Over the course of several decades, Dr. Joel Odimba has had every job you can imagine in the child welfare space. This June he will retire after more than 30 years of public service to the state of Washington. Odimba has not only changed the lives of the families he partnered with but left his mark on the child welfare system as a whole.
“Joel’s passion and dedication throughout his years of public service are unmatched,” DCYF Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Natalie Green said. “His regional leadership, program development, and professionalism have earned him statewide respect and appreciation for all he has accomplished.”
Odimba was recently celebrated for his work by the Washington state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers with the Taylene Watson President's Award.
In the late 1980’s Odimba immigrated from Nigeria to the United States with dreams of becoming a lawyer. During his preparation for law school, Odimba worked as a clerk typist in a child welfare office where he felt called to pivot to social work. When asked what motivated him to dedicate his career to helping others, he credits his upbringing. He learned compassion from both of his parents at a very young age.
“My dad was a pastor, Odimba said. “Dad would bring kids home – feed them, clothe them, and help them learn trades. He and my mom wanted to make life better for everyone.”
The care his parents showed for their community is reflected in the work Odimba has done for Washington state’s most vulnerable.
“If you are going to be in this work, you have to have compassion and a deeply rooted belief in the human capacity for change,” Odimba said. “That belief is what keeps you going. In social work we help people build their lives back up.”
The future of social work
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work is an actively growing field, projected to increase by 7% by 2032.
Odimba’s current work as DCYF’s Director of Child Welfare Workforce Support revolves around recruiting and retaining a new generation of social workers. Outside of the agency, Odimba has held many teaching and advisory positions including Human services and Criminal Justice faculty at the University of Phoenix, Guest Lecturer and Practicum Instructor for the University of Washington, Consulting on the development of Seattle University’s MSW program and more.
For those interested in a child welfare career, Odimba shares that it takes immense dedication, humility, compassion, and commitment.
“The most important asset you have is your ability and opportunity to positively impact people's lives,” Odimba said. “You must believe people can change, and you must believe that you can be that catalyst. This is heart work.”
Interested in working for DCYF? Check out DCYF's job page to learn more.
