Jessica Smith

Jessica Smith, MSW, CAPSW, is the Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Innovative Transition, Education and Employment.

Jess (she/her) is a macro practice, systems-focused social worker with over 15 years of experience working within systems to enhance access and improve the quality of community life, and work, for people with disabilities and behavioral health disorders. Over the past 10 years, she has served as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on federal and state projects totaling more than $40 million. As a leader at CITEE, Jess oversees numerous statewide grant initiatives, including long-term collaborations with Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services, Department of Workforce Development, and Department of Public Instruction. Her work spans areas such as workforce development, program design, implementation, and evaluation.

Jess’s professional interests include youth and young adult development, youth and family transitions, systems of care, behavioral health workforce development, and disability inclusion. She is also passionate about community-based participatory research. Additionally, Jess completed the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and other Disabilities (MCH LEND) program, with an autism enhancement, at the Waisman Center, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, during her graduate studies.

Education:

• MSW, Social Work – Health, Aging, and Disability, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• BS, Human Development and Family Studies, Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Professional Affiliations:

• Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)
• Association for Women in Science (AWIS)
• National Association of Social Workers – Wisconsin Chapter
• Wisconsin Licensed – Advanced Practice Social Worker