Mrs. Runnels worked for CPS in Riverside County from June of 1997 to February 2006 in many different capacities. As a Social Worker IV in the Court Dependency Unit where her duties included conducting in-depth investigations into child abuse and neglect cases, preparing extensive court reports and making recommendations for Juvenile Court proceedings.

During this time Mrs. Runnels also worked in the Adoptions Unit as a Social Worker V where her duties included counseling clients, teaching classes around adoption-related issues and provided a full range of social casework and case management services.

In September of 1999, Mrs. Runnels was promoted to the Staff Development Division as a Staff Development Officer responsible for the development of the CPS core curriculum-training program. Her responsibilities include planning and coordinating CPS training, speaking effectively and leading conferences and discussion groups in the agency and the community.

In February of 2006 Mrs. Runnels became an Independent Consultant/Trainer. Her current projects include a contract with Family Law Court as a supervised visitation monitor, mediating and resolving disputes, over seeing the visitation between non-custodial parent and child and assessing for risk and safety factors. Field liaison for Loma Linda University graduate students internship program and guest presenter for Riverside Community College Foster/Shelter program.

EDUCATION
MSW, Concentration in Social Administration with Clinical Specialization in Families, Youth and Children, California State University, San Bernardino, June 1997
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Concentration in Social Work, California State University, San Bernardino, June 1995

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Mrs. Runnels has been inducted into National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, at California State University, San Bernardino (1995)
Nominated for Outstanding Graduate Student 1997
Member of Alpha Kappa Delta the international Honor Society in Sociology.