Rachel Fitch is the Assistant State Director of Southwest Ohio for the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP), a non-profit child welfare and mental health agency. Rachel oversees the operations of the southwest region of Ohio, which includes foster care and behavioral health operations. Rachel obtained her bachelor's and master's in social work from the University of Cincinnati. She became a licensed social worker in 2007 and became a licensed independent social worker in 2014. Rachel's extensive experience in child welfare spans seventeen years, all within the same organization. Her roles have included Foster Care Social Worker, Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, Program Manager, and Regional Director. This wealth of experience has given her a deep understanding of the field and a unique perspective on its challenges. Rachel's dedication to her doctoral studies at the University of Kentucky School of Social Work is unwavering. Her anticipated graduation date of May 2025 is a testament to her commitment to the profession. Her capstone, 'Protecting the Carting Heart, a Systematic Approach to help child welfare social workers manage burnout,' reflects her passion and desire to implement systematic practices to promote wellness and healing within our clients.
DSW Showcase Student Presentation
Rachel Fitch
MSW, LISW-S
Protecting the Caring Heart: A Systematic Approach to Assisting Child Welfare Social Workers Manage Burnout
Concentration - Clinical Social Work
- Tuesday, April 29, 2025 -
- 9:00 am
Abstract
In child welfare social work, it is predicted that social workers will experience burnout throughout their careers. Social workers are crucial in child welfare as they promote wellness, safety, empowerment, and change to families and individuals. As our social workers empower and aid others, this can lead to emotional exhaustion, which results in the individual leaving the profession or compromising the care of our clients. The compromise of care is due to the high volume of caseloads and the limited resources and time that existing social workers must devote to these cases. As we see the silent pandemic impacting child welfare, we are implored to look at the child welfare system and the individual social worker support and organizational wellness practices. The presentation will highlight the research on burnout within the child welfare system and its known causes. A new concept will be presented using systems theory, the self-care deficit theory, and the practical applications of these theories to make improvements to aid and support our social workers, offering hope for a better future.