|
Gladys Alvarez
Gladys Noll Alvarez MSW, LISW, IMH-E ® is the Trauma Informed Care (TIC) Project Coordinator at Orchard Place/ Child Guidance Center. She has worked with children and families since 1976 when she was a counselor with the Upward Bound program at Coe College. She earned her BA at Luther College in Social Work and Psychology, her Masters in Social Work at the University of Iowa and has been engaged in two sepa
rate year-long learning collaborative activities through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. She is trained in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) and Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). In June 2018 she received the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health Endorsement as an Infant Mental Health Mentor-Clinical and is the first Level IV IMH-E ® in Iowa.
Ms. Alvarez was a member of the C.A.N. Prevention Council, chairs the Steering Committee for the Regional Child Protection Center, is a member of the Model Court Team in Polk County, was part of the Court Improvement Task Force in 2005/2006, is a member of the Zero to Three Safe Babies Court Team in Polk County, Charter Board Member of Shalom Zone Ministries from 1997-2005, a member of the Iowa Association of Infant & Young Children’s Mental Health, and an active member of her church focusing on children’s issues.
She has provided clinical therapeutic services for children and families who have experience trauma for over 30 years. In her role as the TIC Project Coordinator, she coordinates the networking of the TIC Project Stakeholder’s group and provides trainings on trauma informed care throughout the state and nationally. Ms. Alvarez coordinates the annual Psychological Trauma & Juvenile Justice conference, bringing national speakers on trauma to educate professionals and promote systemic change.
Ms. Alvarez is the recipient of many awards: the AL Schulte Award in 2000 for professionalism, dedication and personal commitment to providing services for children and their families; the “Voice of the Children” award in 2008, presented by Orchard Place in recognition of exceptional commitment and service to the children of receiving services from that agency; and in 2011 she received the Michele A. Moore Award of Distinction for work in child advocacy.
Her passion is providing education and trainings which promote a trauma-informed care approach to interactions with children, families and in the work environment.
|
Derly Beacom
Derly Beacom, LMSW, holds the position of Clinical BHIS Supervisor at Orchard Place, where she has dedicated over four years to supporting youth and their families. She began her career at Orchard Place as a Behavioral Specialist and assumed her current role in 2023. Derly earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Grandview University. She is trained in various therapeutic approaches, including Trauma-Informed Care, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), Healing Center Engagement, and Gender-Affirming Care. In her role, Derly provides clinical therapy services to youth and offers clinical support to the BHIS team. In recognition of her dedication and professional contributions, Derly received the Emerging Social Worker Award in September 2024. She is deeply committed to serving underrepresented communities and is focused on bridging the gap between mental health services and the Latinx community.
|
Amy Ostrander Croll
Amy Ostrander Croll brings more than twenty years of experience working directly with youth and in youth development program and policy development. She has served as a trainer in best practices and organizational and program development for youth-serving professionals locally and nationally since 2001. Amy served as a field consultant for the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality/Forum for Youth Investment, currently serves as a lead Iowa trainer for the Wyman Center’s Teen Outreach Program, and serves as a trainer and coach for the Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention. Amy’s style is grounded in experience, working as a youth worker and supervisor in child welfare/juvenile justice settings, developing community-based prevention programming, coordinating a state-level collaborative body that aligned state and local level policies and practices, and growing a non-profit from the ground up. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Luther College, a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Iowa, and is certified as a Certified Prevention Specialist and a Licensed Social Worker. Email Amy at amy @ cyconcepts.org.
|
Randi Davis
Randi Davis is currently a Master of Social Work student and completed her BA in Social Work from Grand View in 2024. She has a strong interest in advocating for veterans' issues and wants to work with veterans once she completes the MSW program.
Before discovering her passion for social work, Randi spent over a decade at Wells Fargo, where she held various roles that helped her develop valuable skills in client relations, organizational work, and professional ethics. During this time, Randi also earned an Associate of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Des Moines Area Community College, expanding her knowledge of legal principles and client advocacy, which continue to inform her social work practice.
As a student representative, Randi is honored to contribute to the shaping of Grand View’s social work program, working closely with faculty, peers, and community professionals to enhance the curriculum and advocate for students' needs.
Outside of her studies, Randi is a dedicated parent to two children, enjoying quality time together and fostering a love of learning.
|
 Anthony Daye
My name is Anthony Daye, and I am a MSW Student Representative on the Grand View University Social Work Advisory Council. I began working as a Special Education Associate with the Waukee Community School District in February 2020, and I enjoy working in schools and with students. My desire to make a difference, give back to my community, improve the lives and wellbeing of others, and work with children and families in a school setting, among other things, led me to pursue my Master of Social Work Degree, with a specialization in School Social Work, at Grand View University.
I am elated to serve on the Advisory Council, and I am grateful for the opportunity to provide input on departmental affairs, connect and network with social workers currently in the field, and engage with, and serve as a voice for, current social work students at Grand View. I am also grateful for the opportunity to have a hand in shaping the Social Work program and its future.
|
 Jackie Duden
Jackie Duden is in the Master of Social Work program at Grand View University. She has been in the field of social work since 2011. Some of her experiences include working with adults with intellectual disabilities, people experiencing houselessness, and re-entry/addiction support. Jackie is delighted to be a part of the advisory council and doing her part to help.
|
Julie Fugenschuh
Julie Fugenschuh, LMSW, is the Executive Director for Project IOWA and has served in this capacity since March 2011. Her educational background and experience is in guiding the work and research around employment and systematic barriers for marginalized populations. She has experience and knowledge about community-driven initiatives and collaborations. Julie has worked in the educational system and managed large community initiatives in the Des Moines area. She was also a primary founder of the Urbandale Food Pantry. Julie is the mother of seven children and has experience as a foster/adoptive mother. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Iowa and is licensed in the State of Iowa.
|
Jaime McClure
Jaime McClure is Executive Director and a therapist at LifeWorks, Inc., with offices in Ankeny and Des Moines. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker working primarily with adolescents and adults, specializing in divorce, co-parenting, substance abuse, adult ADHD, anxiety and mood disorders. Jaime is a proud Grand View alum, class of 1999.
|
Denise Rathman
Denise Rathman, MSW, has been the executive director of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Iowa Chapter since December 2013. This position allows her to utilize the variety of skills she has obtained during her career such as workforce development; public policy, including lobbying and government relations; community and political organizing; and campaign and election compliance. Prior to working for NASW Iowa, she facilitated the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Partnership for Central Iowa Works, served as the Executive Director of the Iowa Innovation Gateway and was the project manager for the Siouxland Tri-State Regional Innovation Grant. Her campaign experience includes working on US Senator Tom Harkin’s 1990 re-election campaign, his 1992 presidential campaign and during the 1994 cycle for the national fundraising office of the Committee to Re-Elect Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
In 2000 Denise earned her Masters in Social Work from the National Catholic School of Social Service. Her undergraduate degree is from Drake University, where she majored in international relations. When considering a response to the question, Why social work? she explains, “I made a very conscious decision to earn an MSW because I wanted to do graduate level studies that somehow combined what I then described as ‘psychology and politics,’ now known as ‘human behavior in the social environment.’ My goal was to help create public and social policies that actually take into account the way that people behave. As a macro social worker, I can call upon all of my peers, colleagues, and NASW members to help inform social policy at the state and federal level.”
|
Jenn Stalder
Jenn Stalder supervises the SUCCESS Program for Des Moines Public Schools. SUCCESS provides intensive case management support to high risk elementary and middle school students and their families and reengages high school students who have disengaged from school back into the appropriate educational pathway. The program’s goal is to have ALL students experience school success and graduate from high school.
|