Mr. George M. Kovarie

Biographical Statement:

George M. Kovarie has been an instructor with the Kutztown University Department of Social Work since 1996, both during and after his 25 years serving as Executive Director of Berks County's Public Child Welfare Agency.  Over his 50 years working in child serving systems at federal, state and local levels, Mr. Kovarie remains focused on advancing workforce improvements in Pennsylvania's Child Protective Service Delivery Systems.  His professional background in direct service, supervision and administration of both public and private agencies, as well as his continuing service on state and local boards, serves to enhance student education.

Mr. Kovarie is actively involved in research involving child welfare workforce issues of preparation for employment, staff stability and administrative\legislative recommendations for remediation.  He continues to work with the Pennsylvania Children & Youth Administrators Assn., Inc (PCYA) and state legislators to promote vital systemic change in Pennsylvania's child welfare industry. 

Mr. Kovarie holds a Master of Social Work from Marywood School of Social Work, Scranton, PA; a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Kutztown State College, Kutztown, PA and a Certificate in Child Abuse Studies Training (CAST) from the National Child Protection and Training Center, Winona University, Winona, MN., and holds certificates in Family Group Decision Making.

Teaching Interests:

Mr. Kovarie teaches "Child Welfare & Social Work Practice" as well as other related courses, as needed, such as "Family Group Decision Making" and "Social Work with Communities & Organizations."  As a prior employer of social workers in public child welfare, Mr. Kovarie saw the need for development of well informed, academically prepared employment candidates.   This continues to be a motivating element in his commitment to both social work education and workforce development.

Professional Involvement:

In addition to his current work with other faculty and PCYA, Mr. Kovarie remains an appointed member of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Medical/Legal Advisory Board on Child Abuse.  In this capacity, he serves as the only social worker of the board comprised of medical, forensic and law enforcement experts, reviewing many of Pennsylvania's most difficult child abuse deaths.

Mr. Kovarie is an Emeritus member of the Board of Directors of Treatment Access and Services Center, Inc., a drug & alcohol assessment and case management agency, providing client access to publicly funded addictions treatment.  Recognizing substance abuse is highly correlated with child maltreatment, he became involved with this agency, over 30 years ago, to promote parental remediation of substance impairment.

As a board member and immediate past Chair of CONCERN, Inc, Professional Services for Children, Youth and Families, Mr. Kovarie contributes his experience and research in continuing support of this large, regional and private provider of child welfare and mental health services.

He continues serve as consultant to Luzerne County Children & Youth Services and as an expert witness in civil proceedings.