Social Work Appreciation Month: Jessica Bethel
Meet Jessica Bethel. Jessica has been in Child Welfare since 2003 after obtaining her Bachelors Degree in Social Work. She attended Miles College, a Historical Black College/University in Birmingham, AL. Jessica is currently working as a Training Specialist at NWFHN.
Jessica says she was inspired by her mother to choose social work. She remembers as a child that her mother was always helping anybody she could. She took placement of any of Jessica’s relatives children to avoid foster care. Jessica remembers her sibling-cousins living with her family when her mother passed away unexpectedly. The cousins were removed from the home and she remembers no one ever telling her where they were going or how they were doing. She said: I remember saying at 16 years old that I wanted to help families so that their babies don’t have to live without their parents. I knew my calling was to pursue something in a helping profession- and nursing was not the answer as I can’t do blood!”
Jessica is married and has 3 sons ages 21 and twin 14 year olds. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Jessica has lived in Alaska where she walked on glaciers and while in Canada, she had a sea lion kiss her! When Jessica isn’t working, she loves to fish: she calls herself “the best fisherwomen” around.
Thank you Jessica! We appreciate your passion to help others.
