KELLY WINSTON, LCSW
Sacramento,CA
Summary
Twenty-six years of experience in state and local government. child welfare, mental health and non-profit organizations. Child Welfare experience encompasses a broad range of child welfare activities from prevention and early intervention services to permanency planning and adoptions.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief, Safety and Early Intervention Bureau (Staff Services Manager III)
California Department of Social Services
Sacramento
05.2024 - Current
- Oversight of the Family Centered Safety and Support Section alongside the Child Trafficking Response Section operations.
- Act as a branch lead to coordinate cross-division projects effectively.
- Provide support to branch chief and executive team in operational planning.
- Represent the department on significant projects, such as the Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) Program rollout.
- Spearheaded the development of the state’s Prevention Plan in compliance with federal guidelines.
- Direct the work of the FFPS Advisory Committees, fostering community involvement.
- Ensure alignment of division activities with overall departmental goals.
Chief, Family Centered Safety and Support Bureau (Staff Services Manager II)
California Department of Social Services
Sacramento
01.2014 - 04.2024
- Led oversight of Family Centered Safety and Support Bureau, focusing on policy development for child welfare.
Led oversight of Family Centered Safety and Support Bureau, focusing on policy development for child welfare. - Analyzed legislative proposals, advising department on appropriate responses and positions.
- Managed early intervention and prevention programs to avert foster care placements.
- Oversaw critical safety programs, including emergency investigations and safety and risk assessments for families referred to the child abuse hotline.
- Championed California’s initiatives against child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
- Acted as CAPTA State Liaison to the Administration for Children and Families to enhance program effectiveness.
- Conducted comprehensive budget analyses, guiding funding decisions for impactful programming.
- Directed contract development processes, ensuring alignment with departmental goals.
Staff Services Manager I, Children’s Services Outcomes and Accountability Bureau
California Department of Social Services
Sacramento
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Supervised six staff members to deliver technical assistance for state child welfare quality assurance process.
- Monitored improvement plans and conducted quarterly monitoring of county goals.
- Created and maintained bureau policies, procedures, and county manuals.
- Planned and led ad hoc drills and on-site reviews of county programs.
- Analyzed county data and evaluated program effectiveness.
- Collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to enhance child welfare initiatives.
Staff Services Manager I, Child Welfare Policy and Program Development Bureau
California Department of Social Services
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Supervision of unit of six staff to provide technical assistance to counties implementing the state’s child welfare quality assurance process, which includes a system wide self-assessment, development of an improvement plan and quarterly monitoring of county improvement goals.
- Created and maintained bureau policies, procedures and county manuals. Planned and lead ad hoc drills and on sight reviews of county programs.
- Analyzed of county data and program evaluation methods.
- Worked with a variety of internal and external stakeholders including county staff, contractors, advocacy groups, and others on projects to improve child welfare programs.
Social Services Consultant III, Child Welfare Policy and Program Development Bureau
California Department of Social Services
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Journey level position to develop, implement and maintain policies related to child safety. The primary functions of the position included:
- Review and analyze proposed legislation and advise management of potential impact to Department. Conduct research, analyze and prepare program information regarding issues pertinent to Department policy and program development and advise of potential solutions.
- Manage contracts with external agencies for program development projects and reconcile invoices. Provide technical assistance to counties regarding policy and program issues.
- Develop and revise state program regulations to comply with changes in federal and state laws and departmental policy.
Social Worker Practitioner
Yolo County Department of Employment and Social Services
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Management of 40 or more voluntary and court-ordered family maintenance cases.
- This position encompassed a wide variety of child welfare activities, from investigation to case closure, and included preparing and handling court cases in detention, jurisdiction, disposition, and review hearings.
- Collaborated with a variety of community agencies, such as county and community mental health, law enforcement, substance abuse, parent education, domestic violence prevention, medical/dental health agencies, schools, and many other community-based organizations.
- Provided training for state-mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect.
- Participated in workgroups for policy and procedure revisions.
- Provided supervision of graduate student interns.
Child and Family Therapist
Sierra Adoption Services, Adoptive Family Resource Center
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Provided therapy to children and adults regarding a wide range of issues and diagnoses.
- The caseload consisted primarily of families involved in adoption, permanency cases, and reunification cases.
- Worked collaboratively with collateral contacts and social workers, and provided necessary reports as needed.
- Conducted group therapy sessions with teens and latency-age children.
- Conducted group therapy sessions with teens and latency-age children.
- Trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).
Social Worker V
Monterey County Department of Social and Employment Services
01.2001 - 01.2004
- In both the Emergency Response and Adoptions Units, experience included the supervision of placement and case management of children for guardianship and adoption, as well as emergency investigations.
- Duties included the ongoing assessment of children and families, including the use of safety and risk assessments, and formal home studies of families for licensing and adoption.
- Provided advocacy, support, counseling, and education to adoptive and birth parents around adoption issues.
- Worked collaboratively with County Counsel, law enforcement, local hospitals, mental health and treatment programs, and many other community organizations.
- Supervised graduate student interns.
Education
Licensed Clinical Social Worker -
01.2009
Master of Social Work -
California State University Sacramento
Sacramento, California01.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies
California State University Monterey Bay
Seaside, California01.1998
Skills
- Project management
- Policy development
- Regulatory compliance
- Contract management
- Data analysis
- Resource allocation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Program evaluation
- Budget management
- Staff development
Timeline
Chief, Safety and Early Intervention Bureau (Staff Services Manager III)
California Department of Social Services
05.2024 - Current
Chief, Family Centered Safety and Support Bureau (Staff Services Manager II)
California Department of Social Services
01.2014 - 04.2024
Staff Services Manager I, Children’s Services Outcomes and Accountability Bureau
California Department of Social Services
01.2011 - 01.2014
Staff Services Manager I, Child Welfare Policy and Program Development Bureau
California Department of Social Services
01.2010 - 01.2011
Social Services Consultant III, Child Welfare Policy and Program Development Bureau
California Department of Social Services
01.2009 - 01.2010
Social Worker Practitioner
Yolo County Department of Employment and Social Services
01.2006 - 01.2009
Child and Family Therapist
Sierra Adoption Services, Adoptive Family Resource Center
01.2004 - 01.2006
Social Worker V
Monterey County Department of Social and Employment Services
01.2001 - 01.2004
Licensed Clinical Social Worker -
Master of Social Work -
California State University Sacramento
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies
California State University Monterey Bay
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