jovan goodman, apsw

---

  Jovan S. Goodman is a systems reformer, community builder, and author whose work sits at the intersection of child welfare, girls' leadership, and individual transformation. With over 13 years of experience reimagining how institutions serve children and families, she brings a rare combination of on-the-ground practice, research-backed implementation, and visionary leadership to every room she enters.  Jovan leads large-scale, data-informed initiatives across the United States and internationally — helping child protective services agencies move from compliance to genuine equity in practice.

In 2021, Jovan published The Confidence Continuum — a framework born from her belief that confidence is not a trait you either have or don't, but a journey every girl and woman deserves a map for. The following year, she co-founded Go Girl! MKE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowering 200+ girls in grades 5–8 each year through identity-focused programming designed to cultivate self-love, academic excellence, and community leadership. Together, these three bodies of work tell a single, cohesive story: that when we invest in the wellbeing of children, the capacity of communities, and the confidence of girls, we change everything.

Jovan holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has presented at conferences and summits across the country, from Arkansas to the Bay Area to Riverside County. She is a published author, a sought-after speaker, and a connector who believes deeply that no transformation — personal or systemic — happens in isolation. Whether she is redesigning a child welfare framework, mentoring a fifth grader, or building an organization from the ground up, Jovan leads with the conviction that excellence is always possible — and that the people closest to the problem are closest to the solution.