March is Social Work Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible work social workers do every day for patients and their families. This year’s theme for Social Work Month is, “Social Work: Compassion + Action.”
To celebrate Social Work Month, we’re highlighting some of our own social workers at Children’s Minnesota: Brenda Muthoni, LICSW, after hours social worker, Kevin Ly, LGSW, emergency department (ED) social worker, and Sarah O’Keefe, LGSW, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) social worker.
Get to know Brenda, Kevin and Sarah!
Brenda: I am a social worker on the after-hours team and currently work every other weekend on the St. Paul campus. We provide campus-wide coverage with a primary focus on the emergency department, completing crisis assessments and resource coordination for parents and families. Each day can be completely different from navigating the needs of our behavioral health patients, to supporting families across the campus with needs such as resource navigation, emotional support or advocating for needs.
Kevin: I’m currently one of the overnight social workers in the emergency department at Children’s Minnesota – St. Paul and have worked here since June 2024 after graduating from the University of Minnesota. My typical day involves working with the care team in the ED, other social workers and the inpatient mental health unit to best support our patients and their families. My role is to primarily conduct mental health assessments with children and facilitate the transition to the recommended level of care. I also support and respond to other units within the hospital whether it be with patients, families and/or staff for various aspects of their time at Children’s [Minnesota].
Sarah: I am the PICU social worker on the Minneapolis campus. A typical day for me involves providing emotional support and assisting families with resource navigation. I assess care barriers and identify service needs during admission and after discharge. As a member of the psychosocial support team, I collaborate closely with other team members to ensure each family’s needs are addressed through a holistic, trauma informed approach.
Brenda: I became a social worker because I have always had a passion for helping others, especially as they navigate difficult times. Children’s Minnesota was my first role in the field of pediatrics, and I’m always grateful to my manager Nikki Helland for taking a chance as I had no pediatric or hospital experience. What began as an opportunity quickly turned into a passion, and now I can’t see myself doing anything but working with children and families. Being able to provide support comfort and advocacy for families in difficult times is incredibly fulfilling.
Kevin: I majored in developmental psychology in undergrad because I was curious on the variables influencing child development and how we can best support growth/their environment. Originally, I was mainly working with children in a research lens, then I decided that I wanted to work more directly within this population. My passion to transition stemmed from the idea that we should support and provide interventions as soon as possible rather than having those negative factors impact individuals during critical and sensitive periods of their lives. After being a clinical research lab manager, I decided to apply to the University of Minnesota to complete my master’s in social work with an emphasis on clinical mental health.
Sarah: My inspiration to work in pediatrics began early on in my career, working with children with developmental disabilities for several years. I believe that early intervention and compassionate care can have a profound impact on a child and family’s well-being. In my current role, I am able to witness the resilience of families navigating challenging moments which motivates me to continue advocating and working to ensure they have access to the resources and support necessary to thrive.
Brenda: Social Work Month is a time to recognize the impact of social workers in various settings and to celebrate the dedication of those in this field. It’s also an opportunity to raise awareness about the essential role social workers play not just in healthcare but beyond. For me, it serves as a reminder of why I chose this profession and the meaningful work I get to do every day.
Kevin: It provides awareness of the current efforts of social workers and the work still yet to be done. It reminds me of the impact I can have in this role and title directly working with patients and their families. Also, I am proud of the work I do here at Children’s [Minnesota], proud of what my colleges here do and colleges outside of Children’s [Minnesota] do in the field of social work.
Sarah: To me, Social Work Month is a time dedicated to recognizing the efforts of social workers who dedicate their lives to helping others in addition to raising awareness of the many social injustices individuals and families face on a daily basis.
Brenda: Advocacy is a key part of my role, and it takes on many forms. One way is by ensuring families have access to the resources they need during their hospital stay and after they discharge back into the community. At times, my role in advocacy is as simple as empowering families with information and options so they can make the best decision.
Kevin: One of the most significant aspects of my training and experience working in this capacity is that everyone has a different viewpoint on health, health care, and what it means to be healthy. I make a conscious effort to listen, understand and be open to others’ perspective. I consistently communicate with the family, patient and care team to minimize gaps in each step of their time here at Children’s [Minnesota] and after.
Sarah: The way I advocate for patients and families is by listening to their story and being curious. Additionally, I work to educate and empower families to advocate for themselves as I have found when families develop the skills and confidence to navigate systems and voice their needs, they gain greater independence, resilience and the ability to sustain positive, long-term outcomes.
Brenda: I have some great coworkers who are always able to bring a smile to my face and can find the silver lining even after challenging situations. Outside of work, anytime I can get away and travel to a new destination, it never fails to brighten my day.
Kevin: Whenever I share/have someone laugh or smile; joy and happiness feel more meaningful and fulfilling when experienced with another.
Sarah: The Children’s Minnesota puppy parties [at Star Studio] always bring a smile to my face. These events are always therapeutic for not only the patients and families but also for staff and bring a smile to my face!
