These Are Your Neighbors Ep. 89 - Ethan Hoepfner

Ethan Hoepfner, LBSW, is a school social worker at Bismarck High School, a foster parent, and an MSW student focused on macro practice and leadership. His work lives at the intersection of schools, behavioral health, families, and community systems, where he helps connect students to the relationships, supports, and services they need to move forward.

Ethan’s approach is relational, strengths-based, and grounded in brain-based approaches, including the Neurosequential Model. He is passionate about developmental relationships from the Search Institute, systems of care, and helping adults better understand what young people need, especially students carrying high levels of need, stress, or risk.

Ethan has spent 12 years as a social worker and nearly 19 years supporting youth in school, community, and residential settings, beginning as a mentor with Youthworks while he was still at the high school where he currently works. Those experiences continue to shape how he shows up for students, families, educators, and community partners.

At the center of Ethan’s work is a belief that every person deserves to feel seen, known, and like they belong. His purpose is to give people permission to be vulnerable, authentic, and human, because connection changes what becomes possible. Whether he is working one-on-one with a student or helping build stronger systems of support, Ethan tries to show up in the hardest moments with one core belief: if our systems do not feel human to the people using them, then we are missing it.