Ines Rios

Soon after graduating with my Bachelor’s in Psychology, I began working for the Department of Children and Family as a Child Abuse Investigator. After, getting assaulted, sheltering a group of children, which follow a very intense family court case. I transition into victim advocacy. I was a victim advocate for the domestic violence unit with the local police department for 2.5 years, it was a grant position, which unfortunately, no true sustainability plan was created after grant funding were depleted. Thus, I transition to the Sheriff’s Office of my local county and worked as a victim’s advocate for major person’s crime. I held the position for about 10 years. I moved to work as a Transition’s case worker for the department of the jail, helping inmates hone in on skills needed to reenter the community. I also ran a transitional program for the local homeless shelter for about 2 years. I pursue a Master’s in Social Work as I am interested in creating policy and helping individuals navigate the effects of the policies that are created. I was hired as a Adult Heart Transplant Social Worker in 2017, and I have loved not only the patient population but learning, and discussing the intersectionality of healthcare system and the many impacts it has with the community.