Biography

 LaToya Harvey, LMSW became the first Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Employee Development for the city of Farmington Hills, MI in February 2023.

 

LaToya Harvey’s social work & child welfare career spans for over 25 years. In 2021, LaToya was the Chief Advancement Officer for Orchards Children’s Services in Southfield, MI where she was the executive lead for the agency’s new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. During 2018-2021, she was the Child Welfare Division Director for Child and Family Charities in Lansing, MI. In both roles LaToya was responsible for the development, implementation, focus group outreach, and strategic planning of DEI related policies, procedures, and initiatives. Prior to those roles, LaToya spent 15 years at the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS), working as a Children’s Protective Services Supervisor and a Foster Care Supervisor and was the recipient of the State’s Good Government Award for Leadership. Overall, LaToya has garnered experience in DEI, foster care, Child Protective Services, adoption, government payments assistance, in-home prevention services, residential services and training development and facilitation.

 

In 2018, in partnership with the Wayne State University Social Work Department, LaToya co-facilitated the presentation "Wayne Together Collaborative: Risks, Rewards & Lessons of High Impact Child Welfare Education and Training Practices” at the National Child Welfare Workforce Initiative National Conference in Chicago, IL. In 2019, LaToya became a member of the Eastern Michigan University Social Work Alumni Association and was the President of the Association. She was the keynote speaker for EMU’s Master of Social Work graduate students’ 2020 commencement celebration. LaToya is a part-time lecturer at Eastern Michigan University and Wayne State University where she teaches classes related to social work, child welfare, and diversity & social justice.

 

LaToya received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse in LaCrosse, WI and her Master of Social Work degree from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI. She completed her Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certificate from Cornell University and is currently working towards her Certified Diversity Executive credential from the nationally accredited Institute for Diversity Certification. LaToya is a Licensed Master Social Worker for the State of Michigan. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the National Association of Black Social Workers.

 

LaToya has been married to her husband, Robert, for over 20 years and they share three sons. She enjoys traveling, scrapbooking, reading, and shopping.

Teaching Interests

•  Child Welfare
• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
• Social Justice
• SW Practice with People of Color and Women & Girls
• SW Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups

Pronouns

  she/her/hers

Courses taught by LaToya Harvey

Fall Term 2024 (current)

• SW5755 - Introduction to Child Welfare

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