Uplifting perspectives and elevating voices to nurture the experiences and livelihood of black girls and women, Marline Francois-Madden is the Transformative Social Worker, educator, researcher, advocate, and policy- facing therapist developing consistent action plans that drive change. With strategic focus on impacting the lives of one million girls, Marline executes the holistic and wholesome work out of the thriving necessity to help girls evolve into healed women who truly understand themselves. Mindfully intersecting the connections between black girls, policy and mental health, Marline is a pivotal force who makes it her mission to create equity in black mental health with the astute awareness that equity and equality are not the same thing. However necessary, she propels girls and women forward in the conquering of personal pain and cycles of mental struggle.

The confrontation and overcoming of her own pain has continually served as the motivational fuel for Marline’s advocacy for girls and women in need of strengthening and awakening. A New Jersey native, Marline’s advocacy is both niche and intentionally extended beyond her zip code in order for her to reach more lives. As owner of “Hearts Empowerment Counseling Center,” Marline carries out the daily work that led her to reach her own peace of mind and healing. She welcomes every girl and woman to a safe space that allows them to receive specialized treatment and care for depression, anxiety, trauma, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, stress and evolving teens and women’s issues. In her bestselling book, “The State of Black Girls,” Marline pens an open letter to black girls near and far, setting declarations for them to own the power in their voice and story. It’s through her comprehensive and thoughtful body of work that Marline provides girls a go-to-guide of activities and strategies to immediately implement within their own lives as a safety net and source of security on their journey to self-care, understanding, mental freedom and optimum well-being. With massive response, Marline considers “The State of Black Girls,” an imperative response and answer to the reverberating necessity of bringing awareness to black girls’ unique and incomparable set of needs within America and today’s world.

With over 15 years of dedicated practice within the psychological and therapeutic space, Marline continuously challenges herself to be the change agent she feels is a rarity within her field. Unapologetic in her steps to shift the narrative around social work and its’ perceived notions and misconceptions, Marline elevates conversations and innovative projects to drive impact beyond the scope of typical therapy. With tireless determination to normalize mental healing within black girls and women’s lives, Marline created and led a four-city wellness tour across New Jersey, New York City, DC, and Philadelphia which gathered black girls of diverse backgrounds and experiences to engage in empowering self exploration activities, gain resources, establish connections and discuss comfortably, the depths of their mental status with trusted therapists and professionals who guided them in a safe and authentic space. Moving the needle even further, Marline is the creator of the first ever therapist planner; an in- depth planner for therapists equipping them with proper guidelines for coding, medications, and other imperative necessities for executing work in the most efficient way possible.

Marline’s global impact for girls includes mission trips to Haiti where she has helped survivors of sex trafficking through the facilitation of trauma-informed therapy sessions. Additionally, she has spoken at the Congressional Black Caucus, and has shared her platform and mission with young leaders from Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Israel, Bangladesh and more. serving as a board member for the city of New Jersey as well as a teen leader within her spiritual community. She was named by the White House as a Nominated Changemaker at the State of Women Summit during the Obama administration. Looking ahead, Marline will serve as a speaker at the University of Pennsylvania for the largest university Ted Talk to date. she received awards such as forbes next 1000 list of entrepreneurs, 2020 social worker of the year by the national association of social work and the 40 under 40 black health connect award.

With the immense ground she’s covered, Marline’s drive knows no limits. Inspired to become a well read trailblazer in the field since the age of only five years old, Marline personifies graceful resilience and conscious servitude. Through her considerate delivery and refreshing methodology, Marline is the champion for black girls and women bridging the critical gaps in social work and psychology to end the cycle of deprivation in mental health awareness and support in communities around the world.

Marline holds a bachelor degree in Psychology from Penn State University as well as a Masters of Social Work from Rutgers University-Newark. she Holds A PhD in family sciences and human development from montclair State University. her dissertation focused on the mental health impact of black girls that experience racial discrimination in school spaces. She was the former chair committee of the National Association of Social Worker - Legislative and Social Action committee, fundraising committee for girl scouts heart of new jersey. she is currently a board advisory for the academy365, a non profit that mentors black boys in new jersey. she is currently licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of New Jersey. Marline is an active member of delta sigma theta sorority, incorporated. she resides in new jersey with her husband and toddler son.