Hi my name is Lisa. I am 36 years old and have a lot of experience in public service. I was a police officer and more recently a detective for 10 years working special victims. While working police work I also volunteered on a fire and rescued squad as a firefighter and advanced EMT. While working as a police officer I decided to go back to school and got my degree in social work. I became a social worker and began my career working as an investigator for child protective services. Because of my extensive criminal investigative history I would always get assigned the most egregious cases. I also worked in a specialized unit called the drug affected infant unit where I worked with moms who were currently using drugs while pregnant. I transitioned out of this role and began working as a treatment foster care licensing worker and adoption investigator.

I have substantial experience with the child welfare system and trauma within the child welfare system. I am a former foster youth, adoptee, former foster parent, former guardian of kin, and adoptive parent of kin. I can appreciate the viewpoints from a lot of different lived experiences who have been in the child welfare system.

i have completed numerous trainings and certifications related to; trauma, vicarious trauma, adoption trauma, childhood adverse experiences (ACE’s), prenatal mood disorders, infant death investigations, secondary trauma, first responder trauma, depression, anxiety, SAFE home studies (adoption home studies), safe families, adoption competency, Wisconsin child welfare model, investigations practices, certified intake worker, and mitigation of safety concerns to name a few.

I specialize in taking with adoptees who are struggling with their reunion with their biological families or struggling with their adoptive parents. Additionally adoptive parents who would like to learn from an adoptee about the voices of lived experience.