Tewabech Genet Stewart
Tewabech Genet Stewart is a transformative leader in child welfare with more than two decades of experience dedicated to reshaping systems that impact children and families. Beginning her career in Florida’s child welfare system in 1996, she rose from investigator to senior-level executive, overseeing large-scale operations across multiple regions and managing complex organizational transitions. Her leadership has consistently centered on improving outcomes for vulnerable populations while navigating high-pressure environments and public scrutiny.
Currently, as Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, Tewabech leads the ONEhillsborough Initiative, a community-driven effort addressing systemic inequities through a holistic, public health-informed approach. Her work emphasizes racial equity, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive practices, with a focus on strengthening families rather than separating them. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders to design and implement sustainable solutions that empower families and communities.
Beyond her professional roles, Tewabech is a nationally recognized advocate, speaker, and thought leader committed to reimagining child welfare systems. Drawing from both her professional experience and her personal journey as an adoptive mother, she challenges traditional models and advances alternatives that prioritize family preservation and community support. Her contributions have earned her multiple honors, including the Distinguished Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Award, and her ongoing work continues to influence policy, public discourse, and systemic reform efforts nationwide.
• Child Welfare Case Manager Supervisor
• Gulf Coast State College- A.A.
• Florida State University- B.S.
• Troy State University- M.S.
• Association of Junior Leagues International 40 Over 40 Inaugural Class
• AJLI 40 Over 40 Award Recipient
• Distinguished Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Award
• Mark of Excellence Award
• Junior League of Tampa
• Athena Society
• National Coalition of 100 Black Women Tampa Bay Chapter
• Leadership Tampa Alumni
• Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce
• Parent Advocates for Transformation and Healing
• HOMELESS COALITION OF POLK CO INC
• Polk Vision, Inc.
• JUNIOR LEAGUE OF GREATER LAKELAND INC
• JUNIOR LEAGUE OF TAMPA INC
• Ruth's List FL
• Hillsborough County
• LOVE INC OF METRO TAMPA
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say my faith is what I attribute my success to. My faith and the way that I was raised by my parents have been foundational to everything I do. My new framework for reforming child welfare actually references the Bible quite a bit, with scriptures woven throughout. If it wasn't for my faith, there's no way I would be able to stand up and say boldly what I'm saying today. It gives me the courage to speak truth to power and advocate for systemic change, even when it's uncomfortable or unpopular.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to always do what's right, in spite of what you think may happen. Always stand up and do what's right, and everything will work out the way it's supposed to. Even when there's fear about potential consequences, like losing your job or facing backlash, you have to have the courage to speak your truth and do what's right. I've experienced that fear myself, wondering if I'm going to get in trouble or if something's going to happen with my job, but I've learned that when you stand up and do what's right, you're still standing, and things work out.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to give yourself grace and understand that you're causing harm, even though that is not your intention. When you're in a system that is separating families, it's causing harm, and it's not anything to take personally. There are positive things that you can do in the system to impact children. You can exercise your span of influence and try to lessen the impact of harm. I know what it feels like to be the face of the system, with people looking at me and believing I'm the problem because I have to work for the system. But you can do the right thing and try to do the right thing within the parameters. I do believe there are people in there that are able to positively impact children, or at least lessen the amount of harm that child would have received. Try to turn a negative into a positive outcome.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is that the system doesn't want to change because there are too many people that are benefiting from the system as it's running right now. A lot of people are making money off of this. But the biggest opportunity is that we have the ability to tell the truth. If more of us who work in the system come out and tell the truth, I think that is the opportunity there. Parents who have been harmed by the system and children who have been harmed by the system have been sharing their stories for years, but there seems to be an underlying belief that the parent must have left something out. When I come out and say we're harming children, it hits a little bit differently because I'm not a parent who lost custody - I'm saying I was on the inside, I have harmed children, I have made decisions that I know have caused harm. Those of us who were inflicting the harm, those of us coming out and being honest and speaking the truth, I think it will resonate differently with the community.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say courage is the most important value to me, 100%. I understand now why Maya Angelou said that's the most important virtue to have, because this is a time that there is real fear. People are really afraid. Those of us who have faith and come from a place of faith - this is the time to exercise that faith. It doesn't require faith to say things that are popular. But these are the times that those of us who are really advocating for people to be treated fairly across the board, regardless of color, this is a time for us to speak out, in spite of some of the fear. Courage is the most important for all of us at this time.