Dona Seidel, MSW

dseidel@mapskc.net

Dona’s role at MAPS includes two positions, that of training coordinator and parent educator. After receiving her MSW degree from the University of Tennessee, Dona worked as a trainer for the Alabama Department of Social Services. After relocating to Missouri, she worked for a short while as a licensed social worker for Hospice of Kansas City. Later, she worked with the Parents as Teachers Program in Missouri and Kansas for over twenty years. In addition to working with families individually, she developed and provided training for PAT staff at the local, state, and national levels. Her primary areas of interest in training are: development of the brain and its impact on human behavior, temperament, managing stress at home and work, and dealing with difficult people.

TRAINING COORDINATOR

The position is responsible for providing ongoing educational training opportunities to meet the needs and interests of clinicians, social workers, educators, parents, parent educators and businesses seeking to enhance their life skills. Customized trainings are available. The Master Therapist Series is ongoing and seeks to present professionals who are considered experts in their topic of presentation.

PARENT EDUCATOR

Responsibilities include providing presentations related to child development and parenting. Parenting classes may be offered. In addition, private education sessions are available for parents at their request. If deemed necessary, the parent educator can make referrals to MAPS’ therapists where symptoms or issues not covered with the parent educator, individually or in parenting classes, become barriers to assist families with their health and functioning. Specifically, the parent educator serves as an educator, not a therapist.