Director of Refugee Programs, Catholic Charities

Joanne Morales, BSW, MSW, is the Director of Refugee Programs, Catholic Charities, Refugee Programs, Phoenix, Arizona. Joanne Morales has been with Catholic Charities Refugee Programs in Phoenix since October of 2003 and in her current position of Director of Refugee Programs within Catholic Charities for the past 8 years. Ms. Morales has a Bachelor of Social Work from Northern Arizona University, and has received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. Ms. Morales’ experience in working with refugees includes coordinating vocational training for refugees, working with refugees in the areas of Mental Health, Crisis Intervention and severe medical issues, and working with newly arrived refugees by ensuring that a plan for families and all required services are completed that will guide them in becoming self-sufficient: not just economically, but socially and emotionally as well.  Ms. Morales has recently been working on efforts to improve health care access and services for newly arrived refugees in the Phoenix metro area. Ms. Morales is a certified Field Instructor for ASU School of Social Work and as FA has taught several courses in School of Social Work, including Social Work with Refugees and Immigrants.  Additionally, Ms. Morales is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, who served in the Peace Corps as a health educator in Gabon, West Africa.