Stephanie Harris Bell, MSW LMSW
Hampton Cove, Alabama 35763
*********@*****.***
Relevant professional experience
Addiction Counselor, Bradford Health Services, Huntsville, AL January 2016 May 2016
As an Addiction Counselor for Bradford Health Addiction I was responsible for the treatment of patients, who are addicted to substances. The goal was to implement a proper and personalized treatment program to help the patient overcome the shackles of addiction. Specifically I evaluated a client’s degree of addiction, problem areas, and character strengths developed a treatment program tailored to client’s history and needs referred patients to other doctors and agencies as necessary and tracked and recorded client progress. Necessary to refine skillset to keep up to date with the latest addiction counseling procedures and techniques. Possess a talent for creative problem solving, understand how to ask the right revealing questions, and are able to communicate on a very personal and meaningful level with their clients. Psychiatric Screener, Huntsville Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Huntsville, AL January 2015 April 2015
In the position of Psychiatric Screener for the Behavioral Health Unit in Huntsville Hospital Emergency Department, demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer relations to patients, visitors, physicians, and co workers as well as showing courtesy, compassion and respect to all individuals. Responsible for assessment, crisis stabilization, psychotherapy, and disposition planning. Assesses and responds to patient/family needs by identifying and resolving barriers that hinder effective patient care. Collaborates and consults with physicians on patient's progress and discharge planning needs. Communicates effectively and professionally with peers, supervisors, ancillary departments and all other external/internal customers. Counsels with patients and family members in decision making and in meeting psychosocial needs of the patient. Analyzes pertinent data, communicates findings, documents information accurately. Senior Social Worker, Madison County Department of Human Resources, Huntsville, AL December 1999 April 2014
Senior Social Worker Home Studies responsible for developing relationships to evaluate and assess psychosocial functioning. Demonstrate knowledge of generalist practice theories. Utilize basic problem solving process of gathering information. Utilize oral and written communication skills to support. Responsible for explaining and interpreting the result of social evaluations Senior Social Worker Family Drug Court Program (FDC) responsible for promoting Madison County FDC as National Program Model with National Drug Court Institute. Managed research development area of program. Responsible for demonstrating in depth knowledge and skills of substance abuse. Grant proposal writer. Identify needs at the program and tasks levels. Mobilize drug court team members to function at maximum level. Disseminate timely and accurate information to team members. Assess and link clients to appropriate substance abuse treatment. Established policy and procedures for new program initiative. Developed program Mission and Vision statements and designed program participation criteria. Developed program staffing and attend weekly court hearing. Developed of Grant Writing Team. Developed internal program evaluation. Identify and arrange for the ancillary needs of families to be met while participate in the program. Maintained current research information regarding substance abuse treatment. Service Caseworker e xplored, assessed and planned for families. Established rapport and expectations with families matched resources and made referrals. Implemented and attained goals. Prioritized goals, selected interventions, planned implementations remained focused and monitored progress. Terminated family. Evaluated readiness for closure emphasized positive learning, problem solving skills and established a follow up procedure. Skill Set
● Advanced organizational, communication and strategic planning skills.
● Capacity to work independently and use sound judgement and discretion when making decisions.
● Utilize counseling skills to build strong and productive relationships with key stakeholders for positive outcomes.
● Ability to coordinate the delivery of services and programs.
● Ability to design system changes based on empirical findings.
● Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues.
● Ability to demonstrate innovation in the creation of new ideas or interventions to identify and address needs.
Education
1985 Bachelor of Arts Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Major curriculum focused on psychological knowledge and the honing of skills necessary for scientific inquiry, critical thinking, problem solving, and communication. The course work included learning theories framed by foundational leaders in personality theories, life stages of development, grief and loss, hierarchy of needs, cognitive and moral development. The program of study covered the breadth and diversity of human behavior and the role of life experience which was useful knowledge to obtain a Master of Science degree. 2006 Master of Social Work, Alabama A&M University, Normal, Alabama Focus on training in the life stages of human development, using forensic interviewing techniques to assess the global functioning of the target ecological system within the context of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and mastering oral and written communication skills using standard English language. The program further emphasizes problem solving capabilities, knowledge of budgeting and ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment plan of action. The program placed a premium on establishing effective therapeutic relationships with the target ecological system because this interaction serves as the medium through which change occurs. Lastly, coursework prepared the social work practitioner to gain advanced level licensure status.
2007 Licensed 2267 Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners Necessary Contributions
Contributor to the National African American Drug Policy Coalition White Paper 2007 Curriculum Development and Training Committee Member for National Drug Court Institute Conference Speaker National Bar Association to promote decriminalization of drug addiction and consider therapeutic jurisprudence
Conference Speaker at Resident Management Association through HUD promoting homeownership of public property