Debra Ross

Fisk University | Bachelor of Arts, Sociology
Fordham University | Master of Social Work

Debra Ross is the Instructional Coordinator for the Child Welfare Training Collaborative/ Professional Excellence Program. In this capacity, she provides extensive training around all aspects of trauma in both the public and private sectors. Debra has worked in training and staff development for the last 20 years. She began her career in Social Work over 30 years ago, working in child welfare in various roles. In her downtime, she loves to play in the dirt, eat anything that swims, and drive with the wind in her hair.

Debra has worked in Social Services for over 25 years and has various child welfare experience in the public and private sectors. During her early professional career, Debra worked at the Department of Children and Family Services in two states, where she supported efforts to reform child welfare practices through crisis intervention and provided specialized case management services. She has recently served as a program manager on four state contracts. She was responsible for marketing, program evaluation, quality assurance, web-based learning, and training for families and their children. She developed, presented, and managed numerous workshops to help support the continuing training needs of foster/adoptive parents across the state. Because of her creative approach, innovative strategies in Social Work, and years of child welfare experience, Debra has been invited to present at the Federal and State levels. Debra holds a degree in Sociology from Fisk University and a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University.