AMY GRACE FERRARA

**** *. ***** ******, *******, Illinois 60630

312-***-****

Email: ac8jv1@r.postjobfree.com

OBJECTIVE

To obtain a Social Work position which will utilize my extensive experience providing services to individuals in need of mental health, substance abuse and housing placement services.

EDUCATION

LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 2000

CADC, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Harold Washington College, Chicago, Illinois, 1998

Master of Social Work (MSW), Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, 1996

Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, 1988

EXPERIENCE

Integrated Resources, Inc., Edison, New Jersey

Clinical Case Manager at Aetna as a Third Party Administrator for CountyCare, November 2018 - Present

Serving Medicaid/Medicare population ages 18 and up to promote appropriate member physical and

behavioral healthcare through assessment and care planning, direct provider coordination/collaboration and coordination of psychosocial wraparound services to promote effective utilization of resources and cost effective outcomes.

Uses a holistic approach to consult with supervisors, Medical Directors and/or other programs in multidisciplinary conferences.

Synergy Behavioral Healthcare, Chicago, Illinois

Assessment and Referral Specialist at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, April 2016 – December 2018

Completed mental health/substance abuse assessments for patients referred to the Intensive Outpatient Programs.

Completed chemical dependency consults for patients in the hospital on medical units and provided referrals.

Completed comprehensive mental health/substance abuse assessments for patients in the Emergency Department who are in crisis, facilitated hospitalizations as needed or offered referrals if patient was not in need of inpatient hospitalization.

In-Home Counseling, Antioch, Illinois

Therapist, September 2015 – Present

Meets with individual clients in their home for therapy/counseling.

Carries a caseload of 20-25 clients.

Renaissance Social Services, Inc. (RSSI), Chicago, Illinois

Union House & Carter House Coordinator, September 2013 – October 2015

Promoted to Coordinator when RSSI took over the HUD grants to operate the Union House and Carter House programs.

Provided clinical supervision for both programs for up to thirty clients.

Supervised a team of four Clinical Case Managers.

Carried an individual caseload of up to seven clients, provided case management services and met with clients for supportive contacts weekly. Managed all referrals and intakes for both programs.

Coordinated all of the supportive services for both housing programs; food service, housekeeping, building maintenance, exterminator services and ordering household and office supplies.

Completed quarterly reports for IDHS for both programs.

AMY GRACE FERRARA

Page 2

EXPERIENCE (continued)

Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois

UNION HOUSE – Lead Mental Health Worker, July 2003 – August 2013

Promoted to Lead Mental Health Worker for recognition of leadership skills and knowledge of

co-occurring disorders (mental illness and substance abuse/dependence).

Developed and co-facilitated an Advanced Recovery Group for residents of all of the Supportive

Housing Programs (Emergency Housing Program, Union House and Carter House).

Supervised a Social Work Intern from July 2003 to April 2004.

Provided peer consultation to other mental health workers who co-lead Dual Diagnosis Recovery groups.

Continue with all of the responsibilities listed below for Mental Health Worker position.

UNION HOUSE -- Mental Health Worker, January 2001 – July 2003

Responsible for monitoring a program and creating a supportive milieu for adults with persistent mental illness and a history of homelessness, work independently in the evening.

Possess excellent clinical judgment and expertise, have the ability to sense emergent situations and respond appropriately and with great concern for the resident’s well being, able to set appropriate limits when necessary.

Developed good relationships with resident’s therapists and have built working alliances with all residents including those residents that are seen as very “difficult” to work with.

Consistently have worked very closely and collaboratively with the Union House Coordinator and have helped significantly with the intake process for selecting new residents for the program, have also worked collaboratively with all of the Social Work students and have been a source of support and education to them, currently hold a caseload of 3-4 primary cases and meet weekly with those residents.

Worked with residents of all of the Supportive Housing Programs (Emergency Housing Program, Union House and Carter House) to develop a 12-step MISA self-help support group (in 2001) that is currently meeting weekly at the Lawson House YMCA, have worked collaboratively with these residents and acted as a “consultant” for this MISA self-help support group since 2001.

Thresholds, 4101 N. Ravenswood, Chicago, Illinois

Team Leader, March 1999 - June 2000

Involved with the ACCESS Program, a federally funded research project reviewing methods of working with homeless individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness, including other co-occurring disorders.

Supervised staff members providing outreach, case management and social/vocational/educational services.

Provided staff training and orientation, support, performance evaluations and also assisted in hiring process.

Oversaw conformity to standards and documentation requirements established by CARF, OMH, and Medicaid.

Performed written assessments and evaluations.

Thresholds, 4101 N. Ravenswood, Chicago, Illinois

Outreach Worker, September 1996 - February 1999

Promoted to team leader due to recognition for leadership and organizational capabilities, and exemplary display of team relations while working with program directors, psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, treatment coordinators and mental health care staff to ensure patient’s quality health care.

Responsible for intake and screening, including assessing, evaluating and counseling clients.

Community Outreach: Provided visits to clients at various housing locations; single room occupancy hotels, apartments, and emergency shelters, with goal to assist clients in gaining permanent housing, referral to long-term case management and to other agencies providing supportive services.

Model: ACT (Assertive Community Treatment), which offers services to clients, out in the field, to secure housing and funding, psychiatric and medical services, vocational opportunities and additional supportive services.

AMY GRACE FERRARA

Page 3

EXPERIENCE (continued)

Achievements:

Senior Clinician responsible for ensuring case management services provided by the outreach team conform to the agency's standards of excellence and to expectations established as team models.

Took full charge over organizing a client money management system, where the agency advocates the client’s best interests as representative payees for client custodial accounts.

Received Diane M. Farrell Exemplary Staff Award, 1998.

Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois

Social Work Intern - Medical Social Work Department, September 1995 - April 1996

Discharge planning: Completed psychosocial evaluations of patient’s needs for after care.

Implemented all discharge arrangements based on recommendations from appropriate medical staff or placement in nursing homes, referrals for home health services and all special needs provisions.

Provided patient/family counseling and instruction on procedure for after care to ensure patient well being.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois

Mental Health Worker - Emergency Housing Program, Part Time “Casual” worker, September 1995 - January 2001

Continued working in this position while completing internship at Illinois Masonic Medical Center; employed part-time during this time period.

Day Shift Supervisor - Emergency Housing Program, October 1994 - September 1995

Supervised mental health workers, with administrative responsibility for delegating workload, scheduling, conflict resolution and problem solving as a key support to staff.

Visited in-patient psychiatric units and interviewed potential residents and then met directly with Program Director to offer recommendations based on evaluation results.

Mental Health Worker - Emergency Housing Program, July 1991 - September 1994

Case management: Up to eight cases simultaneously, with responsibility for locating appropriate housing for homeless individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness also suffering from numerous psychosocial stressors and other co-occurring disorders.

Worked with Social Security and Public Aid/DHS personnel to obtain funding for patient’s housing.

Led psycho-educational patient groups with an emphasis on recovery from substance abuse, instruction in daily living skills, creating goals, stress management and building relationships through activities promoting social interaction.

Worked with the Program Director, psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health workers to guide patients toward appropriate treatment and housing options.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois

Business Office - Patient Financial Services, February 1991 - July 1991

Interviewed and registered clients for an outpatient psychiatric program.

Offered aid to clients regarding billing issues.

Mental Health Worker - In-Patient Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, February 1989 - February 1991

Supervised and provided structure to patients during their hospitalization, met with emotionally disturbed patients on a one-to-one basis to offer support, and participated in interdisciplinary team planning.

Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Social Work Intern, September 1993 - April 1994

Provided supportive counseling to clients to help them cope with difficulties they faced because of epilepsy.

Co-led epilepsy education groups for clients.

Contact this candidate