Celebrating National Social Workers Month

Dear Team,

I am writing today to express my deepest, heartfelt gratitude for each one of you.  I truly understand how challenging your job is, and I hope you realize just how very important what you do every day is.  The immeasurable difference you make in the lives of Arizona’s children positively impacts thousands of people for their entire lives.

I know the hours are long and the workload overwhelming.  I want you to know that I understand, and am working hard to get you the help that you need.  I have been communicating with our State Legislature on your behalf, and together we are working on solutions that I hope will be forthcoming shortly.  I thank you for staying the course through continuing to pour yourselves out for the most vulnerable children in our state. 

Please believe me that you are not in this alone, I am WITH you and FOR you.  We are in this together.  We are truly better together and I will do my best for each of you.  Mother Teresa said something that profoundly applies to all of us:

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”  

Again, you have my deepest gratitude for your heart to help make Arizona a safer, happier place for children and your courage to persist in the most important work anyone can do – rescue kids. 

Serving together,
Greg McKay

March is National Social Workers Month. Every day, the work of a social worker impacts the lives of the children and families DCS serves. And to the social workers who are a part of DCS' family of employees, we want to thank you for everything you do.

The work you do as a social worker keeps children safe, helps parents and families receive services to better their lives, helps reunify families who have been separated and finds forever families for children in need.

We hear stories all the time of the great work being done by employees to assist the children and families of Arizona, as well as all they do for DCS. Below are just a handful of the great stories we've received:

Regarding DCS Specialist Grabowski Clayton:

Mr. Clayton has been with the Department for about 8 months, he began his career in Investigation and has transferred over to the Permanency Unit in February 2016.  He has been a great asset to the unit, with his bright and always cheerful smile. He is always looking for ways to keep the morale up in the surrounding units.  Mr. Clayton also works very closely with his clients and the involved team members on the case.  He makes sure he is up to date and knowledgeable about the abilities and inabilities of his clients. 

Mr. Clayton also dedicates his time by training in the Army Reserves to keep this country safe.  The Permanency Unit feels much honored to have this young man, who is not only hard working but also dedicated to his co-workers and clients.  He is the true poster child for “Teamwork”.  

I would be remiss not to comment upon the exceptional work of case manager Damon Lemieux. I want to share what I learned during the proceedings.

Apparently, Mr. Lemieux started as the investigative case manager but has stuck with the family.  The parents have made remarkable progress, from righting troubles they were having to being fully engaged in services, living in a family home with their child, and well on the road to reunification based upon a solid foundation.  It is noteworthy that the strongest praise for the work of Mr. Lemieux came from the attorneys for the parents.  They each noted that combined with the efforts of the parents, Mr. Lemieux has been the catalyst for the successes to date. 

I must also note that Mr. Lemiuex was quite humble in his response to the praise.  I sense that if I did not alert you to his exceptional work, it is possible that the Department would not become aware of his efforts.  Please therefore recognize Mr. Lemieux for his commitment to this child and their parents.

Regarding DCS Case Specialist Joann Smith:

Joann started her college education while living in Albuquerque, NM. She went to University of NM for the first two years then transferred and graduated from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and minor in Business Administration.  She moved to AZ in 1999 and started working for the AZ Land Department. Eventually she took a supervisor position with Maricopa County Superior Court in court administration (SEF/Mesa) over the Bailiff Pool. She supervised two judicial assistants and four bailiffs. In 2005, she accepted the position of CPSS I. She started in the South Mountain office in Phoenix. After six months there she transferred to the Apache Junction office and then eventually to Coolidge. She has currently been with the State of Arizona for 11 years, as a DCS Specialist III, carrying adoption cases.  She has done on-call assignments, on-going cases and adoptions.  She stated, she is happy and content with her employment, employer (State of Arizona), her supervisor, Sarah Curiel, and most importantly, the families/children she serves and protects.

Regarding Case Management Specialist Ariadna Marquez:

Ariadna “Ari” Marquez is a case management specialist in the Thunderbird office. She always goes above and beyond for the children on her caseload.  Ari takes pride in having regular face to face contact and discussions with the children on her case load. Somehow she finds extra time to be involved in their activities and be available whenever they just need to talk. They know she is their advocate and protector and will do whatever is necessary to ensure they feel loved, wanted and supported. Ari has received numerous accolades from parents, grandparents, Judges, attorneys, and providers for her amazing dedication to the children she serves.  She truly captures the spirit of an amazing social worker. 

Regarding Chelsea Pilon, MSW, Hotline Program and Project Specialist:

Chelsea has been instrumental in achieving objective 1.1 of the department's strategic plan, "Increase the accuracy of referral categorization at the Hotline."

We are just about to start testing reliability of the new tool, so the objective is not fully achieved at this time, but we could not have accomplished as much as we have without Chelsea's commitment to reaching the goal and to producing the best product possible.  Chelsea took on a variety of time sensitive research, planning and data mining tasks in order for the team to have the information necessary to make informed decisions. Chelsea was an active participant in the development of the new report screening tool; she also developed a plan for continuous testing of the new tool.

Chelsea is the face of the face of the Hotline in the community. She performs monthly presentations in the community about mandated reporting and the Hotline. She also hosts tours of the Hotline for our colleagues throughout the department and in the community. She speaks proudly of the department's accomplishments and the improvements that have occurred over the past year.

[[{"attributes":{},"fields":{}}]]Regarding DCS Specialist Heather Wahlers:

Heather Wahlers began working for the Department in 1999 as a case aide for the adoptions section located at the Thunderbird office in Phoenix.  She later decided to go back to school to become a case specialist in adoptions and promoted up to an adoption specialist in 2012 in her same unit at Thunderbird.   
 
Heather is very dedicated to the children and families that are on her caseload.  She has an excellent relationship with her families and she ensures that all of their needs are met in a timely manner.  Heather consistently finalizes adoptions on a large number of children every year and was the highest performer in 2015 at 83 adoptions.  She is an asset to the adoption section and we are very lucky to have her.  

Regarding Intake Worker Cameron McIntosh:

Cameron McIntosh consistently goes above and beyond to assist his clients while working under difficult conditions without complaint.  He is dedicated to the agency and the work that we do!

Thank you to all the great social workers who make up DCS' excellent workforce. The work you do to successfully engage children and families to ensure safety, strengthen families, and achieve permanency is truly invaluable. And how are the children? The children of Arizona are truly safer because of the great work you do.