Penny Michel - mpen300@uw.edu

Penny Michel began her social work career in 1998 as a Child Care Licensor (Social Worker III) for the Office of Child Care Policy (OCCP). She worked two part-time licensor positions at the same time, one in Vancouver (Region 6) and one in Bremerton (Region 5). The following year, she was hired fulltime in Region 6 to license In-Home Childcare providers in the Mason and Gray’s Harbor areas. In 2001, Penny transferred to a social work position with the Office of Foster Care Licensing (OFCL) and worked as a Foster Care Licensor in Thurston Co. for 10 years. While in her position as a Licensor with OFCL, she was accepted into the University of Washington (UW) School of Social Work/Child Welfare Training and Advancement Program (CWTAP) and completed her Master of Social Work (MSW) in 2007.

In 2014, Penny accepted a position with the Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence as a Continuing Education Specialist. She is responsible for the development and monitoring of pre-licensing training for potential foster parents and for continuing education trainings for licensed foster parents, kinship care providers and community members.  

Stephanie Rodrigues - steph75@uw.edu

Stephanieʼs interest in child welfare began with the adoption of her two children. She left a career in genetic research to obtain her Masters of Social Work, graduating from the University of Washington in 2008. Stephanie participated in the CWTAP program and completed practicums at Northwest Adoption Exchange and Childrenʼs Administration. At Childrenʼs Administration, Stephanie worked for seven years as a Children and Family Services, Social Worker. She began working for Childrenʼs Administration in King County and later in Grays Harbor County, where she has been for the last five years. Stephanie is a native of Grays Harbor County and is passionate about her community and helping families and children succeed.