Jessica Groeneweg

STEPs History

Jessica has been with STEPs as a Graduate Research Assistant from June 2014 to December 2015, a contractor from January 2016 to September 2017, and a Program Evaluator since May 2018, and has worked with the following community partners or programs: Avenue Scholars Foundation, Better Together, Drug Overdose Prevention (DOP): Drug Use Behaviors and First Responders, Legal Aid of Nebraska, Metro Omaha Tobacco Action Coalition (MOTAC), and Omaha Girls Rock. Some of the reports on which she has collaborated can be found here, on STEPs’ Digital Commons.

Education

Jessica graduated from Calvin College in 2012 with a BA in Psychology and a Minor in Social Work. She developed a passion for social justice, research, and nonprofit service. Although leaving Grand Rapids, MI was a difficult decision as she had made many connections there, she wanted to move closer to her family who reside mostly in South Dakota. Jessica eventually moved further south to Omaha to start the MSW program. She worked with STEPs as a student where she gained a love for program evaluation, and found interests in data visualization, qualitative data, and building capacity for program evaluation. Jessica rejoined the STEPs team in 2018 as a Program Evaluator and is excited to provide program evaluation services yet again. 

Professional Background

Jessica lived in Sioux Falls, SD for a short time working in a residential treatment facility for teenage mothers. Her MSW practicums were completed at Holt International, an international adoption agency, and OMNI Behavioral Health. Right after obtaining her MSW, Jessica worked at Catholic Charities providing outpatient mental health therapy and internal program evaluation to the agency. Currently, she works full-time at CHI Immanuel hospital as a social worker on a geriatric floor.

Professional Interests

Some of Jessica’s many interests include program evaluation, mental health, child welfare, and community service.

Professional Presentations

Bradley, A., Harder, J. & VanVuren, J. (2015, October). Assessing students’ program evaluation skills in a university-based program evaluation center. Presented at the Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Denver, CO.

VanVuren, J. (2015, September). Financial Success Program outcomes. Presented at the Financial Education in Your Community Professional Development Institute, Creighton University, Omaha, NE.

VanVuren, J. (2015, March). Social and emotional intelligence: A survey of high school and college youth. Presented at the annual Student Research and Creative Activity Fair, University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Bratiotis, C., Nguyen, E., Weiss, S., & VanVuren, J. (2014, October). How qualitative research enhances program evaluation: Insights from students and faculty. Presentedat the annual conference of the American Evaluation Association, Denver, CO.

VanVuren, J., Cambridge, M., & Yonker, J. (2012). Theory of mind and religiosity. Presented at the annual meeting of the Michigan Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference.

Yonker, J. E.,VanVuren, J., & Baumann, B. (2012).  “The golden rule and social cognition” at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion,Phoenix, AZ.

Something Personal

Jessica grew up in South Dakota; she is married and they have an energetic dog named Jordy.  She currently serves as a CASA volunteer for Douglas County. Jessica enjoys summer where she can spend the days outdoors or on a body of water. Some of her hobbies include baking, reading, trying new restaurants, and playing piano.