(Posted 2024 May)
Karen’s decision to become a social worker was at least partially based on her desire to avoid math! She was sure that, “social work had to be easy, after all had the word ‘social’ in it.” All joking aside, she recalls that her mother did a lot of community outreach and was always helping the military families wherever they were stationed when she was growing up. “At the time I really disliked having lots of extra people at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, but I could see it meant a great deal to so many people who were far away from home.” On some level, the way her mother helped people stuck with her. “When it was time to choose a career, social work had meaning to me and even though I’ve had to do a little math, most days my job is as math-free as I could get.”
- For Karen, the most rewarding aspects of this work are “Working as a team with our phenomenal dedicated foster families, working with a dedicated group of professionals, seeing children achieve permanency, safety, and well-being, and expanding access to services for the families and children whom we serve.”
- Karen’s been a social worker for 25 years, starting her career working at a therapeutic foster care agency as a case manager. The rest of her years have been spent with Fairfax County Government, beginning with a stint working for Juvenile Court as a probation counselor at Stepping Stones (formerly Boys Probation House). Karen then joined Fairfax DFS working as a Foster Care specialist, Child Protective Services specialist, and eventually a court liaison before becoming a resource specialist with the Placement and Resource Unit. She said, “This experience reinforced the complexities of child placements and the rewarding and sometimes difficult work performed by our foster parents; and it prepared me for a promotion to unit supervisor in 2019.”
- Karen’s retiring in July 2024. She will be greatly missed by everyone in the Foster Care and Adoption program for her steady hand in day-to-day situations. “As anyone would be I am excited for the new adventures to come and not being tied to a schedule, calendar or meetings, or constantly being on call,” Karen says. “I will obviously miss my team that I work so closely with. I will miss working with my staff as they have made me a better social worker. They come to work every day prepared to do the job that is put before them, whether it’s another replacement, separation, or staffing. They are professional, hardworking, dedicated and each of them has brought a skill to the team that helps get us across the finish line.”
- What’s next for her? “I want to sleep for about three days. I will probably work but not right away, and it will most definitely not be full time.” She has her sights set on traveling to Asia, Africa and some smaller trips over the next few years. “This will probably be the most enjoyable part of retirement – I get to come and go as I please, and I don’t have to return after two weeks or worry about answering all the emails that will land in the inbox. The future is one big adventure and I plan to take full advantage of it.”
Karen will be greatly missed by everyone in the Foster Care and Adoption program for her steady hand in day-to-day situations. She has touched many lives in her time with our program. Please reach out to wish her well in her future adventures.
This article posting is part of the Foster Family News monthly newsletter designed to keep foster parents informed about all the new and notable happenings in Fairfax County.
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