Melissa Zimmerman MSW, MCJ, LMSW

Melissa Zimmerman is a dedicated family advocate in her community who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her 17-year-old son and her husband. She has 13 years’ sobriety. When previously involved with the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS), she successfully navigated the child welfare system and behavioral health system to reunite with her son. Her current work involves seeking to empower parents to have a voice in advocating for themselves and their families and to be responsible for their successes. She also advocates for parents, caregivers, and foster parents to have a shared parenting relationship while their children are in care.

Melissa is a clinician for Terros Health and works with the Families F.I.R.S.T. (Families In Recovery Succeeding Together) program, helping families reunite with their children. Her knowledge is crucial in helping individuals and families navigate the complicated public health and child protective systems in Arizona. Melissa holds a master’s degree in criminal justice and a master of social work degree. She is licensed as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Arizona, Virginia, and Utah. She is a Certified Peer Support Specialist, which includes forensic peer support. She participates in the Parent Advisory Collaborative for Arizona as a Lived Experienced Expert, the Birth and Foster Parent Partnership (BFPP), and the Birth Parent National Network (BPNN). She is an alumna of FosterClub, where she served on the Lived Experienced Advisory Board, as well as an alumna of the FRIENDS National Parent Advisory Council.