James Bell Associates

In this fifth and final episode, Drs. Barczyk and Bouchard talk with Katelynn Jarrells, M.S.W., Program Head and Associate Professor of Human Services and Mental Health at Brightpoint Community College, and Naomi Reddish, M.S.W., Administrator of Community-Engaged Child and Family Well-Being Initiatives and Assistant Professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work. Katelynn and Naomi share their paths to careers in social work and how programs such as the one at Brightpoint Community College can be a pathway to a 4-year degree program. They also discuss how 4-year universities can partner with community colleges to support students interested in child welfare careers, and challenges to consider when choosing community college as a career gateway. This podcast series was produced and distributed by James Bell Associates on behalf of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under contract number HHSP233201500133I. The opinions and ideas expressed in the podcasts are those of the panelists and do not necessarily represent the official views, policies, or positions of the Children’s Bureau, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In this fourth episode, Drs. Barczyk and Bouchard talk with Austin Griffiths, Ph.D., CSW, and Jonny Silva, D.S.W., to discover their pathways to entering a career in child welfare. They also discuss the benefits of—and barriers to—implementing a multidisciplinary approach to child welfare workforce training and education and Dr. Griffiths’ research on the child welfare workforce. Listeners will learn about opportunities offered at the LifeSkills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research at Western Kentucky University. This podcast series was produced and distributed by James Bell Associates on behalf of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under contract number HHSP233201500133I. The opinions and ideas expressed in the podcasts are those of the panelists and do not necessarily represent the official views, policies, or positions of the Children’s Bureau, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In this third episode, Drs. Barczyk and Bouchard talk with Anita P. Barbee, Ph.D., M.S.S.W., Professor and Ph.D. Program Director at the Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, at the University of Louisville. Dr. Barbee discusses the knowledge and skills she hopes clinical supervisors will gain from training, the supervisory practices that research has found to be effective at reducing turnover and burnout among child welfare workers, and why clinical supervision and workforce support programs matter. She also shares her own pathway to working in the field. This podcast series was produced and distributed by James Bell Associates on behalf of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under contract number HHSP233201500133I. The opinions and ideas expressed in the podcasts are those of the panelists and do not necessarily represent the official views, policies, or positions of the Children’s Bureau, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In this second episode, Drs. Barczyk and Bouchard talk with Myca Jeter, LMSW, LCSW, Director of Clinical Bridge at CWEL. Myca discusses her pathway to a career in child welfare, the importance of recruiting child welfare social workers for clinical licensure, and challenges to receiving licensure. She also talks about the impact of CWEL and its Clinical Bridge program in supporting individuals with an M.S.W. who seek licensure. This podcast series was produced and distributed by James Bell Associates on behalf of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under contract number HHSP233201500133I. The opinions and ideas expressed in the podcasts are those of the panelists and do not necessarily represent the official views, policies, or positions of the Children’s Bureau, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In this first episode, Drs. Amanda Barczyk and Leah Bouchard talk with Melissa Batalden Mendez, M.S.W., LICSW, Child Welfare Education Partnership Coordinator at the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy. They also connect with title IV-E scholar Drew Middendorf, B.S.W., and title IV-E program alumna Christine (Chris) Sammon, M.S.W. Guests share their pathways to careers in child welfare and discuss title IV-E education programs, including how to get a stipend, the kinds of support to expect, and their overall value. This podcast series was produced and distributed by James Bell Associates on behalf of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under contract number HHSP233201500133I. The opinions and ideas expressed in the podcasts are those of the panelists and do not necessarily represent the official views, policies, or positions of the Children’s Bureau, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Melissa Batalden Mendez, M.S.W., LICSW, Child Welfare Education Partnership Coordinator, Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy Melissa is a licensed clinical social worker in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. She's practiced child welfare social work within public and private child welfare agencies, primarily focused on foster care/kinship care, adoption, and post-adoption. Additionally, she's been on faculty for B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs at Minnesota universities and colleges for the last 12 years. Her current role is with the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy where she works with the Minnesota Title IV-E Child Welfare Consortium, a group of nine Minnesota university social work programs that have child welfare-specific programming to prepare students to work in public, private, and tribal settings. Drew Middendorf, B.S.W., Title IV-E Scholar at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) Drew is a recent graduate of the SMSU social work degree program. Drew is an active member of the SMSU Esports team and Social Work Club. Christine (Chris) Sammon, M.S.W., Rice County Child and Family Services Division Manager and title IV-E alumna from Minnesota State University, Mankato Chris has been a social worker in rural southern Minnesota for more than 25 years, during which time she has worked with youth, conducted family meeting conferences, and provided mental health and case management services. She currently serves as Child and Family Services Division Manager for Rice County Community Services. She received her B.S.W. from Minnesota State University, Mankato and returned for an M.S.W. through the Title IV-E Scholarship Program. Chris has since taught as an adjunct instructor in the university’s social work program, been a guest speaker for college title-IVE programs, and given panel presentations on topics such as trends in hiring and retention and supports for staff in county child welfare systems.