Child Welfare Scholar Profiles

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Duluth, MN 55812
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Meet BSW Scholar Kathryn Evans

Pronouns: She/her

Where are you from?
Goodhue, MN

What are you studying (major/minor)?
Bachelor of Social Work

What internship / volunteering / work experience have you had the opportunity to do during the program?
DFor my community volunteering during junior year, I was at Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative. My position was in their childcare program. My senior year practicum experience was through St. Louis County's Ongoing Children and Family Services unit.

In what ways did you see yourself grow during the course of the program?
During the program, I have seen my knowledge of the child welfare field grow. I have been able to learn about services in Duluth and how they can better serve our clients. This program has taught me how to work with a variety of clients from various backgrounds. I can be more open-minded and meet people where they are at.

What are your goals after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to enter UMD's Masters of Social Work program. After that, I intend to work in either a county or tribal child welfare agency.

What led you to the Child Welfare Scholar Program?
Even before I decided to pursue a degree in social work I knew I wanted to work with children and families. When I learned about what a child welfare social worker's role is I was very interested. I shadowed a social worker at Olmstead County in that role and decided that's the path I wanted to follow. When I discovered UMD's Child Welfare Scholar Program I saw no reason not to apply.

Meet MSW Scholar Nicole Wadena

Pronouns: She/Her

Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am an enrolled member of a federally recognized Ojibwe tribe in Minnesota called White Earth Nation.

What are you studying (major/minor)?
Masters in Social Work

What internship / volunteering / work experience have you had the opportunity to do during the program?
During my first year internship I worked as a Rapid Response Child Protection Social Worker for Hennepin County. Being a part of the Rapid Response Team increased my practice with quickly establishing a connection with families in order to assess risk and safety concerns. My second year internship is with Red Lake Nation as an ICWA Advocate. The Indian Child Welfare Act ensures tribal participation and sovereignty in child protection cases involving tribal members . As a Native American mother, and daughter of a residential school survivor, it is an honor to uplift and support the families/"relatives" I work with. I am passionate about reducing disparities and ensuring active efforts.

In what ways did you see yourself grow during the course of the program?
When entering this program, I was driven as an individual to find ways to empower others. Individual psychology was always a passion of mine, but oftentimes we are so focused on how to fit into social systems through introspection and less focus is on how we are to navigate within a system that may not have been designed for our authentic selves. This program has given me a deeper understanding on how systems have been historically formed, and how we can create positive change on micro, mezzo, and macro levels through connection.

What are your goals after graduation?
I hope to continue advocating for and preserving Native American families.

What led you to the Child Welfare Scholar program?
While working as an ICWA Case Manager for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, colleagues recognized my passion and encouraged me to apply.

A fun fact or anything else you'd like to share?
My mother was passionate about water and would bring me to walk around the lakes throughout my childhood. I feel most happy near water and have volunteered my time in water advocacy for many years. Water is a precious gift that must be appreciated and preserved now and for future generations.

Meet MSW Scholar Kaley Beeman

Pronouns: she/her

Where are you from?
I grew up in Aitkin, MN, but I have lived in Duluth for the last nine years.

What are you studying (major/minor)?
I am currently pursuing my Master of Social Work. I also have my Bachelor of Social Work degree with minors in Psychology and Early Childhood Studies from UMD.

What internship / volunteering / work experience have you had the opportunity to do during the program?
I am currently completing my internship with St. Louis County Children and Family Services where I am working in a mezzo level on program development, implementing practice changes within SLC child protection and how the agency services families who are experiencing a co-occurrence of domestic violence and child maltreatment concerns. I was also a child welfare scholar during my time in the BSW program in 2018-2019. During that time, I was also able to complete my internship with St. Louis County, though that time around I was in the ongoing child protection unit.

In what ways did you see yourself grow during the course of the program?
I have had the experience of participating in this program on two separate occasions, during two very different points in my life. The program has offered some opportunities to push myself out of my comfort zone, take in new information and experiences, and learn things that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to learn and experience. Having grown up in a very small community, I greatly value that I was given this opportunity and ability to learn in a safe space with individuals who care about your personal and professional growth, while steering you to the best version of yourself with understanding and compassion. I have seen myself grow into a more understanding individual, who is able to show up for those that I serve knowing that I am actually the one in the room who knows the least and willing to continue to learn every day.

What are your goals after graduation?
I plan to continue to work in my roll as an ongoing child protection worker for St. Louis County. I love the work that I do and the families that I serve. I am excited to continue to do this work with a more advanced skill set, and goals of eventual advancement in my agency.

What led you to the Child Welfare program?
I have always desired to do this work since I was young. I chose UMD as an undergrad because they had a social work program, I loved the lake, and my brother lived here. I stumbled upon the child welfare scholar program after I was accepted into the BSW program and couldn’t believe that I was lucky enough to find something that was such a perfect fit for what I had been wanting all my life. I applied and never looked back. When I decided to return for my Masters, while presently working in child welfare, it only made sense that I would participate in the program once again.

A fun fact or anything else you'd like to share?
I have a two year old son who is probably the coolest person I’ve met, and my purpose in seeking a higher education. He keeps me busy and has provided a different experience to my academic experience this time around. I am so thankful to the UMD Social Work department for how they show up and support working moms to return to school and reach higher levels. I am proud to be able to show my son this world and the things that you can achieve, even in the chaos of life. Even as a toddler, I hope he learns that he can achieve whatever he sets his mind to no matter how wild the goals and the journey is to get there.

Meet MSW Scholar AR Cruz

Pronouns: They/Them

Where are you from?
I am originally from California, but I currently live in Minneapolis, MN

What are you studying (major/minor)?
I am studying Social Work with a specific focus on Child Welfare

What internship / volunteering / work experience have you had the opportunity to do during the program?
I have been interning with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in their child welfare department. I also volunteer teach at a local Martial Arts school.

In what ways did you see yourself grow during the course of the program?
I feel like I have grown in my understanding of marginalized groups of people, as well as my understanding of underserved populations. I have had the opportunity to work with many families that need a non-judgmental person on their side who can understand their struggles and help them with understanding and compassion.

What are your goals after graduation?
I will continue to work in child welfare, but I would also like to do some policy work to specifically help underserved populations, as well as help reform child welfare as a whole to better serve our families.

What led you to the Child Welfare Scholar program?
I had been working in child care for about 10 years. I saw how hard it was on families, and especially children when there were negative interactions with the Child Welfare system, so I decided to help out, rather than sit on the sides. Because my main goal is to help children and families, it just made sense to me to join the Child Welfare Scholar Program when I went back to school. It helps me to hone my skills and helps me to have a group of peers that I can connect with when I need help or support.

A fun fact or anything else you'd like to share?
My spouse and I are in the process of becoming licensed foster care providers, specifically to be a safe landing place for children as they are waiting on reunification with their families. Our goal in this is to provide a place where they can stay for a day, week, month, year, or 10 years, and still have a connection with their family, and a support for the things that they might be going through.

Meet BSW Scholar Kia Xiong

Pronouns: She/her

Where are you from?
I am from Saint Paul, Minnesota

What are you studying (major/minor)?
Bachelor of Social Work

What internship / volunteering / work experience have you had the opportunity to do during the program?
I'm currently doing my internship with Children Services in Hennepin County.

In what ways did you see yourself grow during the course of the program?
I think one of the biggest growth for me was building my skill sets and confidence out in the field.

What are your goals after graduation?
After graduation, I'm hoping to be able to find a job in child protection to further continue doing what I enjoy.

What led you to the Child Welfare Scholar Program?
The child welfare program is an amazing opportunity and I joined it because I was interested in working with children in the system as a career.

A fun fact or anything else you'd like to share?
A fun fact about me is that I am a commuter so I drive 4 hrs to and from Saint Paul to UMD.

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