Jerilyn Smith serves as Director of Permanency at KVC Kansas, where she oversees child welfare case management services for the Topeka and Topeka Rural areas. In this role, she works to ensure children in foster care reach safe and timely permanency.

With more than 25 years of social work and child welfare experience, Jerilyn brings a wealth of experience and steadfast commitment to Kansas children and families. During her career with KVC Kansas, she served in a variety of roles including family support worker, therapeutic case manager, supervisor and more. In each capacity, Jerilyn consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, empathy, and unwavering dedication to improving the lives of children and families involved in the child welfare system.

Outside of KVC, Jerilyn led a team of volunteers providing round-the-clock crisis intervention to victims of sexual violence and trauma in Douglas, Franklin and Jefferson counties.

Jerilyn is a licensed master social worker in Kansas. She received a master’s degree in social work and a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in women’s studies from the University of Kansas.

“Building relationships has always been important to me personally and as a social worker. It’s the most crucial part of our work at KVC! I love coming to work each day and connecting with youth, families, caregivers, coworkers and community professionals to collaborate and be the village our families need to be successful – one small change at a time.” – Jerilyn Smith