Maria Hipkins, MSW, LICSW, is a behavioral health leader with nearly 30 years of experience advancing equitable, community-centered care across clinical, child welfare, and nonprofit systems. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the College of St. Scholastica and her Master of Social Work from the University of Minnesota as a Child Welfare Scholar.

Maria has led programs, supervised multidisciplinary teams, and partnered across systems to strengthen service delivery, accountability, and outcomes for families. Her leadership includes strategic planning and policy influence, ensuring that services are both effective and responsive to community needs. Grounded in trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice, she holds advanced training in Developmental Repair, Family-Based Recovery (FBR), and The Body Keeps the Score. She integrates somatic healing and cultural frameworks into her work and deeply believes in Cultura Cura—that culture itself is a source of healing and resilience.

Known for bridging vision with implementation, Maria leads with authenticity, clarity, and a commitment to building systems that reflect and uplift the communities they serve.