Melani Carefoot, MSW (equiv.), RSW is an accomplished Registered Social Worker, Author, and Parenting Coordinator.

Melani immigrated to Canada in 2000 and worked with Child and Family Services Alberta (“CFS”) in management for 12 years. Throughout her time working with the government agency, she was troubled by the inconsistencies in the practice of some staff as she saw ongoing interventions by caseworkers resulting in significant trauma to children and their families, unnecessarily.

In 2011, Melani retired from her role at CFS and opened her private practice, Positive Choices Counselling. For over a decade, Melani has been the first call for legal teams looking for support with advocacy in child welfare matters.

As her private practice evolved, Melani saw a need for outside intervention with families that kept them out of the family court system and started offering Parent Coaching and Parenting Coordination.

Melani loves social work as anyone who meets her can attest. She is a fierce advocate for children’s wellbeing and believes in boundaries with self-care, often reminding her staff and students, “We have no business helping families if we are not taking care of our own families, first.”