Influential Woman · Social Work

Nyja Beckford

Case Manager, Lutheran Services of Florida

Orlando, FL

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's in Sociology Degree Edward Waters College Degree Jacksonville Degree Florida Degree May 2010 Cert State of Florida Certification in Case Management

Her Story

About Nyja

I work with dependency cases involving children who have been removed by the state and placed into foster care. I'm also moving into non-dependency work, helping families stay together and prevent children from being removed. In my role, I manage cases through the Florida Safe Family Network (FSFN), ensuring all documentation is uploaded and current. I make sure kids have their physicals for the year and dental appointments every six months. I coordinate visitations between parents and children when removal has occurred, and I visit families every 25 days. When reunifying a child, visits increase to weekly for the first 30 days. Recently, I reunified a mother with her infant and closed out a case that had been open for two years, finally getting the family stable enough for closure. I set up evaluations when needed, follow up with providers for results, and alert the courts of findings. I also conduct drug testing for parents when drugs were part of the case. My caseload consists of young children, with the eldest being around school age, and I don't have any teenagers currently.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Nyja

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to my family. No matter what I decide to do, they're always there cheering me on. Their constant support and encouragement have been the foundation of everything I've accomplished, and knowing they believe in me gives me the strength to keep going in this challenging field.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I ever received was to remember how strong you are. A friend of mine told me that, and it's something I carry with me, especially in this work where the challenges can be overwhelming. That reminder of my own strength helps me push through the difficult moments and stay focused on the families I'm helping.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Don't give up. It may seem frustrating, daunting, and stressful, but don't give up. This field will test you in ways you might not expect, but if you stay committed and push through those challenging moments, you can make a real difference in the lives of families and children who need you most.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

One of the biggest challenges is advancement. You would have to leave your company to advance because people get in these positions and stay in these spaces. So you would have to keep shopping around for advancement opportunities. As for opportunities, there are supervisor roles and other aspects you can go into, like adoptions or independent living worker positions, which deal with kids who are about to age out of foster care. There are many different roles, so if you want something different, you would have to branch out to other companies if they have the positions open, because they don't come open very often.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Integrity is the most important value to me in both my work and personal life. Being prior military, integrity is very valuable to me. It shapes how I approach every case, every family interaction, and every decision I make. That foundation of doing what's right, even when it's difficult, guides everything I do.

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