• Child Welfare practice area: Prevention (in-home services)
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I am a North Carolina native. However, since my move to Virginia in 2013 to study dance & choreography at Virginia Commonwealth University, I have called the city of Richmond home. Loving the culturally diverse, artistically contemporary, and uniquely preserved historic aspects of the city, I am focused on the empowerment of and advocacy for the beautiful Black, Brown and Indigenous communities within and surrounding the metro area.

“The CWSP at VCU has helped me understand what it actually means to be a part of a family and young person’s life. Often families do not want the system's intervention, so learning to identify our power and privilege as child welfare workers in the lives of families helps establish true connection while reminding us that we're all human.”

Through my previous work at the Department of Social Services, current work at Voices for Virginia's Children, and lived experience as a transracial adoptee, I seek to address and critique the issues of displacement that can be seen in child welfare work, while graciously supporting families and young people who experience the child welfare system. As an advocate of family preservation at all costs, I am excited to be an integral part of the in-home/prevention providers within a Central Regional DSS locality. 

My love of my community and the continued fight for protection and liberation of Black, Brown and Indigenous people motivates and empowers me to do this work and do it in a way that amplifies lived experiences, challenges ideologies and centers justice.

• Child Welfare practice area: Prevention (in-home services)
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Northern region

I graduated from Chatham University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a secondary major in Psychology in May 2021. During my time as an undergraduate student I served as a treatment specialist at MHY Family Services in Mars, Pennsylvania, and completed my field placement in the same position. 

The CWSP at VCU has encouraged me to advocate for myself and take ownership of my education, which is a valuable leadership skill.”

During that time, I was responsible for documentation, direct treatment and milieu management, as well as report writing. Following graduation, I worked as a probation counselor both at Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center and Fairfax County Shelter Care.

As an advanced standing M.S.W. student at Virginia Commonwealth University, Elena completed a field placement with the City of Alexandria  in foster care. I was privileged to work with experienced foster care specialists, participate in family partnership meetings, take on cases, complete and maintain documentation and much more. 

I am motivated to work in child welfare, particularly within the realm of prevention, because doing so will allow me to gain a holistic understanding of the system and ways it may be supported or improved. Outside of work and school, I enjoy fitness, yoga and anything chocolate.

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

I am a VCU student working toward receiving my Master of Social Work. I have had the opportunity to intern as a program specialist at Assisting Families of Inmates. I was able to co-facilitate and execute the curriculum for the milk and cookies children’s program at a local elementary school, with students who have a parent or caregiver incarcerated. 

As a bilingual student, I am able to help advocate for Spanish-speaking families and ease their journey through the child welfare system.” 

I am currently completing my clinical practicum as a foster care worker at Hopewell Department of Social Services. Having the opportunity to work in foster care and adoption has made my interest in social work grow, as it has shown me how much impact a person can make in a child's life. It is a place where many of our children have endured trauma, and being able to play a positive part in their life is what gives purpose to continue working in child welfare. 

Outside of work and school, I love to read, watch shows and spend time with those who make me happy. I also love to catch up on sleep!

• Child Welfare practice area: Foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Eastern region

I am achieving a dream of obtaining my degree in clinical social work. I passed on the opportunity about 22 years ago, after graduating with my Bachelor of Sociology from Old Dominion University. I had been accepted into Norfolk State University's M.S.W. program. However, I was also a new mother, in need of full-time employment and a caretaker to my mother. 

I believe that children deserve an opportunity to thrive in life. Their early years are the most vital, and they need caregivers to encourage their potential, while ensuring their safety, health and well-being.”

I was able to obtain employment with the Virginia Department of Social Services, serving two localities in Portsmouth and Newport News. I served in the program areas of adult protective services and foster care. It was challenging, but rewarding. I have met some wonderful people and gained a few lifelong friends. 

I was able to take graduate courses in healthcare administration, as I became exposed to the medical side of social work. I obtained my M.B.A. in healthcare management in 2017. A unique opportunity arose, and I pursued its calling. I was accepted into VCU's M.S.W. Program. I was also granted the opportunity to become a part of the Child Welfare Stipend Program a year later. 

I have learned so much and have been able to apply my learnings during my clinical practicum with James City County DHS. I have had the opportunity to grow further through enhancing my public speaking and appreciating the value of multidisciplinary teams. It has not been an easy ride, as I lost my mother and best friend in the first year of the program. However, she provided her blessing before she left and encouraged me to give it my all.

• Child Welfare practice area: Prevention (in-home services)
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I graduated with a B.S.W. from JMU, where I volunteered with various agencies working with the homeless population, pets, older adults, people with disabilities, families and children. These places included Mercy House, Open Doors, Generations Crossing, Salvation Army, Rockingham County SPCA, Remote Area Medical. 

You could say my niche found me! I was a post-undergraduate student when I needed a job; the only jobs available at the time were in child welfare. I ended up falling in love with the work and stuck with it.”

After graduation in 2018, I was a therapeutic day treatment counselor, an intensive in-home Counselor, and a Child Protective Services investigator and in-home (ongoing) worker in Harrisonburg, Virginia, until 2021. My work experience has led to further certifications, such as a Level 1 Certified Gottman Method clinician and a licensed qualified mental health professional for children.

In 2021, I entered the VCU Master of Social Work Program, where I am the current president of the Master of Social Work Student Association. Through my education, I completed a practicum at St. Andrew’s Elementary School, where I conducted large and small group and individual counseling for students, and worked closely with the administration board in the decision making toward goals, values and mission of the school. I am now completing my clinical practicum at Henrico County Department of Social Services, where I am growing under the teachings of CPS investigators, foster care workers and in-home workers until graduation May 2023. 

My primary interest is in CPS and prevention. Outside of work/school, I enjoy studying various languages, shopping, thrifting, spending time with friends and family, and renovating furniture.

• Child Welfare practice area: Prevention (in-home services), adoption, foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I got interested in doing social work during my gap year after graduating college. I did a two-year service with City Year Americorps. I was able to see families and kids who interacted firsthand with social workers and what a positive impact they made.

The program has encouraged me to speak up and advocate more for myself. It has been great to know that the CSWP advisors want you to succeed and will work with you to achieve your goals.”

Having the opportunity to do both of my field practicums at different local departments of social services, both in foster care and prevention, has made me more confident as a social worker. I have expanded my knowledge of the child welfare system and I feel prepared for the workforce. 

I am very passionate about the prevention side of social services, along with Child Protective Services. Being adopted myself just furthers my interest in this field and the role of social workers.

• Child Welfare practice area: Prevention (in-home services), adoption, foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Hampton Roads

I am currently employed at the Hampton Department of Human Services as a case manager. I am also completing my social work field practicum there in their child welfare unit. 

The CWSP has empowered me to be an advocate for change and speak up for vulnerable populations who may not have the ability to speak up for themselves during challenging times.”

I have an educational background in human services, and I am currently pursuing a social work degree with a clinical concentration. I became interested in child welfare work while working for Hampton's Human Services Department. Later in my career, I found I wanted to dive more into the field as I was helping citizens maintain eligibility for SNAP and Medicaid. 

As my master's program comes to an end, I am interested in working in the prevention or in-home services unit at my agency. I believe all families have strengths, and with the help of resources and services, children will be able to better function when they remain within their families of origin. The city of Hampton offers many opportunities for their employees to engage in volunteer activities that will better help the community. I have volunteered for events at the Hampton Coliseum and shelter duty for the homeless population. 

Outside of school and work, I enjoy going to my local YMCA and participating in their workout classes, such as total body fitness, cardio kickboxing, aqua pilates and group cycling.

• Child Welfare practice area: Prevention (in-home services), adoption
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Northern region

Professionally, I have always worked with children, whether as a nanny or a counselor. I have worked since I was 16 and have been given several opportunities to meet new people. I received my undergraduate degree in social work from Christopher Newport University, with a minor in women and gender studies. I am currently obtaining my Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. 

I have been able to incorporate my knowledge from my classes at VCU into my field placement. This knowledge has enabled me to bring a fresh perspective  into my agency to better advocate for the children in child welfare.”

I have worked with supervised visitation in Hampton, Virginia, and am currently completing my clinical practicum with foster care in Loudoun County. I am working with a range of clients – children, biological parents and foster parents. 

In my undergraduate field placement, I was able to supervise visitation with the child and biological parent. These children ranged from all ages. I was also able to run a domestic violence offenders support group, which provided me with a unique experience and a new population I had never worked with previously. 

I have always loved working with children and knew I had a passion for helping others for as long as I can remember. I have always had a soft spot for caring for children who needed a little extra support, and wanted to give them a safe space. This passion grew when I began my practicum this past year. I have seen some traumatic things that no child should ever have to go through. I want to be able to support children who need certain resources and be their advocate throughout life. 

I have volunteered with Families in Transition throughout my time as in undergrad. This volunteer experience was a group that went into the Hampton Roads community and provided not only educational support but also a place for children to be a kid and take a break. I have also been on mission trips that have helped different populations build their community and create a helpful environment. 

Outside of school and work, I love to be active, whether that be in the gym or playing a sport. I am passionate about photography and am always trying to capture the unique aspect of each individual. I constantly surround myself with others and love to be social!

• Child Welfare practice area: Prevention (in-home services), adoption, foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

I am a first-generation, college-educated woman, born in Argentina, who immigrated to the USA as a teenager. I am in the process of earning a Master of Social Work with a school social work certificate and hold a Master in the Art of Teaching. I am also a licensed Virginia teacher and certified English/Spanish translator. 

The CWSP at VCU has allowed me to work with vulnerable populations like the Latino/Hispanic community, families with parents experiencing substance use disorders and homes experiencing generational engagement with DSS. I've been able to advocate for these families by cultivating collaborative engagement between clients and court-appointed service providers – historically a fragile relationship.”

I am a recipient of the Title IV-E stipend, which has allowed me to focus on family preservation and foster care work, in addition to completing the school social work certification program at Virginia Commonwealth University. As a teacher and community activist I have a demonstrated record for designing programs, facilitating programmatic implementation, and coordinating delivery of services to families, students and clients. My passion lies with community advocacy, housing, health and education. 

I am a native Spanish speaker, comfortable working with multi-systemic departments, schools, organizations and communities, with a focus on supporting families to achieve their highest level of self-sufficiency.

• Child Welfare practice area: Prevention (in-home services), adoption, foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Northern region

I received my Bachelor of Psychology from George Mason University. I transitioned into social work, and I am pursuing my master's to advocate for children who cannot advocate for themselves yet.

The CWSP at VCU  has taught me to foster connections as a professional social worker by encouraging teamwork, having courage to ask questions and emphasizing the importance of asking for help. I have also been encouraged to make and maintain connections at VCU post-graduation. My cohort peers always support one another in our mutual experience.”

I am passionate about keeping children safe and giving them the opportunity to have a safe and memorable childhood that will determine their future. My field experience was in Fairfax County Public Schools in an elementary school, and I really enjoyed working with the children from kindergarten to sixth grade. I enjoyed working with teenage girls and giving them healthy strategies to cope with their daily home and school-related stress. 

I am now in the Department of Family Services in Fairfax County and am learning a lot about how the foster care system works in Virginia. I have a great field instructor with a wealth of knowledge and many years of experience. I am looking forward to using the skills I'm gaining during my practicums and applying them once I am out in the field with my own cases. I am looking forward to working in prevention services and helping families stay together and preventing separation in the first place. 

I volunteered at a homeless shelter a few years ago, and I really enjoyed getting to know the families that were there and learning about how the homeless shelters work. Outside of work and school I enjoy spending time with my family, my 4-year-old son and dancing. I like to live a healthy and active lifestyle and pass that on to my son. The program has encouraged me to speak up and advocate more for myself. It has been great to know that the CSWP advisors want you to succeed and will work with you to achieve your goals.

• Child Welfare practice area: Prevention (in-home services), foster care, adoption
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central region

Most of my relevant experience to social work comes from the courses and field placements I have completed throughout both the VCU B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs, along with my acceptance into the Child Welfare Stipend Program. 

The CWSP at VCU has helped me learn to engage families in a meaningful way. The opportunity to work in foster care has led to various meaningful encounters with families, especially Hispanic families, who have appreciated our shared ethnicity. I believe that connection has made children and families feel more comfortable with me.”

Before becoming a college graduate and graduate student, most of my experience with children and families has been through my jobs of babysitting/nannying and child care in the school setting. I have had interest in social work since high school, when I realized that I wanted to be the help I didn't have when I needed it. My interest in child welfare is rooted in the fact that I feel blessed to have grown up with a loving, safe and stable family/home, and I want to be able to help other children and families have that. 

Some of my volunteer work includes participating in annual walks for Alzheimer’s, food and clothes drives in my community, providing child care during foster parent support groups, and helping out with events related to children for nonprofit organizations. 

During my free time outside of school, work, practicums and family time, I like to read, dance, do my own nails, clean, listen to podcasts and hang out with my friends.

• Child Welfare practice area: Foster care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Valley region

I received my bachelor’s and master’s in elementary education from James Madison University. I was a fourth grade language arts teacher for four years. During COVID, I decided that I wanted to help children and families differently, so I began the Master of Social Work Program through VCU. 

The CWSP at VCU has always shone a light on populations that are particularly vulnerable within the child welfare system. They have taught us to look at every situation with a culturally aware lens and empathy.”

I was accepted into the Child Welfare Stipend Program for my second year of the program. My first field placement was at Riverside Family Support in Harrisonburg. At this agency, we were contracted out by local DSS agencies to help with supervised visitation, parent education and mentoring for parents and children. It was great to be able to see that side of the Child Welfare System before I began my practicum at a DSS agency. 

My placement at Albemarle County DSS has been in the foster care unit. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience there and have realized that foster care is where I want to work. I have grown immensely through both of my practicum experiences. I have always had an interest in child welfare and have realized through my placement that I am drawn to foster care. I have always worked with and volunteered with children, but now with my field practicum,, I have had more opportunities for professional social work experiences. 

When I am not at school or work, I enjoy reading, spending time with family and friends, and binge-watching TV shows.

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

I am currently in my final semester of the Master of Social Work Program at Virginia Commonwealth University and expect to graduate in May 2023. As a participant in the Child Welfare Stipend Program, I am currently completing my field practicum at the Henrico Department of Social Services, where I am working in the foster care department. 

The CWSP at VCU has helped me develop resiliency by fostering a supportive community of peers dedicated to advancing child welfare.” 

In this role I support families through client visits, assist in case management and participate in client, agency and community meetings. In my first year in the program, I completed my generalist field practicum at Charterhouse School at UMFS as a school therapist. I worked both as in-classroom support as well as meeting one on one with students to address emotional and behavioral needs and to develop learning and social skills.

I have extensive experience as a volunteer working with children. For nine years I have volunteered with Comfort Zone Camp, a weekend bereavement camp for children. I have participated in over 40 camps where I am paired one on one with a child as we participate in typical camp activities as well as group therapy sessions. For five years I have served as a volunteer mentor in a residential treatment foster care program. I meet weekly with a child to provide support and model appropriate behavior. I am currently exploring the possibility of fostering the child I have been mentoring for the past two years and have completed the foster parent training program.

In addition to working with others on mental health, I also have an interest in supporting physical and spiritual health. I am certified as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor and health coach, and am a youth fitness specialist. I have worked for two years at the YMCA teaching youth fitness classes. In addition, I am a facilitator for a meditation group that I have led for the past five years, planning and leading weekly meetings.

• Child Welfare practice area: Foster Care
• Intended Virginia region of practice: Central Region

I went into college confident in my future career as a social worker with a passion for children and families. I received my bachelor’s degree from Messiah University in 2022.

The CWSP has provided opportunities for me to share my experiences and feelings related to my social work field placement, and to emphasize the importance of self-care in order to maintain resiliency and professionalism as a social worker.”

During my sophomore year of undergrad, I had a field placement experience at The Bair Foundation, where I was introduced to the child welfare system. During the spring of my senior year, I completed my senior field practicum in Quito, Ecuador, at the Carmen Bajo Compassion Center, where I utilized my Spanish and social work skills to work with children and families in a low-income community. This experience allowed me to further develop cultural competency and to engage with diversity and difference in practice. I also gained macro skills as I worked with the agency to help provide support for the developing community. 

Upon returning from Ecuador and graduating from Messiah University, I started grad school at VCU with the Child Welfare Stipend Program. As part of the 12-month advanced standing format, I am completing my field placement at Henrico Department of Social Services. 

Although I am learning under the supervision of a foster care specialist, this placement has allowed me to learn about Child Protective Services, in-home services, foster care and adoption. Through this internship, I have gained an immense amount of knowledge of the child welfare system and have gained confidence in case management and other related skills by working as a multidisciplinary team to help children and families find safety, permanency and well-being.