Direct Care Support Services

Melvin Washington

Family and residential professional.

Cleveland, Ohio

******@*****.*** - 413-***-****

To obtain a managing position assisting youth and families in developing skills that result in healthy outcomes. Experienced manager and therapist with 18 years of working with adults and families. Skilled at working with families that have been impacted by the criminal justice system. Knowledgeable in direct care/support services, staff development and supervision. Facilitated and developed culturally specific programming to address substance abuse and parenting needs. Twenty two years in assessment, program management, interviewing and training. Contract management, purchasing and acquisitions. Community and stakeholder mobilization.

Willing to relocate: Anywhere

Authorized to work in the US for any employer

WORK EXPERIENCE

The Serrato Corporation

Residential Counselor

Job Corps Cleveland, Ohio -September 2018 to present

Responsible for planning, coordinating, developing and implementing a professional and group counseling program for assigned students in compliance with government and management directives.

Promotion of Career Success standards by modeling appropriate behaviors, mentoring students and monitoring positive and negative behaviors.

Maintain accountability of student and agency property.

Serve as a role model in helping to maintain a safe and nurturing environment.

Residential Worker

Cleveland Christian Home – Cleveland, Ohio November 2016 to April 2017

Monitor and assist youth in refining independent living skills that are in a pre-adjudicated or foster care.

Complete daily reports.

Associate Director of residential Programs

Children Study Home - Springfield, MA - October 2014 to April 2015

Provide oversight to Program managers in the management and operation of three residential group homes for male and female adolescents ages 8-18.

Assist in maintaining professional relationships between state regional authorities and agency. Monitor that programs operate within the constraints of state contracts and licensing.

Perform interviews in hiring managers and assistants.

Perform internal investigations with regard to allegations of abuse and/or neglect. Assist in the development of annual budget for respective programs.

Present to board and Human Rights community.

Assist managers in maintaining budgets and submitting monthly reports.

Reduced restraints by 90 % and 51A abuse/neglect allegations by 70 %. Advocated for the successful placement of video cameras in programs Revised two-way radio program for all programs.

Developed staff and residential handbooks for agency residential personnel

Department of Youth Services - Springfield, MA - November 2012 to June 2014

Manage a staff of five in the supervision of youth that have been adjudicated to adult sentences. Train staff, provide direct supervision, and write reports as required/needed to continue safe operation.

Facility Manager

Department of youth services - Springfield, MA - 2008 to 2011

Provided administrative and operational oversight for a 57 bed campus for adjudicated male and females aged 13-21yrs old. Managed support maintenance and food components. Provided operational oversight to vendor direct care contract. Conducted review board meetings. Sitting member of regional classification board. Conducted quality improvement meetings. Participated in program procurement. Actively involved in activities leading to new restraint technique for the department. Developed systems to monitor employee accountability. Participated/facilitated parent staff conferences. Served as liaison/contact for various program vendors.

District Manager

Department of youth services - Springfield, MA - 2007 to 2007

Managed and provided daily supervision to a team of caseworkers responsible for the care of youth identified as in the Mason Square District. Participated in weekly placement/transitional meetings. Developed weekly staff training/presentation meeting.

Detention Services Manager/Transportation

Department of Youth Services - Westfield, MA - 2004 to 2007

Managed a staff 17 in the transportation, safety and security of youths placed in custody of Department of Youth Services. Prioritized tasks and supervised a team to develop a system of accountability in the transportation and intake between Juvenile court and the Department of Youth Services; and its contracted vendors. Monitored program; personnel compliance with federal, state and agency safety regulations. Managed recruiting for contract, and permanent work force. Planned for future staffing requirements. Planned and conducted staff meetings focusing on employee relations and productivity.

• Utilized strong personal relations skills in eliminating/reducing fear of change in implementing revised procedures and duties to effectively increase staff productivity and morale.

• Reconfigured communication; monitoring systems in facility. Revised operation of Security functions to include manuals and training sequence.

Correctional Counselor

Hampden County Sheriff Department - Springfield, MA - 1998 to 2004

Provided counseling and supervision to revolving caseload of inmates to minimum custody (Day Reporting) that were returning to the community. Performed core case management functions in identifying needs and developing treatment plans in conjunction with inmates ability and available resources. Maintained assessment, treatment, case notes and discharge plans per correctional facility accredited standards. Performed urine screens and breathalyzers as required; performed home visits; returned participants to higher Security when necessary.

• Developed father and child program for male participants that were delinquent in child support. Program was later adopted by Probation and Parole.

• Keen at meeting organizational and program needs. Ability to bring various entities to the table to obtain consensus.

• Forged collaborative between Salvation Army and Correctional facility to provide an alternative to higher Security for individuals that tested positive for drugs or alcohol.

• Served as a critical incident responder on behalf of the Sheriff Department. Triaged NYPD and emergency service workers at ground zero during 911 catastrophes.

• Developed and facilitated cultural diversity workshop. Workshop was used for annual 16-hour facility trainings and Correctional Academy.

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Deputy Director

Dunbar Community Center - Springfield, MA - 1995 to 1996

Provided overall program management, development and planning. Facility management and safety provided direct management to state contracts. Managed a staff of 14.

• Developed system for monitoring and maintaining program integrity as dictated by contracts. Developed operational manuals for various functions throughout the facility.

• Ability to shape agency vision into goals with clear measurable objectives

• Negotiated talks among private and public organizations, which resulted in, alarm system, upgrades to heating system and gym renovations at no/low cost to agency.

• Prepared seven proposals of which five were granted and funded

Program Director

Northern Educational Services - Springfield, MA - 1992 to 1995

Provided management to several programs of agency (Teen Transitional Living Program, Prenatal and Parenting programs for substance abusing women). Provided staff supervisions and trainings. Responsible for budget oversight.

Project Director

Hartford Action Plan on Infant Health - Hartford, CT - 1990 to 1992

Served as project director for the management firm of Parisky and Daniels. Managed and supervised staff for several teen pregnancy prevention groups located throughout Great Hartford. Served as a writer and reader in the development of several major proposals.

• Increased number of teen groups from six to ten

• Ardent listener in hearing needs when voiced among groups with differing agendas

• Assisted in the acquisition of multi-years, $1.5 million grant. Participant included presentation to funder, writing an developing the needs assessment portion of proposal

EDUCATION

Certificate in managing Non Profits

Suffolk University - Boston, MA

Critical Incident Stress Management Certificate

Domestic Violence Prevention Certification

B.A. in Psychology

Case Western Reserve University - Cleveland, OH

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