Dr. Kristina Jaskyte Bahr is passionate about social work and helping others. This passion is evident in her personal and academic journey. Dr. Jaskyte Bahr, a professor of the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, began her interest in social work by focusing on the management of nonprofit organizations. Dr. Jaskyte Bahr’s research interests include; university-community partnerships, international social work, social development, and cross-cultural research. Her work garnered her a National Science Foundation grant, an achievement only a handful of social work faculty members around the nation have received. Dr. Jaskyte Bahr has recently been given another honor based on her reputation in the social work and nonprofit field.

Recently, Dr. Bahr was honored with an invitation to serve on the Georgia Division of Child and Family Services (DFCS) State of Hope Advisory Council. The State of Hope is an organization that was created to ensure that all Georgia children live in communities that keep them safe, where they have support that they and their families need to grow. The division collaborated with local nonprofits, charities, small businesses, and government organizations to form and strengthen local safety nets to prevent conditions that might lead to child abuse or neglect.

“I’ve been studying creativity and innovation for 17 years, and the work they are doing is amazing,” said Bahr.

Jaskyte Bahr was delighted to be recruited to serve on the council and appreciates that this is a hands-on role that includes selecting regional State of Hope sites throughout Georgia and assisting them in implementing programs. She will serve as an advisor and mentor to any agency that has expressed interest in being a State of Hope site, or any that already is operating as such.

“I really feel lucky to join such a high impact group,” she said. “It’s an amazing opportunity to see how a division functions at the highest level.”

This original story was featured in the School of Social Work publication, Connect.