Dana Johnson, MSW
Dana Johnson from Wisconsin is a career social worker, practicing in senior level management in state government, county human services, an educator in higher education, and operating a consulting and professional development firm. His experience includes child welfare practice, policy, and reform; transformational organizational leadership and culture change, supervision of teams, continuous quality improvement, and dynamic equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts across micro, mezzo, and macro systems.
Project Manager Small Business Owner Educator Facilitator Mentor Coach
Learn more about me by clicking my Linkedin profile button below. Email me with any questions.
Check out my work experience below
Community Builder
Fellowship Board
President
Organizing Committee Chair
County Board Supervisor
Traits and Values:
Authenticity, Integrity, Peace
Public Service, Service Above Self, Love & Appreciation for All, Wisdom and Open-Mindedness, Solution-Seeking, Innovation, Respect
Dana Johnson
915 N. Rankin St., Appleton, WI 54911 ■ (414) 803-6372 ■ dana@growmylife.org
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - Bachelor of Social Work
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Honors - Master of Social Work
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families 06/2021-Present
Strategic Initiatives Coordinator - Advanced Policy Analyst
▪ Preparation of complex, comprehensive policy analysis and related research, program planning, and program evaluation related to Bureau and Division strategic objectives in the areas of child welfare, youth justice and their integration.
▪ Communicate, collaborate and engage with a wide array of stakeholders in the development and implementation of plans to execute Division strategic priorities, while promoting integration of services across program areas to best serve children, youth, and families.
▪ Responsible for reviewing federal and state legislation and policies, analyzing federal and state-level data regarding practice and outcomes, and assessing promising and evidence-based practices and programming to develop recommendations to improve the state’s child welfare and youth justice system and to provide technical assistance and consultation to providers, and counties and tribes in their service delivery.
▪ Coordinate planning, implementation and execution of Division strategic objectives in assigned policy areas with responsibility for overall delivery of project team objectives, assuring alignment with strategic goals and vision, directing the project team’s approach and priorities, and identifying resources.
Children’s Wisconsin (Children’s Hospital) 09/2020-06/2021
Manager - Milwaukee Child Advocacy Center
▪ Provide vision, management and oversight of clinic operations, clinical services, and medical services of an acute care, ambulatory clinic specializing in forensic interviewing, medical evaluation, and child advocacy for children who have experience maltreatment and their families.
▪ Provide leadership, oversight, and management of 25 employees.
▪ Coordinate service provision: contract creation, monitoring, evaluation, and negotiation; outline future forward goals and strategic planning.
▪ Provide oversight and fiscal management of clinic operations and program services, including grant writing, budget review and analysis, and qualitative research for future revenue cycle growth.
▪ Lead organizational change, process mapping, continuous quality improvement, policy implementation, and drive innovation for both internal and external stakeholders.
▪ Interviewing, hiring, and effectively training new staff for roles within the organization. Assign, direct, and evaluate work of employees and conduct employee performance reviews. Receive complaints and effectively recommended adjustment of personnel actions for employee growth.
▪ Develop and enhance leadership skills of a Leadership Team in building a culture of excellence in our organization.
▪ Provide vision, management and oversight of clinic operations, clinical services, and medical services of an acute care, ambulatory clinic specializing in forensic interviewing, medical evaluation, and child advocacy for children who have experience maltreatment and their families.
▪ Provide leadership, oversight, and management of 25 employees.
▪ Coordinate service provision: contract creation, monitoring, evaluation, and negotiation; outline future forward goals and strategic planning.
▪ Provide oversight and fiscal management of clinic operations and program services, including grant writing, budget review and analysis, and qualitative research for future revenue cycle growth.
▪ Lead organizational change, process mapping, continuous quality improvement, policy implementation, and drive innovation for both internal and external stakeholders.
▪ Interviewing, hiring, and effectively training new staff for roles within the organization. Assign, direct, and evaluate work of employees and conduct employee performance reviews. Receive complaints and effectively recommended adjustment of personnel actions for employee growth.
▪ Develop and enhance leadership skills of a Leadership Team in building a culture of excellence in our organization.
Kewaunee County Department of Human Services 04/2019-04/2020
▪ Director
▪ Provide vision, management and oversight of administration, financial services, behavioral health services, child welfare services, children’s long-term support services, and adult and aging services.
▪ Provide leadership, oversight, and management of 37 employees.
▪ Coordinate service provision: contract creation, monitoring, evaluation, and negotiation; outline future forward goals and strategic planning.
▪ Provide oversight and fiscal management of the department ($5M budget), including revision of policy, procedure, grant writing and supplemental material submission, and qualitative research towards these ends.
▪ Lead organizational change, process mapping, process management, policy formation, and drive innovation for both internal and external stakeholders.
▪ Interviewing, hiring, and effectively training new staff for roles within the organization. Assign, direct, and evaluate work of employees and conduct employee performance reviews. Receive complaints and effectively recommended adjustment of personnel actions for employee growth.
▪ Develop, implement and monitor contracts for service provision and procurement. Monitor for fiscal appropriations and direct client outcomes and adherence to State and Federal regulatory requirements.
Grow My Life, LLC 05/2012-Present
▪ Owner, Project Manager, Consultant, Trainer
▪ Lead the development and management of project-based organizational effectiveness teams for change, in non-profit and public sector social service agencies.
▪ Organize agency-based, specialized training to improve service delivery, performance, and evaluation of services to direct consumers.
▪ Collaborate with community stakeholders to enhance the success of projects, including service delivery, fiscal responsibility, program evaluation, and operations.
▪ Evaluate service delivery systems, staff performance, service provision, and outcomes related to baseline and after-implementation organizational change.
▪ Conduct project management and implementation of the following content areas: trauma-informed care, LGBTQIA+, inclusivity, gender equity, racial equity, diversity, ethics and boundaries, child welfare reform, and supervision and leadership. Commitment to enhancing skills in communication and human relations with diverse populations of socio-economic, ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation status.
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay Social Work Professional Programs 08/2015-04/2019
▪ Lecturer & Child Welfare Coordinator
▪ Provide classroom preparation and lecture to social work courses in the areas of Policy Analysis, Social Work Methodology, Field Practicum, and Child Welfare Practice.
▪ Provide supervision of 18 students per semester in their Field Practicum sites.
▪ Coordinate the application, acceptance, and monitoring of Title IVE child welfare trainee stipends for students awarded federal funds in return for a commitment of child welfare employment.
▪ Provide oversight and fiscal management of the Title IVE program ($400k budget), including revision of policy, procedure, grant writing and supplemental material submission, and qualitative research.
▪ Facilitate advising and student engagement for stimulating student retention, on-campus involvement, civic engagement and professional career planning. Assess student needs and connect resources for better student outcomes.
Waupaca County Department of Health and Human Services 05/2013-08/15/2015
▪ Access/Initial Assessment & Foster Care Manager
▪ Supervised nine staff in Access, Initial Assessment, in areas of child welfare, safety, protection and youth justice, and foster care services.
▪ Managed office operations; analyzed data sets and client information to determine best practice approaches to improve permanence for children and families; approved fiscal appropriations ($3.5M), organized and lead team staffing’s, coordinated and implemented varied social service programs, designed and implemented an Organization Effectiveness and Trauma-Informed Care practice model to child welfare, and developed policies at the agency, county, and state level.
Wood County Human Services 01/2012-05/2013
▪ Supervisor – Ongoing Child Welfare Services
▪ Supervised nine staff in an ongoing child welfare protection and youth justice unit, and in intensive in-home specialized treatment foster care.
▪ Managed office operations; analyzed data sets and client information to determine best outcomes and performance management improvements; approved fiscal appropriations ($1.5M), organized and lead team staffing’s, coordinated and implemented varied social service programs, designed and implemented a new Internship Training Program, conducted decision making processes for agency and county functions; and developed policies both agency and county wide.
Aspirus Wausau Hospital 11/2009-01/2012
▪ Social Worker for 250-bed Regional, Level II Trauma Center Hospital.
▪ Case management and discharge service planning float of; in-patient orthopedic, neurological, cardiac, medical, pediatrics, oncology, rehabilitation, intensive care, level I trauma, AODA, and behavioral health units.
▪ Conducted utilization review for comprehensive insurance coverage, clinic and patient admissions, insurance verification and prior authorization and successful discharge planning for covered medical services and medical supplies.
▪ Coordinated outbound calls for referrals for services, physician follow-up and provide exceptional customer service and case management to enhance the safety, health and well-being of patients.
ORGANIZATIONS / AFFILIATIONS:
Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship ▪ Rotary International ▪ Elevate 920 ▪ Waupaca County Caucus 4 Progress – Chair ▪ National Association of Social Workers - North Central WI Branch Chair 2010-2012 ▪ Care Giving Pathways Coalition-Member ▪ Milwaukee Child Abuse Prevention Services Coalition-Member ▪ Residence Hall Association-Exec Board ▪ IMPACT GLBSU-President ▪ Leadership Involvement Team-Communications Coordinator ▪ National Residence Hall Honorary ▪ UWM & UWW College of Letters and Sciences Dean’s Lists ▪ UWM Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Graduate Honors Inductee
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:
2022-Present Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship - Board President
2019 Department of Children and Families – Critical Incident Mapping Session – Content Expert
2016-2018 Outagamie County – Frequently Encountered Families Data Project
2016-2017 House of Hope – Trauma Informed Care Initiative
2015-2017 UWGB Pride Center Advisory Council
2014-2016 Mission of Hope: Waupaca Chair
2012–2014 Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum – Board Member – Vice President
2011-2012 NASW WI Marketing & Membership Committee Chair
2010-2012 Community Educator and Organizer of Meet the Experts
2010-2012 National Association of Social Workers of WI - North Central Branch Chair
2009 Counselor – Camp Hope, Stevens Point, WI
2006-2010 Guest Lecturer on GLBTQ issues in Social Work, Women’s Studies, and Gen-Ed Courses
2006 Classroom Tutor at Lincoln Elementary School – Resource Room/Special Education
2001 Peer Mentor at Lincoln Elementary School – 4th Grade Students with below average test scores
2001 Screening Committee for new hire of Residence Hall Directors and Assistant Directors
2001 Chairperson-Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program of UW-Whitewater, WI
