Kourtney Kelly
Lucas County Children’s Services
Toledo
1
Certification
2027
years of professional experience
Highly analytical, data-driven Human Services Quality Assurance (QA/QC) Specialist and PhD Candidate with over 16 years of progressive experience overseeing compliance, documentation tracking, and programmatic audits in child welfare and corrections. Proven expert in conducting rigorous case record audits, performing root-cause analyses on practice deficiencies, and implementing strategic corrective action plans to ensure federal, state, and local regulatory alignment. Adept at managing performance metrics, safeguarding highly confidential data, and educating multidisciplinary, geographically dispersed teams on equitable and trauma-informed best practices.
Work History
Ongoing Child Welfare Caseworker Supervisor
3 Years 5 Months- Conduct structured performance gap analysis through case conferencing, supervisory consultation, and direct caseworker observation; design targeted refresher trainings to address policy and practice inconsistencies.
- Develop and implement workforce development initiatives grounded in trauma-informed and strengths-based supervision models.
- Monitor application of best practices through coaching, structured feedback, and evaluation of case outcomes.
- Translate agency policy updates into actionable training modules to ensure consistent implementation across teams.
- Designed conflict management and strengths-based supervision frameworks to improve staff engagement and professional accountability.
- Collaborate with leadership to identify training needs and develop responsive learning interventions.
Child Welfare Caseworker Supervisor (Kinship & Assessments)
6 Years- Co-led a comprehensive kinship program redesign, increasing family-based placements by nearly 40% and reducing reliance on foster care.
- Implemented mandatory kinship vetting for all out-of-home placements, developing a coordinated model adopted agency-wide.
- Supervised high-risk adolescent assessment teams; maintained youth safety in-home through structured court advocacy and intensive family engagement.
- Trained and mentored staff in sexual abuse assessment protocols and multidisciplinary collaboration with law enforcement and therapeutic providers.
- Maintained 99% compliance with mandated investigation timelines while managing high-volume caseloads.
- Provided structured coaching and performance evaluation for developing caseworkers, aligning skill growth with agency competency standards.
Assessments Caseworker
3 Years- Conducted comprehensive safety and risk assessments for high-acuity families.
- Completed over 300 investigations with 99% on-time compliance, including complex cross-jurisdictional cases.
- Advocated for enhanced caregiver education and multidisciplinary alignment in sexual abuse cases.
- Strengthened investigative consistency through collaborative case planning with law enforcement and therapeutic partners.
Assessments Caseworker
3 Years- Conducted intake screening, forensic-informed interviews, and safety planning for children and families.
- Applied trauma-informed engagement strategies to improve family participation and case resolution outcomes.
- Collaborated with juvenile court and community partners to ensure permanency-focused service planning.
Juvenile Corrections – Program Director, Correctional Counseling & Rehabilitation Specialist
- Redesigned and adapted evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) curriculum to align with facility needs, increasing rehabilitation engagement and reducing recidivism risk.
- Developed a structured behavioral points system for indeterminate-sentenced juveniles, aligning behavioral performance with rehabilitation goals and early reentry eligibility.
- Rewrote institutional policy to incorporate shorter, treatment-intensive sentencing structures, incentivizing therapy participation and educational engagement.
- Delivered crisis de-escalation, CPR/First Aid, and institutional safety training for new and tenured staff.
- Served as a substitute educator to ensure youth remained academically on track for reintegration.
Sexual Abuse Investigations Caseworker
- Specialized in sexual abuse investigations utilizing forensic interviewing protocols.
- Coordinated multidisciplinary case planning with law enforcement and clinical providers.
- Maintained high compliance standards in investigative timeliness and documentation accuracy.
Education
PhD - Criminal Justice
Candidate
M.Ed. - Higher Education
M.Ed. - School Counseling
B.S. - Criminal Justice
Skills
Workforce & Professional Development
Performance Gap Analysis
Policy Development & Systems Reform
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Trauma-Informed Practice
Data Monitoring & Compliance Evaluation
Conflict Management & Strengths-Based Leadership
Accomplishments
- Designed and launched the Kinship Initiative, resulting in a 50% increase in family and kinship placements for the company.
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Supervised team of 10 staff members.
Certification
- Forensic Interviewing (Finding Words; Beyond the Silence I & II)
- Ohio Motivational Engagement Strategies & Actions (MESA)
- Safe & Together (Domestic Violence Assessment)
- Race & Equity Toolkit Modules 1–6
- Human Trafficking Coalition Training
- Crisis De-escalation
- CPR/First Aid
Timeline
Ongoing Child Welfare Caseworker Supervisor
Lucas County Children’s Services
01.2023 - CurrentRead More
Child Welfare Caseworker Supervisor (Kinship & Assessments)
Franklin County Children’s Services
01.2017 - 01.2023Read More
Assessments Caseworker
Franklin County Children’s Services
01.2014 - 01.2017Read More
Assessments Caseworker
Hamilton County Children’s Services
01.2011 - 01.2014Read More
Xavier University
B.S. from Criminal Justice
Read More
Liberty University
M.Ed. from School Counseling
Read More
Liberty University
M.Ed. from Higher Education
Read More
Juvenile Corrections – Program Director, Correctional Counseling & Rehabilitation Specialist
Pendleton Juvenile Correctional, Plainfield Re-Entry, Madison Juvenile Correctional
2004 - 2011Read More
Sexual Abuse Investigations Caseworker
Marion County Children’s Services
2005 - 01.2010Read More
Liberty University
PhD from Criminal Justice
Read More
Program Development & Training Initiatives
- Designed competency-based training modules addressing trauma-informed interviewing, strengths-based supervision, and conflict management.
- Conducted workforce needs assessments and translated findings into structured learning interventions.
- Integrated adult learning theory into supervision and coaching practices.
- Evaluated training effectiveness using performance data and compliance indicators.
- Experienced with curriculum approval processes and regulatory alignment.