Mischa Martin
Director of Division of Children & Family Services at Department of Human Services
Hometown: Sherwood, Arkansas
Briefly describe your role: The Division of Children and Family Services is responsible for ensuring children and youth have a safe and stable home every day. DCFS manages child abuse prevention, investigations, protection, foster care, and adoption programs. Each year, the division investigates over 25,000 allegations of child abuse or neglect, is responsible for over 7,000 children in foster care, and serves more than 13,000 children through in-home protective services. We offer intensive in-home prevention, substance abuse, and mental health services to the children and families we serve.
Q: Is what you’re doing now what you always pictured you would do?
A: I always knew I wanted to serve and make a difference. As a granddaughter of missionaries and a daughter of an elementary school teacher, I witnessed my role models serving and making a difference in their communities. I did not know my path would lead to working in the child welfare system, but I knew I wanted to serve and help children.
Q: What do you see as the greatest challenges for women in your chosen industry? What are the greatest opportunities?
A: I've worked in an industry that is predominantly women, women with great passion, commitment, and leadership qualities. One of the greatest challenges is when women's judgment and skills are overlooked based on stereotypes. In child welfare, the situations can be emotionally charged, and I’ve seen women’s judgment undermined because their advocacy was labeled as “too emotional.” The greatest opportunity in a woman-dominated workplace is our ability to support each other, proving that a workplace like this can be highly functional, collaborative, innovative, and successful even in the face of challenges.
Q: Who has inspired you in your life/career?
A: I’ve been inspired by many people, starting with my parents. My father instilled a strong work ethic and taught me to stand up for what's right. My mother, the ultimate servant with a caring heart, taught me kindness and respect. Other strong women who shaped me include my basketball coach, Bee Rodden, who taught me to push limits, and my aunt, Sherry Criswell, who was a community leader and an advocate for higher education. Their unwavering love, support, and belief in me have made me the person I am today.
Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring professional?
A: Invest in an education that matters and learn a profession you’re passionate about. Choose a job where the supervisor/leader invests in you and supports your professional growth. I’ve been lucky to have had amazing female supervisors who invested in me.
Q: What’s been your secret to success?
A: I work hard, am passionate about my work, and care about the quality of my work product. I learn from failures and others around me. I build relationships based on honesty, integrity, and mutual respect. And I have an incredible husband and family who support my career.
