Kaitlyn Maher joined Southwest Iowa Families as a Behavioral Health Intervention Services (BHIS) provider after completing her bachelor's degree in Human Services with a minor in Child and Family Studies. She also holds an Associate of Science degree. After growing up in Michigan, Kaitlyn moved to Iowa to pursue her bachelor's degree and began her journey with Southwest Iowa Families as an intern with an interest in behavior intervention. Following her internship, she was offered a position as a BHIS provider and has since taken on additional responsibilities as the BHIS coordinator.

Kaitlyn’s experience working with children began in Michigan, where she worked as a Behavioral Technician while completing her associate degree after high school. In this role, she supported children with autism and gained valuable experience understanding individual needs, building relationships, and helping children develop skills in a supportive environment. This experience, along with her involvement in peer-to-peer programs throughout high school, helped fuel her desire to pursue a career focused on supporting children and families.

Through her education and experiences at Southwest Iowa Families, Kaitlyn’s passion for fostering confidence and teaching emotional intelligence continues to grow. She believes every child and family is unique and that meaningful support begins with meeting people where they are. Kaitlyn strives to create a supportive environment where children and families feel heard, valued, and empowered to work towards their individual goals.

Outside of work, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her family and her dogs, cats, and chickens. She loves being outdoors, riding motorcycles, traveling, baking, crafting, and being on the water. After moving from Michigan to Iowa, Kaitlyn has enjoyed settling into her new community and the agency. She looks forward to continuing to grow in her work with children and families and in her role at Southwest Iowa Families.