Psychiatric Social Worker

Catherine Collins was born and raised in Chicago, IL. Catherine received a B.A. in Sociology in 1991 from the University of Chicago. Several years later Catherine obtain a Master’s of Social Work, with a concentration in Administration and Policy, from the University of Illinois’ Jane Addams College of Social Work. Catherine initially began her career as a community organizer assisting grassroots organization obtain grant and seed money to provide needed services to the youth of Greater Grand Boulevard – a community located on the Southside of Chicago. She also worked for a number of organizations such and Chicago Area Projects for the Youth as Resources Programs and Youth Guidance. Both programs focused their attention to the devastation and impoverishment of the residents of the public housing communities (Cabrini Green, Robert Taylor Homes, and the Ida B. Wells housing development). She later returned to school a received a post-master certification in special education. Catherine then went on to work for Chicago Public Schools as a School Social Worker where she worked at some of the most challenging schools in Chicago.

Catherine has been married for 25 years to a native Angelino. Catherine accompanied her husband, along with their 3 year old daughter (now 17) to Los Angeles in 2006. Upon moving to Los Angeles, Catherine was employed by Barbour and Floyd Medical Associates as the Team Leader for the Assertive Community Treatment Program (The ACT Program) which was designed to support the needs of chronically mentally ill adults who were dual diagnosed. now known as the Full Service Partnership Program. Catherine later held a position as a part-time consultant for the STEPOUT Program – a transitional age youth program designed to help foster youth suffering from mental illness transition into mainstream society. Catherine currently works as a Psychiatric Social Worker (PSW) for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Catherine has had several positions within LAUSD and has served as the Educational Related Intensive Counseling Services (ERICS) provider for more than 20 schools over the past 8 years.

Catherine has resided in the South Bay area since her arrival to Los Angeles. In her “me” time, Catherine enjoys bike riding, reading a good book and watching movies. Catherine believes in spending quality time with family and dedicates Friday nights for spending time with family and friends. She enjoys beating them in games like of Skip-Bo, Monopoly and Wheel of Fortune. To that end, Catherine has never met a stranger and enjoys spreading her “Southern Hospitality”.