Hello local child abuse prevention council friends. My name is Kawana Rogers and I am the newest member of the PCAIN team in the role of Prevention Council Coordinator. Building relationships with each of you is a priority for me, particularly in my new job, so I thought it might be helpful for me to share some information about myself.
I was raised in South Bend, Indiana; I am the oldest of 8 sisters and 3 brothers. When I was 15 years old, I was separated from my siblings and placed in the foster care system due to abuse. During my time in the DCS system I received individual and family therapy. Unfortunately, I was never reunified with my parents due to circumstances beyond my control. My junior year in high school, I was emancipated and determined to not let myself down. I graduated High School and went on to receive my bachelor’s degree in general studies from Indiana University.
I have 5 amazing sons ages 10-24, a loving husband, and my dog “Bo”, who are my biggest supporters. When I am not being a mom or wife I enjoy gardening, all things basketball, and traveling. Being a boy’s mom has allowed me to coach several of their basketball teams. I also enjoy attending their football games and band concerts. My family is the center of my life and I enjoy any time I can spend with them.
Over the past 20 years I have worked with DCS in various capacities from residential, schools, and community-based programs. Having been in foster care myself and experiencing abuse, I just wanted to serve the children in my community to overcome barriers. In 2021 I started my journey at The Villages working as a licensing case manager. During this time, I would train our foster parents in Trauma Informed Care, Sexual Abuse, Understanding and Managing Behaviors. I was also On-Call for the state of Indiana in case there was a placement needed, incident, or a parent just needing resources.
February 6, 2023, I transitioned into my new role as Prevention Council Coordinator for Prevent Child Abuse Indiana. My goal is to assist established chartered councils with coordinating events and training that meets the needs of their community. I am interested in learning more about each county and their councils to learn new ideas for preventing child abuse. I look forward to this opportunity to serve together and collaborate.