Denise Churchill
Denise Biography
Denise Churchill built a career working with the 6th most populated county in the nation, Orange County Social Services Agency/Children and Family Services Division. She held various roles as a Social Worker, Supervisor, Manager, and Deputy Division Director before retiring in March 2022.
With over 30 years of human services and child welfare experience, Denise Churchill is adept in providing leadership through change management, demonstrating initiative, and implementing organizational strategic plans.
Moreover, her well-rounded skill set, including strong communication and leadership abilities, includes assessing the needs of an organization, working with multi-system partners for collaboration and system change, and coaching leaders to improve processes and practices for improved results.
As a child welfare expert, Ms. Churchill gained vast experience in family engagement, contract management, program fidelity, race/equity/inclusion, resource family recruitment/training/support, Resource Family Approval processes, and children’s residential shelters. She was instrumental in the development, implementation, and management of innovative best practices, Family Drug Court and Wraparound, and the evidence-based program Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (now known as Treatment Foster Care – Oregon), all of which required her skills at collaborating effectively with various levels of management, and internal and external stakeholders.
For several years, Ms. Churchill served as the onsite Shelter Director for Orange County’s Temporary Shelter Care Facility (TSCF), Orangewood Children and Family Center (OCFC) and as the Deputy Director for many additional years.
In addition to Ms. Churchill’s experience and personal qualities, she has a solid leadership foundation and a passion for personal and professional development. She holds the titles of Certified Organizational Development Coach and Certified Change Management Coach. She believes in balancing the expectations for productivity to meet current and future business needs while providing opportunities for skill development and transfer of learning, which are critical for leaders to effectuate system improvement and organizational change.
Ms. Churchill resides in Southern California with her husband and enjoys spending free time with her family, who also reside nearby.
Speaking Engagements/Lectures
Presented testimony to the California Senate Select Committee on Foster Care regarding Wraparound
Facilitated numerous virtual walk-throughs with multiple partner agencies interested in system change processes.
Published article for the National Wraparound Initiative – “The Wraparound Orange County Model”
Certifications and Associations
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), CA Board of Behavioral Sciences
Juvenile Justice Commission, Superior Court of California, County of Orange
“Certified Organizational Development Coach and Certified Change Management Coach (ICF accredited)
Orange County Chapter, International Coaching Federation (ICF)
Over 30 years of proven child welfare and team leadership experience.
Education
Master of Science (M.S.) in Community/Clinical Psychology, California State University, Long Beach
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology, University of California, Irvine
