“I am interested broadly in how well social services are delivered. Specifically, I study the quality of mental health services that child welfare consumers receive.  All of these interests come from my experience working with kids in the child welfare system.

"I also study older youth as they leave the foster care system. All of these interests come from my experience in working with children and families in the child welfare system. The stories of older youth were particularly heart-breaking; each young person had a personal history straight out of a made-for-TV movie. I am moved to do what I can to help this specific population.
 
"Today I work closely with the Missouri Department of Social Services’ Children’s Division and with the Missouri Department of Mental Health. We are working collaboratively to determine how we can improve the mental health services that children and families in the child welfare system receive. I am energized by the child welfare social workers and administrators. Together we are finding solutions to effectively address this challenge. Then, I get to take this learning back to the classroom.”