Leah van Lingen earned a Bachelors in Psychology from UCSD and a Masters in Social Work from SDSU. She is a Fellow of Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform and holds certifications in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Multi-System Integration, Information Sharing, and School Partnerships. Her capstone project focused on early childhood interventions designed to reduce future involvement in the justice system. She also developed tools that simplified confidentiality laws and crossover requirements between Child Welfare and partner agencies, including schools, courts, and law enforcement, improving collaboration on behalf of foster youth. In 2014, Georgetown University recognized her work as the 2013 Project of the Year, selecting it from more than 400 projects nationwide for its impact on children and families. Ms. van Lingen spent 15 years with the County of San Diego’s Child Welfare Services and remains connected to the field as a trainer. Before joining the County, she worked for four years in a residential treatment facility serving foster youth, where she also taught recreational therapy. During her Child Welfare career, she served in Emergency Response, Continuing Services, and as a Court Officer. Her case management experience focused on medically fragile children and Deaf families. She later became a Policy Analyst specializing in foster youth mental health and education and served as Legal Procedures Liaison, providing guidance on child welfare record confidentiality and coordinating responses to child abuse-related litigation. Since 2015, she has held management roles in other County departments, expanding her expertise in electronic health records, behavioral health, and project management. Ms. van Lingen has trained social workers, attorneys, CASA volunteers, and other professionals. Known for her engaging style, she uses practical experience, humor, and clear explanations to make complex topics accessible and memorable.

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