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Jessica Polk is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, educator, and consultant with more than 20 years of experience in mental health, community services and higher education. She currently serves as Co-Director of Inclusive Excellence for the College of Health and Human Services and as a Lecturer in the School of Social Work at California State University, Long Beach.  She is also active in professional and community leadership, including serving as Faculty Co-Chair of the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association and as a Commissioner on the President’s Equity & Change Commission.

Her career spans direct practice and leadership roles serving transitional age youth (TAY), commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC), homeless youth, and system-involved youth. She has provided trauma-informed therapy, crisis intervention, and case management, and later managed residential, outpatient, and integrated care programs supporting vulnerable youth.  Drawing on her expertise in trauma-informed care, Jessica designed a Trauma-Informed Supervision model that has since been adopted in training for hundreds of practicum instructors and supervisors.

In addition to her academic roles, Jessica operates a consultation business, contracting with community-based organizations to train social workers and allied staff on trauma-informed practice, community building and motivational interviewing. She also maintains a private therapy practice. At ºÚÁÏÍø, she teaches both BASW and MSW courses, including SW679:  Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis, SW620: Advanced Social Work Practice, SW503B: Human Behavior and the Social Environment, SW596: Foundation Field Experience I/II, SW500: Foundation Social Work Micro Practice Skills and Interventions, SW570: Facilitating Groups, SW495A/B: Practicum Experience in Social Work I/II, SW442: Generalist Social Work Practice with Communities/Institutions, SW221: Introduction to Social Welfare Practicum.

She earned her MSW (2009, magna cum laude) and BA in Social Work (2007, honors) from San Diego State University, along with a Certificate of Competence in Spanish from Harvest Language School in Guadalajara, Mexico.