18 - Gathering Together: Local lessons learned from COVID-19 to strengthen our communities.

Desirée Caporaso, LMSW, IMH® graduated from Fordham University with her Masters in Social Work with a concentration in Client Center Management and Specialization in Social Work in the Law.  Desirée has over 10 years of experience facilitating evidence-based interventions to youth and families in outpatient and community-based settings.  She is endorsed in Infant Mental Health and trained in providing Reflective Supervision and Consultation.  In 2015, Desirée joined the Zero to Three Infant and Toddler Court Team Program as a Community Coordinator.  Desirée provides service coordination for the most at-risk youth in child welfare and prides herself on building and maintaining quality relationships with providers, attorneys, judges, child welfare staff, parents, and caregivers. As an active member in her community, Desirée facilitates a group of champion stakeholders to identify gaps and needs in communities that serve infants and toddlers.  She is a certified facilitator of Triple P-Group and Circle of Security.  Desirée has been actively involved in local and statewide collaboratives and taskforces since the beginning of her professional career; recently participating in CT’s Family First Planning.  She is a longstanding and active member of a local Regional Early Childhood Council and an active member of the Professional Development Committee for CT’s Association of Infant Mental Health.  Desirée is life member of Girl Scouts and a Gold Award recipient.  She is the proud mother of a 3-year old son and is expecting their second child in October; her family enjoys camping and being outdoors.  Whenever asked to describe her role working with families, Desirée’s response is “I am one part of a larger team, by working collaboratively and maintaining communication we are providing better services to our families to ensure lasting permanency for the youngest of children.  I am honored and blessed to have found my place in the world of Social Work and ha

Jaclyn Szrom, MPA, is a Senior Policy Analyst for the National Infant-Toddler Court Program (ITCP) at ZERO TO THREE. Ms. Szrom has worked with ZERO TO THREE for many years, utilizing her research and analysis skills to support implementation of best practices for infants and toddlers. As Senior Federal Policy Analyst, Ms. Szrom played an integral role in developing a child welfare policy agenda and writing key supporting resources. Later, Ms. Szrom worked on conducting data analysis and trends, developing a decision-making framework for selecting evidence-based interventions, and overall policy and sustainability for the Infant-Toddler Court Program. Earlier in her career, Ms. Szrom worked at the Child Nutrition Division of the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she interpreted policy, provided technical assistance to regional and state offices, and conducted site visits around the country as part of the USDA Farm to School Team supporting states in innovating their efforts to purchase school meals from local farms. Ms. Szrom holds a Master of Public Administration from The Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from The College of New Jersey

Nicolette Cook received her master’s in social work from University of Minnesota Duluth. Her career emphasis has been working with high risk children and families. She is currently employed through St. Louis County, MN as the Safe Babies Court Community Coordinator. She has worked within child protection as an ongoing case manager and safety planner for 5 years before her current role. She lives in Ely, MN near the Canadian border with her husband and they have 5 children together ranging in ages from 6-19. We live a busy life filled with sports, activities, and a love for the outdoors.

Judge Robert Friday was appointed March 9, 2018, by Governor Mark Dayton. He was elected in 2020. His current term expires in Jan. 2027. Judge Friday serves in the 6th Judicial District in St. Louis County, Virginia, MN. He is the judicial leadership of Safe Babies Court in Virginia, MN. His education included; J.D., magna cum laude, William Mitchell College of Law (Associate Editor of the Law Review) and B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College.  His work experience included; Director of Advocacy, Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota; Client Services Manager, United Health Care, small business owner, solo practitioner, and associate attorney at Lindquist & Vennum, Judge Friday is a member of the Consolidated Block Grant Advisory Board, member of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyer, member of Iron Range Bar Association, President of Range Transitional Housing Board of Directors and Volunteer Attorney Program, Duluth.

Bell Monika Cirius is the Early Childhood Court Community Coordinator in the 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida where she provides a consistent, strong voice for infants and toddlers in the dependency system. She facilitates Family Team Meetings with cross-sector professional providers who work to support the families in order to obtain timely permanency for the children. Bell graduated with a BSW and minor in French at Florida Atlantic University in 2019. She also obtained her Masters in Social Work in the same school in 2020.  She always had a passion for working in social services. In the summer before her sophomore year in college, she interned at Holy Ground PBC, an organization that helps homeless, single mothers. There, she learned how to work first hand with one of the populations that she would eventually assist in her career. She is currently on the Executive Board of Holy Ground PBC as the secretary. She is also one of the newest members of Leadership Engage PBC, a program that selects diverse professionals for their leadership and service within Palm Beach County and beyond.  Bell gained a strong character for her career through her childhood. She was born and raised in Haiti and had to leave her mother and friends behind after surviving the 2010 earthquake that hit the country. She learned soon after she came in the USA that she had to prioritize her studies because she knew that education was the number one way of becoming a success in society. She managed to graduate in the top 10% of her high school class as the only Gates Millennium Scholar. Bell strongly believes that every person, no matter what they have been through in their lives, can become a strong member in society if they receive the resources and help that they need. She is passionate about making sure that every child grows up in a loving family and society that will nurture a future adult who can make a difference. As a young social worker, she is ready to dedicate the rest of her life to help as many people as possible to the best of her abilities.