Her Story
About Jaishree
Jaishree Frank is a human services and people operations leader with nearly 30 years of experience advancing child welfare, juvenile justice, workforce development, and organizational culture initiatives. She currently serves as Regional Director for Child Programs in the Tennessee Valley region for the State of Tennessee, where she leads foster care and family support services across 16 counties, supervises program managers, reviews kinship placement requests, and builds collaborative partnerships to improve outcomes for children and families. Her leadership approach combines trauma-informed practices, employee engagement strategies, and community-centered solutions to strengthen public-sector services.
Throughout her career, Jaishree has dedicated herself to supporting vulnerable youth and developing programs that promote stability, accountability, and long-term success. Her professional journey includes 18 years as a juvenile probation officer, leadership of residential treatment services at a juvenile home, management of youth transition programs, and the creation of initiatives focused on restorative justice, violence prevention, and community reintegration. She later transitioned into human resources at Kalamazoo County Government, where she advanced talent acquisition, DEI initiatives, employee engagement, onboarding improvements, and workforce development strategies.
Jaishree holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Sociology and Psychology and a Master of Public Administration with a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Western Michigan University. She is a SHRM-CP certified professional and has additional expertise in trauma-informed care, conflict resolution, cognitive behavioral interventions, and program management. Recognized for her commitment to transparency, integrity, and people-focused leadership, Jaishree continues to empower teams, advocate for youth, and create environments where individuals and communities can thrive.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jaishree
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the mentors who have guided me, especially my first supervisor as a juvenile probation officer. My passion for working with teenagers comes from believing they are an overlooked but highly influential group with incredible potential for growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to always trust my gut. My first supervisor as a juvenile probation officer taught me that if I have a feeling about something, there is usually a reason behind it. I’ve carried that advice with me throughout my personal and professional life.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field is to prioritize their emotional and physical well-being, because they can only support others when they take care of themselves. I also encourage them to build strong professional networks, seek out mentors, and develop meaningful relationships with colleagues and partner organizations.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I experienced throughout my career was navigating a traditionally punitive system and instilling pro-social and esteem-building elements into practice with youth and families. I also recognized the need to better support teenagers, an often-overlooked and misunderstood population with significant potential for positive change.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are transparency, integrity, and accountability. Whether in my work or personal life, I strive to build trust by being honest, following through on my commitments, and ensuring that my actions align with my words.
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