Millicent Griffin

My name is Millicent Griffin, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Educational Leader, and the founder of Empowering Within, LLC. For more than 24 years, I have dedicated my career to supporting children, families, and individuals by providing compassionate guidance, advocacy, and evidence-based services that promote healing, growth, and resilience. I also currently serve as the Assistant Director of Special Education, where I focus on meeting the diverse academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health needs of students and their families. Throughout my career, I have developed extensive experience in loss and trauma, social-emotional learning (SEL), family systems, crisis intervention, mindfulness, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), restorative practices, ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and behavior intervention. My background also includes training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), allowing me to provide a comprehensive and holistic approach to care. I began my career as a social worker with South Suburban PADS, where I served as the Families First Case Manager at a homeless shelter. In that role, I worked closely with families experiencing homelessness, helping them secure stable housing, employment, and community resources. I also collaborated with school districts throughout the south suburban area to ensure children maintained educational continuity during times of transition. During this time, I gained valuable experience in grant writing, program development, and systems advocacy. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Social Work from Concordia University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois Chicago Jane Addams College of Social Work, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education, and certification in Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. My passion has always been rooted in empowering others. Whether I am supporting a child, strengthening a family, mentoring professionals, or leading educational initiatives, I believe every individual deserves the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive. Through Empowering Within, LLC, I strive to create a welcoming, supportive environment where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy traveling and creating meaningful memories with my children. I believe that maintaining balance, embracing new experiences, and prioritizing family are essential parts of living a healthy and fulfilling life.