2026 Social Work Supervisor of the Year: A Q&A with Jamie McKinney

Name: Jamie McKinney, LCSW-S
Agency: Central Texas Veterans Health Care System
Title: Suicide Prevention Coordinator

Why is it important for you to work with social work interns?

Working with social work interns is a meaningful way to give back to the profession. The internship experience provides practical learning opportunities the classroom cannot, and I love being part of that transformative process. Additionally, supervising interns allows me to engage in teaching regularly, which I find rewarding. Selfishly, working with social work interns also helps me stay sharp, continue to push in growing and sharpening my skills, and reducing my risk of burnout.

How long have you had GSSW interns?

I have had the pleasure of working with three master’s level Garland School of Social Work interns. Previously, I served as an internship supervisor for master’s students from Tarleton State University and the University of Texas at Arlington.

Tell us a little about yourself and your job, including how long have you been in your position.

I am originally from Houston, Texas. I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Baylor University. Following graduation, I remained in Waco like so many other social workers I had the pleasure of matriculating with. I have a passion for social justice, mental wellness, and gerontology. For the past 11 years, I have served in the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System and currently hold the position of Suicide Prevention Coordinator with the VA. I currently work with Veterans within the hospital and in the community. Outside of my professional role, I enjoy spending time with my family and reading. A year ago, I stepped out on faith and launched my private practice, Fortitude Therapeutic Services, which focuses on providing clinical supervision to LMSWs seeking advanced licensure.

Tell us a little about your agency.

The Central Texas Veterans Health System provides medical, mental health, and other needed service to Veterans in the area.  The VA is unique in it address medical issues, mental health issues, and a variety of psychosocial issues as well.  The VA is also the largest employer of Master’s prepared social workers in the nation. 

What does it mean to you to receive this award?

I do not fully know how to answer this question. Receiving this award is both validating, humbling, and a combatant to my ever-creeping imposter syndrome. And this validates the level of work and preparation that I have as an intern supervisor. I am serious about ensuring that the interns I work with have the opportunity to experience what it is like being a master’s level social worker. It affirms my commitment to providing meaningful internship experiences and fostering professional growth in the interns I supervise. I am dedicated to challenging interns while supporting their learning, and I strive to balance the demands of our work with a positive and supportive environment (I believe in laughing a lot). Ultimately, I hope this recognition reflects my efforts to guide interns in developing resilience, maintaining healthy boundaries, fostering opportunities/exposure to multiple situations (on micro, mezzo, and maco level), and developing strong clinical skills.

What others say about Jamie.

"Not only did I find an advocate in the field who taught me how to fly, but someone who has become a safe place to land. What makes Jamie an astounding supervisor isn't her knowledge in the field through dedicated hours of work, or her thirst for brokering resources whether it be for a client or coworker, or even the multitude of ways in which she can take your most basic question and turn it into a teachable moment for your future social work self to remember. It truly is her essence that tells you she believes in the ethical values that the NASW stands for, the Baylor fundamentals we are taught, and her overarching goal of being a woman who serves those in need regardless of multifaceted needs that can seem like hefty barriers to overcome. Jamie helped me see how social work can happen while at the VA, when you are "off the clock", and with grace, humor, diplomacy, and humility that would make anyone within earshot stay still so that they could listen to what she has to impart. I want to say that she aided this Texas-transplant a landing dock to ask questions, make mistakes, and receive feedback. Jamie challenged me on using my God-inspired gifts to build rapport and leverage connections with others while taking the new and often frustrating parts of academia to create a tool belt that I would carry with me in any space I entered. Jamie is an amazing supervisor for all the above reasons, and others, but more importantly she is a beautifully and wonderfully made human who sees the goodness in people. She values authenticity and deeply cares for those in need. She has a passion that surpasses her job and shows me that this work is her calling, inspired by God Himself. I pray that she continues to be an anchor to future graduate students, that her role opens doors for her own professional growth, and that she never loses the passion that burns within her for what she is called to do."