Colorado School Social Work Association

About CSSWA

CSSWA is an organization of certified school social workers.

The Colorado School Social Work Association exists to promote the visibility and viability of the School Social Work profession, promote professional excellence among school social workers in an effort to enhance the well being of students, families, and community within the educational system.

The mission of the organization is to enhance the well being of students, families, and the community within the educational system.

About School Social Work

School social workers provide a focused reach to support all students specifically in areas of social-emotional learning and mental health needs, and are uniquely trained to integrate the school, community, and family context into interventions and resource referrals.

School social work interventions reduce barriers to learning enabling students to be physically, mentally, and emotionally present and ready to learn in the classrooms. 

Click to learn more about the Role of School Social Workers

CSSWA works to support the School Social Work profession in order to bring these skills and services into all Colorado schools for all Colorado students.

To learn more about School Social Work Services and resources for providers in Colorado, visit the Colorado Department of Education's website.

The CSSWA Board


Jessie Caggiano

President

Term Dates: March 2024 - March 2026

Jessie began her career as a Social Worker in 2010 working in community mental health. In 2016, Jessie began working for Greeley Evans Weld District 6 as a district-wide school social worker. Jessie loves connecting with other school social workers and started the Northern Colorado School Social Work collaborative meetings in 2017. Jessie previously served in the role of Northern Regional Representative and President Elect for CSSWA.


Rachel Fox Browne

President Elect

Term Dates: March 2024 - March 2026

Rachel began her career as a social worker in 2009 working in the Community Centered Board setting at Rocky Mountain Human Services as well as Carmel Community Living Corporation, supporting adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. In 2011, Rachel began working with Aurora Public Schools (APS) as a school social worker. In 2015, Rachel transitioned to a district role, supporting the Sources of Strength program at two APS high schools, while also fulfilling the Mental Health Team Support position. Currently, Rachel is a Team Support Coach with APS, providing professional supervision to first year and early career school social workers. Rachel previously served in the role of Lead Committee Chair for CSSWA.


Maria Huber (she/her)

Past President
Term Dates: March 2024 - March 2026

Maria was formerly the Manager of Social Work and Mental Health for Denver Public Schools. She was previously an Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) Specialist for Colorado Department of Education (CDE). Prior to joining CDE, Maria served as a school social worker in Denver Public Schools and was a member of the Department Leadership Team for DPS’s Department of Social Work and Psychological Services. Maria began her school social work career in Indianapolis Public Schools before relocating to Denver in 2018. Maria has moved back to Indiana but will maintain membership and CDE licensure, and serve in the advisory role of Past President in order to support the initiative, mission, and Board of CSSWA.


Dena Joslyn-Custer

Secretary

Term Dates: September 2022 - September 2024

Dena began her career as a child protection caseworker in 1994. In 2001, Dena shifted to a position where she was the liaison between Arapahoe County Human Services and the Sheridan School District. In 2005, Dena made the shift to become a school social worker. She worked as the only school social worker for 11 years at Aurora Central High School in Aurora Public Schools (APS)In the last five years, she has moved to APS' district level first as a Risk Response Coordinator and most recently as the Mental Health & Counseling Coordinator. Dena previously served as the Treasurer on the CSSWA Board from September 2020 - September 2022.


Shelby Grosboll

Northern Regional Representative

Term Dates: November 2022 - November 2024

Shelby began her social work career in 2018 as an advocate for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Shortly after, she began working as a school social worker and has worked in the Greeley Evans Weld School District 6 since 2020. She currently is full-time in an elementary school in District 6. Shelby loves the variety and team environment that comes with being a school social worker. She enjoys collaborating with all stakeholders in the school environment and advocating for the school social work profession. 


Debbie Wright

Treasurer

Term Dates: November 2022 - November 2024

Debbie is the Social and Emotional Screening Coordinator for Denver Public Schools. She received her MSW from the University of Houston and has worked in school systems in Texas, Georgia and Colorado. Debbie began her career working mostly with foster youth throughout the continuum of care including psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers and therapeutic foster care. She started her career in the school system working with students on the Autism Spectrum and those with significant emotional and behavioral difficulties. Debbie enjoys developing programs where she uses her collaborative and assessment skills to identify equity gaps for vulnerable youth. In her personal time, Debbie enjoys spending time with her husband taking their dogs on hikes and basking in the beauty of Colorado. 


Eli Snyder

New to Practice Representative

Term Dates: May 2023 - May 2025

Eli began his career in education as a middle and high school English teacher. In 2021, he decided to make the switch to social work, with the intention of working as a school social worker upon his graduation from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work. Fast forward to 2023, Eli is starting his career as a school social worker in Denver Public Schools. As someone who was raised in Denver, Colorado, Eli is honored to have the privilege to work in the same communities where he grew up.


Mairi Risner

Western Central Regional Representative

Term Dates: May 2023 - May 2025

Mairi began her Social Work career in 2013 working for Child Protection, and the most recent work she did was in preventative and intensive in-home case management which she enjoyed the most.  As much as Mairi loved working with children, youth, and families, she was ready for a change. Mairi transitioned to be a School Social Worker in 2021; she started off as a General Education Social Worker and is currently working with the Special Education population of students.  Mairi loves being able to still connect with children and families in a different capacity than before.  Mairi is one of 6 Social Workers in District 51 and is looking forward to many years to come!


Tiffanee Lenox

Board Member At-Large

Term Dates: November 2023 - November 2025

Tiffanee has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from The University of Colorado 2002. She then graduated with a Master of Social Work, At Risk Youth Clinical Track from the University of Denver in June 2005. Since graduation, Tiffanee has spent most of her career working with the At-Risk population in both private and public agency settings. For almost 3 years, Tiffanee worked in Homeless Prevention Services at Jewish Family Services of Colorado.  Tiffanee has worked with young adults with developmental disabilities, families, children, seniors and youth within the system. Tiffanee has worked in the School Social Worker role for over 8 years (both Private and Public Sectors). Currently Tiffanee is a School Social Worker in Aurora Public Schools, working at Boston P-8 School. Tiffanee serves as a member of the SSWAC Leadership Team within Aurora Public Schools. She has focused her career in working with all populations to get a well-rounded perspective of how to serve the whole child/person. Tiffanee plans to bring a new perspective to being a change agent within the Denver Metro and Aurora communities.


Stephanie Asante

Denver Metro Regional Representative

Term Dates: November 2023 - November 2025

Presently, Stephanie is a General Education School Social Worker for Aurora Public Schools. From 2019 to Spring 2023, she served as a Social Worker for Exceptional Student Services for Aurora Public Schools, serving students identified with educational disabilities. Stephanie began her career as a Foster Care Caseworker in 2007 in New York City and worked several years serving in multiple roles for NYC child welfare agencies and collaborating with various school districts before relocating to Colorado in 2016. Prior to working for Aurora Public Schools, Stephanie served as a Medical Social Worker for a Colorado Hospice agency.



Ali Trattler

MSW Student Representative

Term Dates: November 2023 - Graduation from MSW Program

Ali is in her second year of her MSW at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. She is currently completing her internship for Aurora Public Schools with the Sustainable Wellness Team. Last year, she interned for Denver Public Schools. Prior to starting her MSW, she earned her B.S. in Human Services from Northeastern University. She also worked at a non-profit in Boston that focused on providing free, safe, and developmentally appropriate play to children in the community



Open Board Positions

(as of March 2024)

  • Lead Committee Chair
  • Pikes Peak Regional Representative
  • Southern Regional Representative

Are you a CSSWA member interested in joining our Board?

Log in and check out the Members Tab to learn more about open board positions and apply.

Official State Association of the 

 

The Colorado School Social Work Association is a

501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

545 3rd St, PO Box 11, Monument, CO 80132

Contact Us

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software