From Recovery to Social Work: Katelyn Miles’ Journey to Helping Families

For Katelyn Miles, social work isn't just a profession. It's a chance to provide the kind of support she once needed herself.

Today, Katelyn is an intake and investigative social worker with Shasta County, where she works with children and families experiencing some of the most challenging moments of their lives. She investigates reports of child abuse and neglect, carries voluntary family service cases and participates in weekly neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) rounds for substance-exposed infants and medical neglect cases.

From Recovery to Purpose

Like many who choose careers supporting vulnerable children and families, Katelyn was once in a vulnerable spot herself.

Before becoming a social worker, she spent eight years struggling with addiction. Her children were placed with family members through a guardianship arrangement rather than an open child welfare case, leaving her to navigate recovery and reunification largely on her own.

But before the guardianship was established, Katelyn met with a social worker regularly—an experience that ultimately shaped the professional she would become.

“I just remember how kind she always treated me, regardless of the circumstances at that time," Katelyn said. "She changed my perspective.”

Reflecting further on the experience, she recalled thinking, “This is what I want to do, and I'm going to be a really good social worker.”

Katelyn committed herself to recovery, successfully reunited with her children and attended Shasta College before earning her bachelor's degree from Simpson University. She became the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Along the way, Katelyn served as a parent partner with the Child Abuse Prevention Council, where she participated in Shasta County's RED (Review, Evaluate, Direct) team alongside social workers, gaining firsthand exposure to the child welfare profession.

This is what I want to do, and I'm going to be a really good social worker.

Learning the Profession

In 2025, she completed the Core for Social Workers program through the Northern Academy at UC Davis Human Services, a statewide standardized training program for new California child welfare social workers.

“I really enjoyed hearing the perspectives of a lot of the other students from different counties,” Katelyn said.

In addition to learning collaboratively with her new social worker peers, she also valued learning from instructors who had spent years working in child welfare and could share firsthand experience from the field.

“It was nice to be able to hear the unique circumstances of each scenario, what they might have done to make sure that each family had their unique needs met—because there is no same family, no same case, no same referral. It really needs to be tuned to what the family is needing.”

One topic within Core had an immediate impact on her career.

Katelyn specifically recalled a court testimony session taught by UC Davis Human Services instructor Roger Coffman, a former County Counsel attorney. Since testifying in court is a common responsibility for child welfare social workers, understanding the legal process is an important part of the profession. Shortly after completing Core, she was subpoenaed to testify in court for the first time. While a little scared and intimidated at first, the training had prepared her for the experience. According to Katelyn, her County Counsel was so impressed with her preparation and approach that she was later asked to help other social workers strengthen their own testimony skills.

“I've been asked to go over my method of testifying with other social workers.”

Experiences like those have reinforced the value of ongoing professional development.

Katelyn said additional trainings through UC Davis Human Services continue to influence her practice and reinforce her commitment to lifelong learning.

“I feel like every single time I do something with the trainings, I'm always learning something new.”

There is no same family, no same case, no same referral.

Supporting Families Through Experience

In addition to her training, Katelyn's lived experience helps her connect parents navigating challenges with resources and pathways toward positive change.

In difficult interactions with parents, she often hears, “You don't know what this feels like.”

“But I do know what it feels like.”

While she doesn't typically share her personal story with clients, her lived experience has helped her approach families with empathy, compassion and an understanding of the challenges they may be facing.

In one recent case involving the removal of children from a home, a parent later reached out to thank her for the support she had provided throughout the process.

“For her to be able to say that to me tells me I must be doing something right.”

She also hopes her example can inspire individuals who are struggling with addiction and feel that recovery is out of reach.

“You can change any time.”

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, Katelyn plans to continue growing in the profession by pursuing a Master of Social Work through California's Title IV-E Education Program, where she hopes to deepen her knowledge of the field and continue building the skills that help her support children and families.

“I speak a lot with my co-workers who are in their MSW programs,” she said. “They have a lot of useful information that they learn while they're in that program. Even the way that some of them have their conversations with their clients, and the way that they speak to them, I notice a difference.”

Looking back on her own journey, Katelyn is proud of how far she has come and the mother she is today—and hopes the families she serves can see similar possibilities for themselves.

“I used to have people tell me, ‘You're never going to be anything,’” she said. “And I was like, ‘You just wait and see.’”

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