SAUNDRA CURTAIN

ad47mr@r.postjobfree.com 201-***-**** Newark, NJ 07106

Summary

State Licensed Social Worker seeking a position where I can utilize my degree in social work and over two decades of experience to help improve the lives of marginalized, stigmatized, and disenfranchised populations. Skills

● Outstanding written and verbal communication skills

● High level of empathy and passion for the field

● Ability to manage multiple task and stay organized

● Intervention Planning

● Substance Abuse Counseling

● Effective problem solving skills

Experience

RWJ Newark Beth Israel

Medical Center

Newark, NJ

Licensed Social Worker

09/2022 - Current

● Provided daily medical social services for neonatal infants and their families, including collateral reporting to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency

(DCPP) as needed.

● Facilitated referrals for mothers to access various social service support resources, ensuring comprehensive support for families in need.

● Supported parents in making medical and specialty follow-up appointments for infants and educated mothers on the risks of substance/alcohol use before and during pregnancy, referring them to necessary supportive services when required. Endeavor House North

Kearny, NJ

Substance Abuse Counselor /

Co-Occurring Specialist

01/2019 - 09/2022

● Led diverse group counseling sessions for men and women diagnosed with substance use disorders, employing various formats such as didactic, psycho-educational, lecture, and support groups.

● Provided individual counseling, crisis intervention, urinalysis, and referral follow-up and consultation, offering comprehensive support to clients with substance use diagnoses, including medication assistance.

● Maintained weekly documentation of clients' program group and individual sessions, as well as overall treatment progress, ensuring accurate records and monitoring of their journey towards recovery.

Greystone Psychiatric Park

Hospital

Morris Plains, NJ

Substance Abuse Counselor /

Co-Occurring Specialist

08/2016 - 12/2018

● Delivered comprehensive, integrated rehabilitation treatment, including didactic individual and group counseling, to mentally ill forensic populations committed due to reasons of insanity.

● Managed daily services and interactions, incorporating counseling modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT), as well as medication education and related co-occurring services.

● Facilitated discharge planning when applicable, preparing clients for successful reintegration into the community through comprehensive rehabilitation and support services.

Eva’s Village: Mommy & Me

Residential Program

Paterson, NJ

Counselor

05/2014 - 10/2016

● Organized, planned, and coordinated services to fulfill clients' needs for weekly individual counseling sessions, group sessions, and presentations at case conferences.

● Managed chart documentation on individual progress, group notes, and treatment and discharge planning, ensuring comprehensive records of client care.

● Conducted bi-weekly case presentations and consultations with the team psychiatrist, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration and treatment planning. Project Live Inc

Newark, NJ

Residential Associate

(Per Diem)

09/2013 - 03/2022

● Provided residential support to males with developmental and cognitive diagnoses, offering medication monitoring and assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and banking.

● Assisted with personal appointments and facilitated integration into independent living, ensuring clients received necessary support and guidance in transitioning to self-sufficiency.

National Council on Alcoholism

and Drug Dependence, Inc

Newark, NJ

Care Coordinator

11/2009 - 04/2013

● Conducted comprehensive assessments of clients referred by welfare, utilizing tools such as the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), DSM-IV-TR, and ASAM criteria to determine problem severity and appropriate levels of care.

● Accountable for client referrals to treatment at NJ Division of Addiction Services licensed and approved providers, including pre-approval of mental health/clinical services and units.

● Provided utilization review through regular clinical service reviews with treatment provider clinical staff and supervised drug court clients, ensuring effective treatment coordination and adherence to standards.

New Street Treatment

Associates

Irvington, NJ

Substance Abuse Counselor

09/2007 - 10/2009

● Led group counseling sessions, including various formats such as didactic, psycho-educational, lecture, and support groups, for men and women undergoing medication therapy (methadone).

● Conducted individual counseling sessions and crisis interventions, administered urinalysis tests, and provided referrals and follow-up consultations.

● Responsible for weekly documentation of clients' program activities and overall treatment progress, ensuring comprehensive records of their journey through therapy and rehabilitation.

Edna Mahan Correctional

Facility for Women

Clinton, NJ

Substance Abuse Counselor

07/2006 - 09/2007

● Supervised services for chemically dependent, incarcerated women, including intake assessments, addiction severity index assessments, and individual counseling sessions.

● Managed administration of urine drug screenings, treatment plan development, and community discharge planning, as well as referral to ISP (Intensive Supervision Program).

● Conducted psycho-educational presentations for inmates to support their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. Hunter College: Sister Link

Brother Line

New York, NY

Program Coordinator /

Trainer

05/2000 - 07/2006

● Implemented and managed services for juveniles in Department of Juvenile Justice facilities across NYC, providing: health presentations, discharge planning,psycho-social support to reduce violence and recidivism.

● Offered crisis intervention and court advocacy at Rikers Island's Rose M. Singer Correctional Facility and Rosewood High School.

● Co-facilitated bi-monthly AIDS Institute trainings for substance abuse and criminal justice professionals.

Education and Training

Rutgers University Newark, NJ

Masters in Social Work

10/2010

Herbert Lehman College Bronx, NY

Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology

06/2001

Accomplishments

● 10/2022 : Licensed Social Worker

● 07/2022 : Licensed Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor

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