Mental Health Assistant

Lekeshia M. Lynch- LCSW, LISW-CP, LCAS-A

*************@*****.***

Phone: (704) -699-9375

Professional Summary: Highly skilled Social Worker with over two decades of experience in health and mental health services. Dual licensed in Clinical Social Work and Substance Abuse.

Education:

University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC Masters in Social Work May 2015

Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC Bachelors of Arts in Social Work May 2014

Rowan Cabarrus Community College, Early Childhood Education Dec 2010

Stanly Community College, Albemarle NC Human Services and Substance Abuse Oct 2002

Rowan Cabarrus Community College, NCDHHS Nurse Aide I Sept 1996

License and Certifications

SC Licensed Independent Social Worker 12297 SC

NC Licensed Clinical Social Worker C011079 NC

NC Certified Nurse Aide I 163711 NC

NC Licensed Substance Abuse Associate NC 20129

BCBS Certified Health and Wellness coach 12/2019

NAADAC National Certified Peer Support Specialist 8/2019

Professional Work Experience

Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC

Health Promotions Coordinator II Behavioral Health/SUB January 30, 2017-August 9,2019

●Health coaching members to identify Behavioral Health needs and concerns.

●Biopsychosocial Screenings of members of identify Health/Mental Health disparities

●Linkage to providers and community resources to support health/mental health and substance abuse needs and concerns.

●Educate members on behavior health symptoms and/or diagnosis and develop a plan of care to support members’ long term and short term treatment goals.

●Coach members using evidenced based research to decrease current symptoms.

●Assists with implementation of health management activities/programs for membership. Coordinates all aspects of assigned programs. Facilitates program to participants and focuses emphasis on high risk members. Follows/updates established procedures. Provides health coaching telephonically or in person for assigned health programs. Utilizes all data systems containing patient information and documents information appropriately.

●Assists with development of strategies to increase effectiveness of and participation in health management programs. Establishes/maintains effective communications with provider network, group representatives and members.

●Conducts research and analysis of reports (monthly, quarterly, annually). Adheres to policies and works toward attainment of program goals. Monitors member compliance and success rates.

●Assists with identification of areas for which there is a need for health management programs. Monitors quality indicators and develops programs to positively impact areas where improvement is warranted. Develops patient/provider educational materials for members/providers.

The International Center for Wellness PLLC

Clinical Director and Founder September 1,2017-Present

Individual, Family and Group Psychotherapy community based holistic health care.

Program Development, Marketing and Outreach

Education on health disparities to address prevalent health needs in minority communities

Prevention outreach and training on health topics to improve overall health ailments in the community at large.

RHA Health Services

NC Start Coordinator Western Region July 11, 2016-Janurary 2017

●Crisis intervention and prevention services for adults with developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges and/or mental illness throughout the western region of North Carolina.

●Consult with individuals, their families and the existing system(s) of mental health/developmental disabilities care representatives (e.g. MCO Care Coordinator, ACTT, mobile crisis management, ICF/MR, residential supports, inpatient psychiatric services, Innovation services, etc.) assisting with identifying triggers, setting events, reassessing the presenting problem and developing a cross systems crisis plan.

●Participation in a weekly 24/7 “on-call” rotation, daily phone triage conference calls, weekly team meetings and monthly clinical team meetings.

●Identify training/education needs of paid/unpaid supports and provide/coordinate appropriate training to identified parties.

●Assess individuals for admission to the NC START Central Respite Home as planned or crisis respite.

●Document services provided and completion of the NC START referral screening, intake assessment, aberrant behavior checklist, cross-systems crisis plan as well as other service-specific forms as necessary.

●Crisis response travel is required to fulfill the responsibilities of this position.

Daymark Recovery Services

Adult MH/SA Clinician August 2015-July 2016

Adult MH/SA Continuous Care Coordinator May 2014-August 2015

Crisis Worker/ Administrative Assistant December 2006- May 2015

●FT MH/SUB clinician with 16 consumers’ inpatient crisis stabilization

●psychosocial assessment of individuals with mental illness, substance abuse, crisis intervention, suicide risk and support their transition back into the community and diagnostic impression of need.

●Continuum Care, discharge planning and linking to resources to over 16 consumer’s daily

●Monitors presenting symptoms of psychiatric emergency

●Administers crisis intervention counseling to domestic assault victims, suicidal clients, substance abuse and mentally ill

●Communicate with customers and agencies by telephone, email, and fax or in person to provide information about services, operates data entry devices, administrative support in a medical office setting

●Collects drug screenings, record vital signs and provide direct medical assistance as needed

●Converse with customers and community based agencies to provide information about services

●Triaged service needs to counselors, provide administrative support

●Facilitate psycho educational and therapy groups

●Communicate consumer needs to the community to increase mental health awareness

Charlotte Family Housing-MSW Student Intern August 2014-May 2015

Assistant Lead RA Relief November 2014-Present

●PT 16 hrs work week

●Supports the psychosocial challenges of over 200 families experiencing homelessness per year

●Assess participants for sustainability

●Analyze the well-being of the family and link to needed resources

●Advocate and clarifies program policies and procedures

●Assist with detecting resources and offer guidance on coping with psychosocial concerns such as economic barriers, mental illness, past trauma and substance abuse

●Advise financial assistance to manage budgeting and financial planning

●Research and prepared documents to measure outcomes

Independent Opportunities June 2004-December 2005

• Liaison between the client, his/her family members and the client’s social system

• Behavior modification and Crisis Intervention

• Life skills and goal setting developing and implementing the client’s person centered plan.

• Client Transportation to and from appointments and community events

• Medication monitoring and documenting consumer progress and needs

The University of South Carolina-Graduate Assistant August 2014- May 2015

●PT 8 hours a week 10 months

●Researched and prepared documents for classroom instruction, exams, record keeping for over 500 students.

●Prepared documents to support the needs of student admissions and registration

●Provided clerical and administrative support to the student support director and assistant director

●Actively served on the commencement committee and prepared reports

The Center for Community Transition- BSW Student Intern October 2013-April 2014

●Part time 16 hours week for 9 months with incarcerated women under the custody of Department of Public Safety.

●Provided case support for 25 Families participating in the Families Doing Time program and at the 30 bed transitional women prison

●Co-facilitated 3 psycho educational groups per with 8 adolescents per group in Charlotte Mecklenburg underserved charter schools.

●Monitored 30 residents transitioning from The Department of Public Safety into the community

●Offered vocational support and empowerment to gain self-sufficiency to residents.

●Prepared 18 reports to measure the programs outcomes and number of families served.

●Raised over 500 dollars for school uniform and class room supplies through fund raising.

St. Mary’s Home Health Care January 2012- October 2014

New Alternatives Home Health March 2012- December 2014

●Program development, marketing to build agency censes with an average increase in revenue of 20% average twelve months.

●patient condition by monitoring vital signs; recording intake and output; reviewing patient care journal; keeping family informed.

●Administers treatments by monitoring medications.

●Records patient information by making entries in the patient journal; notifying agency nursing supervisor of changing or unusual conditions.

●Helps patients care for themselves by introducing and teaching assisted living techniques.

●Helps family members care for the patient by introducing and teaching appropriate ways to provide care; putting the family in contact with resources for additional home care help.

●Maintains a safe, secure, and healthy patient environment by following agency standards and procedures

●General housekeeping by changing linens, dusting, vacuuming; maintaining kitchen and bathroom facilities, handling personal laundry; maintaining security, budgeting and shopping.

●Provides nutritious meals by following prescribed dietary requirements and nutrition standards; preparing, cooking, and serving meals and snacks.

●Maintains continuity of patient home care by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs in the patient journal for the next caregiver.

Community Living Concepts January 2004- August 2006

Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare December 1998-January 2004

●Liaison between the home and its residents social system

●Client Admissions into the resident

●Client Behavior Assistance and Crisis Intervention

●Life skills and goal setting developing and implementing the client’s person centered plan.

●Client Transportation to and from appointments and community events

●Medication Administration and documenting nursing orders

●Documenting consumer progress and needs

Genesis Eldercare 1996-1998

●patient condition by monitoring vital signs; recording intake and output; reviewing patient care journal; keeping family informed.

●Administers treatments by monitoring medications.

●Records patient information by making entries in the patient journal; notifying agency nursing supervisor of changing or unusual conditions.

●Helps patients care for themselves by introducing and teaching assisted living techniques.

●Helps family members care for the patient by introducing and teaching appropriate ways to provide care; putting the family in contact with resources for additional home care help.

●Maintains a safe, secure, and healthy patient environment by following agency standards

Summary of Qualifications

●Active listening skills with an analytical approach to gain insight into the problems

●Willingness to take direction and learn new things

●Empathy and advocacy for individuals underrepresented

●Solid understanding of mental health, substance abuse and the correlation between behavior

●Knowledge of substance abuse, addiction conditions and co-occurring mental illnesses

●Comprehension of therapeutic approaches and theories, such as crisis interventions, etc.

●Social group dynamics, including individuals, families, groups and systems

●Experience leading group with adults with biopsychosocial barriers

●Analytical, problem solving, reasoning and research skills

●Team building, leadership and peer mentorship

●Flexible and adaptable at managing multiple projects

●Tech savvy and computer literate: Microsoft Suites, BUI, CHIN

Achievements

●Duke Endowment Scholarship Recipient

●Duke Professional Growth Scholarship Recipient

●Charles L. Glenn Jr. Fellowship Recipient

●Webber Endowed Scholarship Recipient

●Concord-Cabarrus Business and Professional Women’s organization Frances B. Long Scholarship Recipient

Civic Involvement

●Who’s Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges 2014

●National Association of Adult Students in Higher Education (A.N.T.S.H.E.), Vice President

●Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Vice President

●Social Work Club, Community Service Liaison

●Phi Alpha Mu, Phi Gamma Mu, and Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor Societies

●Membership: National Association of Social Workers, NC Chapter Member

●Optimist International Chapter President (Inspire Optimist) 2016/2017

Specialized training

●Interpersonal Group Processing 2014

●Motivational Interviewing 2014

●Twelve Core Functions of Substance Abuse 2012

●Trauma Informed Care 2016

●Comprehensive Clinical Assessment for Adults 2016

●Mental Status Evaluation Training 2016

●Locus/Calocus 2015

●Take Your Heart to Work NC Certified Peer Support Specialist 2016

●12 Core Functions of Substance Abuse 2015

●Mindset/ PAB Training 2015

●Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training 2014

●Crisis Intervention and Crisis Response 2015

●NC Peer Support Training 2016

●Mental Health First Aide- Adults and Youth 2016

●Wrap 2016

●Stewart Leadership: Growing Leaders by Serving others 2017

●Utilization of DBT with Substance Abusing Adolescents 2017

●Spirituality and Psychiatry, An Inevitable Paradigm Shift 2017

●Crisis Response with IDD/MR Dual Diagnosis 2017

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