During our meeting on September 7th, we had the privilege of hosting Dr. Kaitlyn Goubeau, a remarkable individual with a background in the field of social work and community wellness. Dr. Goubeau serves as the Founder and CEO of the Center for Justice Social Work (CJSW), President of the CJSW Community Foundation, Founder and CEO of Soundview Wellness, and also holds the position of Board President of the Stilly Valley Chamber of Commerce. Her journey is marked by a deep commitment to making a positive impact in her community.
Dr. Goubeau is from Stanwood, but now resides in Arlington with her family. Her career path was shaped by various roles that ultimately led her to her current mission. She worked at Smokey Point Child Protective Services (CPS) and the Everett Police Department, gaining invaluable experience in community engagement, law enforcement, and social work. Her passion for working with both parents and children, as well as her dedication to changing the perception of law enforcement in these situations, became evident early in her career.
For a time, Dr. Goubeau even considered becoming a police officer herself before joining the Everett Police Department as a social worker. Her journey then took her to higher education as she applied for a doctoral program in social work and innovation, ultimately leading to the founding of her social work programs, including CJSW.
One of the key programs discussed during the presentation was the Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program, initiated in collaboration with the City. This program, founded in the fall of 2020, aims to address behavioral health challenges in the community. CJSW's social workers play a pivotal role in this program, providing de-escalation, crisis intervention, assessments, brief therapeutic interventions, case management, assistance with paperwork, and coordination with medical staff and services. The primary goal is to reduce the over-utilization of emergency services by addressing the root causes of consistent 9-1-1 calls.
The presentation also introduced the OEND Program, which focuses on Narcan distribution. Narcan, or Naloxone, is a medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of opioid overdoses. By distributing Narcan kits along with educational training on overdose recognition and administration, this program aims to save lives in the face of the opioid crisis.
In addition to her work with CJSW, Dr. Goubeau is the founder of Soundview Wellness, a program offering licensed clinical social workers specializing in trauma, depression, anxiety, and grief treatment for individuals of all ages. Soundview Wellness also provides behavioral health and social-emotional training for community members and local businesses.
Dr. Goubeau's vision for the future includes growth and expansion, with a focus on tailored programs for teens, close collaboration with schools, support for local businesses, increased training opportunities, and the hiring of additional clinical therapists.
In conclusion, Dr. Kaitlyn Goubeau's presentation shed light on her remarkable journey and the impactful work being carried out through CJSW, Soundview Wellness, and the OEND Program. Her commitment to improving the mental health and well-being of her community members is truly inspiring and aligns perfectly with Rotary's core values.
We express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Goubeau for sharing her expertise and dedication with our club. Her work exemplifies the positive change that individuals can effect in their communities.
