Future Leaders: Part-Time Social Worker Hired By Madison Police

MADISON, CT — In an effort to offer Madison residents follow-up services after emergency calls, the Madison Police Department has hired Maya Kadel, a graduate student social worker, on a part-time basis.

Kadel began her role in January as an outreach social worker; the post grew out of a two-month pilot program in town in 2022.

"We identified 67 cases as appropriate for social work outreach, based upon the criteria we established," Scott Cochran, director of Madison Youth & Family Services, told Patch, which convinced town officials to continue the effort.

After a police call, an officer will make a referral to MYFS for follow up. Kadel is embedded with the police department, but she does not ride along with officers; her efforts come after the call when it is deemed to be safe.

"So, if the police intervened in a situation where someone needed some follow up to find behavior health services, or substance abuse treatment, or needed social services or housing, or other kinds of resources, Maya can then help connect them with those resources," Cochran said.

Both Branford and Guilford have launched similar outreach social worker programs, according to Cochran.

Kadel's interactions with residents are voluntary, and there are some might not want her help, but Cochran said that the vast majority of the people she has reached out to appreciate the assistance.

Over the course of a year, Kadel's outreach efforts could potentially impact hundreds of residents. Cochran said that MYFS and the police department could build out the effort to a full-time position in the future.

The position is currently paid for through a federal grant from the Office of Justice Policy for $114,000, which will pay for the position for more than two years.

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