Nikki Spigelman completed her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Manitoba and is a Registered Social Worker. Her focus is with children and youth in the child welfare system, specifically in foster care. Upon completion of her BSW, Nikki relocated to Alberta where she spent ten years working within the child welfare system as a family service worker, Handicapped Children Services Specialist permanent ward worker, and older adoption specialist. Through her experiences Nikki’s interest in the area of attachment and the importance of attachment grew.
With a move to Toronto and working with CAS of Greater Toronto, Nikki found herself in Child Welfare Intake, investigation child abuse. Nikki and her husband adopted 21 month old twins from Peru. Nikki spent three months in Peru. She and her family returned to Winnipeg with her work at Jewish Child and Family. Nikki found her niche in treatment foster care. The culmination of courses throughout her career attachment and child development continue to be the basis of her understanding of children, youth and care providers.
Presently working at Knowles Centre as a Clinical Case Manager in the Treatment Foster Care Program, Nikki brings a vast amount of knowledge and experiences to her training. Nikki has provided workshops on attachment and trauma for the Conference on “Adoptive Parents and Foster Parent. Nikki was a presenter at the Foster Family Treatment Association Conference and is presently training under Dr. Gordon Neufeld Institute.
Hi Nikky – We met at the Neufeld training in Vancouver and Edmonton, I’m the art therapist who works with Cowichan Tribes Child and Family Services. I’m preparing a presentation for the Managers here to talk about the Neufeld training I’ve done and the value of using this approach in our agency. My supervisor thought it would be helpful to hear from some others who are using this approach, why they think it’s effective and how they evaluated the success of this model as opposed to other strategies. I thought of you and Janine, and wondered if you could take a few minutes to send me your thoughts on this, just briefly. I would appreciate it!
Have a great holiday season!
Liisa Laakso
PS. I’ve sent this same message to both of you!