Areas of Expertise
- Working with children and families involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems
- Staff training on self-care, secondary trauma, de-escalation strategies, trauma-informed care and professional boundaries
Education
- B.S. in human development, counseling, family studies, University of Rhode Island (1996)
- MSW, Rhode Island College (2001)
What's My Why?
It is exciting to interact with students interested in the field of social work, one that I am grateful to be part of. Since 2001, I have worked as a clinical social worker for the Rhode Island Training School, Rhode Island’s juvenile detention facility, serving as the school social worker since 2005. Prior to that, I worked for Tides Family Services, a community-based social service agency, in multiple capacities for six years, working with youth and families involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
I have a passion for advocating for the rights of those involved in the child welfare and justice systems, combating disproportionality, clinical intervention, staff training and peer support. I served as the co-lead of the DCYF peer support team for four years and I remain a member of the team, providing crisis intervention, peer support, group intervention and training for staff on self-care, burnout and vicarious trauma. I am a licensed independent social worker and a certified school social worker through the Rhode Island Department of Education.