Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Ashley Woods

Peoria,IL

Summary

Dynamic Child Welfare Specialist with extensive experience at Children's Home Association of Illinois, excelling in trauma-informed care and family engagement. Proven track record in managing high-risk cases and advocating for children, while fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary teams. Strong communicator dedicated to promoting safety and well-being through effective case management and crisis intervention.



Overview

7
7
years of professional experience

Work History

Lead Child Welfare Specialist

Children's Home Association of Illinois
09.2022 - Current
  • Provide leadership and support to a team of Child Welfare Specialists, ensuring adherence to agency protocols, state mandates, and best practices in child welfare and family reunification.
  • Supervise and mentor student interns, including onboarding, training, daily support, and evaluation, while coordinating with universities to ensure academic requirements and learning objectives are met.
  • Oversee complex and high-risk child welfare cases, facilitating case planning, family engagement, and multidisciplinary collaboration to promote safety, permanency, and well-being.
  • Develop and manage internship programming, including creating structured learning opportunities, assigning appropriate tasks, and organizing professional development experiences.
  • Conduct quality assurance reviews, providing feedback and coaching to staff and interns to ensure documentation, service delivery, and case management meet compliance standards.
  • Collaborate with internal teams, court personnel, and external providers to coordinate services, prepare for court hearings, and advocate effectively for children and families.


Child Welfare Specialist

Children's Home Association of Illinois
09.2018 - Current
  • Strengthened client engagement by utilizing trauma-informed practices when engaging with children and families experiencing adversity.
  • Developed and implemented case plans, facilitated court reports, and testified in juvenile court proceedings.
  • Maintained accurate documentation in compliance with DCFS standards.
  • Built strong relationships with families, service providers, and foster care networks.

Education

Master's of Social Work - Clinical Mental Health

University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
12-2024

Bachelor of Science - Human Services

Millikin University
Decatur, IL
05-2018

Skills

  • Trauma-informed care
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Family engagement & reunification
  • Court Documentation & Testimony
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Child Welfare Case Management
  • Strong Communication & Advocacy

Timeline

Lead Child Welfare Specialist

Children's Home Association of Illinois
09.2022 - Current

Child Welfare Specialist

Children's Home Association of Illinois
09.2018 - Current

Master's of Social Work - Clinical Mental Health

University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign

Bachelor of Science - Human Services

Millikin University

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