Elena Contreras [Photo by Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing]
By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
Elena Contreras is turning a life marked by trauma into one of triumph and purpose.
As a child, she endured sexual and physical abuse. It wasn鈥檛 until adulthood that Contreras received the emotional support and counseling she so desperately needed.
鈥淚 suffered in isolation and silence as a kid,鈥� Contreras said. 鈥淚f I鈥檇 had access to a social worker, I would have had someone who could listen, understand and help me.鈥�
Now, at 25 years old, she provides that type of support to children facing similar challenges.
Contreras works as a case coordinator for USF Health鈥檚 Child Protection Team, which partners with Florida鈥檚 Department of Children and Families to investigate and support at-risk children while connecting families with essential state resources.
This month, she will add another milestone to her journey: Earning a master of social work degree.
鈥淭he master鈥檚 program has taught me how to connect more deeply with my clients through one-on-one conversations,鈥� Contreras said. 鈥淚 can now really get to know them and help guide them toward long-term growth.鈥�
Her abuse came from a family member as an elementary school student. Later on, she eventually confided in her parents, only to be told to stay silent.
鈥淢y parents were pastors, and they worried it could ruin the family,鈥� she explained. 鈥淪o, they had a brief discussion with the individual and asked me to sweep it under the rug for a while.鈥�
When not helping at-children, Elena Contreras also performs in plays and the choir for Alive Church-Tampa
That 鈥渨hile鈥� stretched into years.
鈥淚 had to navigate it on my own,鈥� Contreras said. 鈥淎nd it didn鈥檛 go well. I needed someone to listen and respond, someone to connect me with the right resources, someone who could acknowledge how it made me feel.鈥�
Recognizing this gap inspired her to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree in social work at USF.
鈥淚 wanted to become the person I needed when I was younger,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 graduated in 2021, became a case worker, and my passion for helping children only grew from there.鈥�
But her past resurfaced in an unexpected way while assisting a child who had been sexually assaulted.
鈥淭hat situation triggered a lot of my own unhealed trauma,鈥� Contreras said. 鈥淚t forced me to finally go to therapy and start processing my feelings.鈥�
Elena Contreras after earning her bachelor's degree
Her healing journey included confronting her abuser roughly two years ago 鈥� and ultimately offering forgiveness.
鈥淚 told him that he was completely forgiven,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven though what he did was treacherous, it led me to a place where I could find purpose by helping children.鈥�
It was during this period that she began her master鈥檚 studies and joined USF Health鈥檚 Child Protection Team, which provides medical, psychological and psychosocial evaluations for children who have suffered abuse.
Based at Mary Lee鈥檚 House, a child advocacy center in Tampa that offers trauma-informed, comprehensive support to children and families in partnership with USF and other agencies, Contreras conducts medical evaluations and forensic interviews, ensuring children receive the care and attention they deserve.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to choose a career for money or status,鈥� Contreras said. 鈥淚 chose this for the internal reward 鈥� the chance to help others overcome what I endured, and to show them that they are not alone.鈥�