Aviana Brown grew up in Sacramento in a single-parent home with limited financial resources, circumstances that are familiar to a fair number of the youth and families we serve. From the time she was young, she was a good listener and people enjoyed talking to her. These early interactions encouraged Aviana’s interest in people and a lifelong desire to help them.

After she graduated from high school, Aviana enlisted in the Army. 9/11 happened while she was still in basic training. She served two tours of duty: one in Pakistan and one in Iraq. After being stationed for active duty at Fort Drum New York, she transitioned to the National Guard while working on her undergraduate degree at Fresno State University. After earning her bachelor’s degree in social work, she was admitted to the University of Southern California, where she earned her master’s degree.

Aviana initially worked as a mental-health therapist in Southern California. When she moved back to Sacramento and joined Stanford Sierra Youth & Families in 2017, she changed direction slightly and started working with foster youth and resource families. Social work requires dedication and a lot of energy. For Aviana, it’s worth it. Adoption finalizations keep her flame for this work lit.

“A kiddo or teenager has found their home,” she says, “this is a whole new family that was formed, and our agency helped.”

When asked to recall highlights of her career so far, she mentions Connell Johnson and his sons. Like Aviana, Connell has responded to a call to help others. Through Stanford Sierra, Connell has adopted three boys, each of whom requires special care. The challenges are real. Meeting them requires dedication, wisdom, and resources. But it’s worth it. It’s so worth it that Aviana is helping Connell adopt a fourth child now.

Throughout her career, Aviana has called upon her own childhood to help her relate with the youth and families she serves.

“The people I work with today,” she says, “could have been my friends and neighbors when I was growing up.”

March is National Social Work Month. This year’s theme is Compassion + Action. Social workers put their compassion into action. At Stanford Sierra Youth & Families, social workers are helping youth and families improve their mental health, overcome addiction, heal from trauma, develop resilience and self-sufficiency, form meaningful connections, and thrive. They make the world a better place for all of us. This month in particular, we thank social workers here and everywhere for dedicating their working lives to this noble profession.