Leah VanVels, BAA

Child Protective Services

State of Michigan

Leah VanVels worked as a Child Protective Services specialist from January 2017 until December 2021. She has worked in both Ottawa and Kent Counties doing investigations and ongoing CPS case management. During her time as a CPS worker, she worked in both rural and urban areas. She received a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Central Michigan University in 2015 with majors in Family Studies and Spanish. Due to being fluent in Spanish, she often would receive cases where the investigation or ongoing case would have to be completed solely in Spanish. Ms. VanVels has held previous roles doing home-based case management with CPS involved families in Saginaw, MI, with Wellspring Lutheran Services as well as worked in a non-secure detention home for youth near Mount Pleasant, MI. She is currently working on her Master of Science in Criminal Justice through Bowling Green State University and is working as a Family Independence Specialist with the State of Michigan as she finishes the program.