Social Work

The Johns Hopkins Hospital was among the first hospitals in the nation to establish a Department of Social Work. The significant contributions of social work continue today as they did 100 years ago as the Pediatric-OB/GYN Social Work Department commits to the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center’s mission to provide care for sick children and their families.

Clinical social workers in the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center have had graduate education in child and adolescent development, family systems theory, and behavioral/mental health counseling. Social workers understand the impact of illness on the emotional and social functioning of children and their families.

Social Workers Help Families:

  • Cope with the challenges of caring for your child, managing their illness, hospitalization or outpatient treatment plan
  • Support families (children, parents, grandparents, siblings) encountering a crisis, experiencing grief and bereavement or adjusting to a diagnosis
  • Clarify guardianship and decision-making authority
  • Gain a better understanding of the illness and what to expect while receiving treatment
  • Talk with your child or siblings about illness and/or hospitalization
  • Advocate for you and your needs with the medical team (doctors, nurses, therapists) to promote family-centered care
  • Develop pre- and posthospitalization care plans
  • Promote a safe family environment
  • Refer to community agencies for material assistance, including temporary lodging or resources needed to support a safe discharge plan

Programs and Services

Clinical social workers are integral members of your child’s treatment team. We collaborate with the health care providers to assist in meeting the psychological, emotional, social and practical needs of pediatric patients and their families.

There is a social worker assigned to each inpatient medical unit to provide support regardless of assigned medical team or referral source.

Social Work Staff

Assigned Social Work staff is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. On weekends, after business hours and on holidays, a coverage social worker is available.

Director of Pediatric Social Work

Rachel Boro-Hernandez, MSW, LCSW-C, Director

Administrative Coordinator

Rochelle Craig

Senior Social Workers

Beth Bounds, MSW, LCSW-C, Senior Social Worker- Cardiology, Transplant & Outpatient Clinics

Christine Peck, MSW, LCSW-C, Senior Social Worker- Inpatient Medicine, Oncology & ICU’s

Diane Pickett, MSW, LCSW-C, Senior Social Worker- Emergency Department & Psychiatry

Simone Thompson, MSW, LCSW-C, Senior Social Worker- Associate Director, Child Protection Team

Social Work Team Members

Sue Barker Hildebrandt, MSW, LCSW-C, PICU

Nancy Campbell, MSW, LGSW, Endocrine

Erica Carroll, MSW, LGSW, Inpatient Transplant

Donna Chioke- Colbert, MSW, LCSW-C, Renal

Devon Ciampa, MSW, MA, MFA, LCSW-C, Oncology

Amy Durocher, MSW, LCSW-C, PCICU

Ella Edelman, MSW, LCSW-C, Oncology

Morgan Garber, MSW, LCSW-C, Oncology

Lauren Gonzalez, MSW, LGSW, Psychiatry Day Hospital

Courtney Harris, MSW, LGSW, NICU

Paula Heneberry, MSW, LCSW-C, Emergency Department

Rachel Hildebrand, MSW, LCSW-C, Harriet Lane Clinic

Kim Hurley, MSW, LGSW, Psychiatry Inpatient

Tisha James, MSW, LGSW, Adolescent Clinic

Aysha Jawed, MSW, MPH, LCSW-C, Inpatient Infant and Toddler & Adolescent

Aymee Malena, MSW, LCSW, Cystic Fibrosis, Orthopedics, Neurology & Neurosurgery

Mindi Lutwin, MSW, LCSW-C, Inpatient Trauma/Burn, School Age & Adolescent

Amanda Menzel, MSW, LCSW-C, Psychiatry Inpatient

Torri Mills, MSW, LCSW-C, Emergency Department

LaToya Mobley, MSW, LCSW-C, Harriet Lane Clinic

Sydney Richardson, MSW, LGSW, Specialty Clinics

Danielle Santos, MSW, LGSW, Psychiatry Day Hospital

Amy Sarlo, MSW, LCSW-C, Emergency Department

Sara Singer, MSW, LCSW-C, Emergency Department

Vicki Souther, MSW, LCSW-C, Emergency Department

Taryn Sterling Harris, MSW, LCSW-C, Psychiatry Inpatient

Emily VanWiel, MSW, LGSW, NICU

Dawn Warfield, MSW, MPH, LCSW-C, Cardiology

Kelli White-Sullivan, MSW, LGSW, Emergency Department