures. With this insight, I have developed a strong desire to collaborate and build connections with community partners and other child welfare professionals, knowing that these relationships ultimately strengthen my ability to support the families I serve.

Through my field placements at local DSS agencies, I have had the unique opportunity to work across multiple departments, including in‑home services, foster care and child protective services. I have especially enjoyed my work in in‑home services, where I have more opportunities to use clinical skills. 

I am particularly interested in motivational interviewing, cognitive‑behavioral strategies and solution‑focused approaches to help clients identify their strengths and work toward their goals. I value collaborative practice and enjoy partnering with families to build plans that reflect their priorities and uncover their capabilities.

• Child Welfare practice area: In-home services/family preservation; permanency: foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I am a social worker with a strong interest in child welfare and trauma-informed practice. I am currently in the process of earning my undergraduate degree in social work and gaining hands-on experience at Richmond DSS, where I work with children and families impacted by trauma, foster care and systemic inequities.

Even though you may not be able to get the results that you desire, there is always strength in vocalizing your professional opinion.”

My practice is grounded in ethical, culturally responsive and equity-centered approaches that prioritize family strengths and child well-being. Outside of work and school, I value time with my daughter and family and self-care practices that support balance and sustainability in the field.

• Child Welfare practice area: In-home services/family preservation
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I am a passionate future social worker. I finished my Bachelor of Social Work at VCU in May 2025 and continued to pursue my Master of Social Work degree with an expected graduation of August 2026. I did a year-long internship with Hopewell Social Services working with child protective services but shadowed in-home services and foster care.

My parents chose to foster before they had my siblings, so growing up I saw how important child welfare work is.”

I am a current foster care intern with Henrico County Social Services until August 2026. After being exposed to several parts of the child welfare system, my interest is in prevention work/in-home services. Over the years I have had many wonderful volunteer opportunities at FeedMore, OAR of Richmond and Communities in Schools. 

Outside of school and work, I have a number of hobbies that allow me to channel my creativity. I love plants, art, photography, crochet, music and cooking. I plan to stay in the social work field for the duration of my career and believe that a balance of hobbies and self-care will allow me to successfully do so.

• Child Welfare practice area: In-home services/family preservation; permanency: foster care; permanency: adoption
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Eastern region

My background and work experience lie within promoting and supporting the safety of children in the child welfare system. Prior to that, I gained experience in the field of mental health support for adults. I earned my bachelor’s degree at Old Dominion University, where I majored in human services/counseling with a minor in communications.

It’s important for families to feel seen, heard and acknowledged when expressing their thoughts, beliefs and desires for their family." 

My field placement experiences have ranged from substance abuse treatment facilities, youth residential programs, youth mentoring initiatives and social services agencies. I look forward to continuing my work in child welfare with a focus on permanency and long-term stability for children. I have volunteered in office management for elementary schools, food pantries and domestic violence shelters. My long-term goal is to transition into adult counseling that focuses on self-improvement, enhancing relationships, life change and treating trauma. 

Outside of work and school, I enjoy traveling, discovering new places and engaging in visually creative activities. I am passionate about the spirituality, advocacy and policy reform areas of social work.

• Child Welfare practice area: Permanency: foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Northern region

I am an M.S.W. student with a strong commitment to child welfare, family safety and trauma-informed practice. I completed field placements at the Army Community Service Family Advocacy Program, working with military families impacted by domestic violence, abuse and neglect, and at Fairfax County Department of Family Services within the foster care and adoption unit.

I am motivated by the belief that childhood experiences have a lasting impact across the lifespan. All children deserve to feel safe, supported and loved, so they can thrive into adulthood.”

In these roles, I’ve gained hands-on experience with case management, including safety and service planning, case staffing meetings, court-related documentation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and trauma-informed engagement with children and caregivers. I also volunteer as a court appointed special advocate (CASA), which allows me to strengthen my advocacy skills for children involved in the child welfare system. My professional interests include foster care, kinship care, youth aging out of care and culturally responsive practice. 

Outside of work and school, I enjoy community engagement, creative projects and spending time outdoors, which help to create balance and resilience in my practice.

• Child Welfare practice area: Permanency: foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I grew up in Texas and moved as a young adult to Virginia, where I began a career in education and nonprofit public assistance. During this time, I’ve had ample chances to see the strength of our communities and the beauty of our interdependence. I majored in English during my undergraduate studies, and I like to think that those communication skills carry into my current work. I value the chance to learn about clients' stories and to help them recognize self-narratives of strength and resilience.

I'm motivated by the tendency toward growth and healing we all inherently carry. I continue to be amazed by what people can accomplish when offered support and understanding."

My practicum placements at Albemarle County Department of Social Services and ReadyKids refined my understanding of children’s development and provided a firm foundation for assisting children and their families via case work and clinical services. I chose this work to better embody the authenticity and anti-oppressive values that I admire in others.