Melissa Galioto
Discipline: Social Work
Faculty Mentor: Susan Russell
About:
Hi, my name is Melissa Galioto. I join the Leadership Education and Neurodevelopment Program as a Social Worker and advocate for children and families. I have a wealth of experience working with children, families and communities for over 13 years. I have worked in the private sector as the Family Coordinator for the York County Homeless Program and advocate for homeless youth in York County. This position gave me some amazing experiences and helped me grow into the clinician that I am today. My current position, as Clinical Team Leader and Clinical Social Worker at Child Development Services (CDS), provides me with opportunities to train and mentor staff as well as work with children and families in a variety of settings—early intervention centers, medical settings, as well as schools specializing in the care of children and families coping with trauma, homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse and autism. Another important part of my experience while working for CDS was been the collaborative relationships that I have created within my community of practice. This relationship building has been so important especially when working as a team. I have been amazed at the abilities and strength of a team when they have a common goal in mind. This position is showing me that even though I love working with families and children on a micro-level…there is so much I can do on a macro-level. My hope is that LEND will support me in becoming a strong leader and advocate for children and families. In my free time, I enjoy traveling and taking hikes with my dog Patches. I am also very involved with teen and young cancer survivors and the advocating for information and preservation of fertility for all cancer patients. I am passionate, creative and insightful and I am looking forward to meeting new people and learning about all the new things LEND has to offer.