A Caribbean Social Worker's Child Welfare Experience

Send a text

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month, and in this special episode, we speak with Queen K, a social worker whose cultural background and diverse experiences have shaped her child welfare practice.

Born in Aruba and raised in the Bronx, Queen K’s journey into social work began after earning her B.A. in Psychology from SUNY Albany.  Her first role as a case manager for teen mothers in foster care ignited her passion for the field, leading her to pursue her Master’s in Social Work at Hunter College (now the Silberman School of Social Work).  Over her career, Queen K has worked with incarcerated male youth and currently supports emotionally disturbed children in a school setting.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Caribbean culture influences social work practice, especially when working with children and families.
• The challenges and opportunities in child welfare social work.
• Insights from Queen K’s career journey and her dedication to supporting vulnerable youth.

This episode provides a unique perspective on cultural competence in child welfare and the impact of diverse social work experiences.

Social workers of color face immense challenges—systemic racism, underfunding, and overwhelming caseloads. They work tirelessly to support others but often lack the support they need. That’s why we created the Queens of Social Work Podcast—a lifeline and safe space for social workers of color to vent, share, laugh, and find the resources they need to thrive.

The  QOSW Daily Journal and our Royally You Interactive Journal for yourself will help you get all of your thoughts out and reflect on what’s next for you. For all of the budding social workers and those wanting to know more about social work in a healthcare setting, check out our Guide for ER Social Workers also for sale on Amazon and go to our website queensofsocialwork.net for your queens of social work merch! It makes a great gift. 

Support the show

→ DON'T MISS THE NEXT EPISODE OF THE QUEENS OF SOCIAL WORK PODCAST! Follow us on your preferred podcast platform (Apple, Spotify, etc.) and share your thoughts in a review.

→ WE VALUE YOUR INPUT. Take our 1-question survey and shape future episodes.

→ DONATE TODAY to be a part of positive change for social workers of color.

→ LOOKING FOR MORE INSPIRATION? Follow us on Instagram @queensofsocialwork

→ TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL! Follow our LinkedIn page for professional insights.

→ UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE RESOURCES. Visit our website and join our email list to receive your FREE Travel Social Work Guide.