SCSW Keumku Sou is known to the Van Nuys DCFS office as someone who goes above the call of duty. She exemplifies leadership, teaming, and actively engages the Core Practice Model to work with youth and families.

When a youth was released from a psychiatric hospital hold in 2017 without any identified placement, Keumku was assigned to the case and instantly began an extensive search for placement, without the benefit of knowing the youth or family well.

Due to Keumku’s positive attitude and strong practice skills, the child was allowed to stay with a family friend over the weekend, attend his Saturday poetry class – a factor he reported as key to helping keep his life “normal” – and remain safe and happy. Rather than admit the child to an emergency placement center, she opted to stay with him until midnight to ensure he felt safe with his family friend, and remained safe to himself.

The youth’s primary goal was to be “happy”, and with Keumku’s help, he was able to do just that.