Cheryl T. Paris

**** *** *** ******* ***********, TN 37411 423-***-**** adnkw4@r.postjobfree.com

Community and Individual Human and Social Services

Community Advocacy § Homeless Support Public Health § Child and Family Services § Elderly Assistance

Energetic, dedicated, and resourceful human services professional with solid qualifications to support diverse functions and activities within community social services organizations, including program management, training and development, and designing and planning sustainable social welfare projects. Exceptional team leadership and organizational skills coupled with a keen dedication to assisting and supporting others. Utilize well developed interpersonal and communication skills to establish rapport and positive relationships with individuals and groups from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, colleagues, government agencies, all levels of management, and the community.

Competencies

Children/Family Coaching/Mentor § Community/Individual Programs Individual/Group Presentations

§ Resource Mobilization/Allocation § Strategic Planning/Goal Setting § Staff Leadership/Management

Leading/Organizing Fund Raising § Public/Community Relationships § Budget Cost Controls

§ Program Case Management Community Social Development § Government Agencies/Support

Professional Experience

Tennessee Department of Children's Services Chattanooga, TN September, 1981 - July, 2013

Permanency Team Leader (Regional Adoption Supervisor)

Maintain full responsibility for leading a team of case managers accountable for aiding children in achieving permanency with a family. Remain hands-on and intimately involved with both cases and programs to ensure compliance with state and federal regulatory policies and procedures. Continuously monitor, review, assess, and approve Case Manager documents, reports, case recordings, and other assignments.

Contributions and Achievements:

Coordinate and integrate various adoptable children recruitment methods including media and television advertisements, community events, website postings and marketing, and referrals to contract agencies.

Conduct performance reviews and evaluations, facilitate and lead weekly team meetings, and provide hands-on coaching and mentoring for in-service training and skills development programs.

Facilitate plans to move a child or children into the adoptive family, including preparing all individuals, transferring pertinent records, and training and counseling foster and adoptive parents.

Ensure that a complete and thorough assessment of children referred for adoption includes child strengths, weaknesses, and services needed, appropriateness of plan, and projected time frame for placement.

Complete quarterly/monthly reports regarding progress in achieving permanency goals for foster children.

Led the state in fundraising for the past two years by organizing an annual fundraising walk and other community events to raise money and awareness for foster care programs and initiatives.

Manage communications and public relations by attending local and statewide management meetings and by participating in TV, radio, and newspaper appearances to recruit adoptive families for adoptable children.

The Partnership for Families, Children & Adults Chattanooga, TN November, 2014 – May, 2016

Contract Home Study Writer and Trainer

Facilitate required training for foster parent applicants. Carryout an in-depth home study process on foster parent applicants that includes, home visits, interviews, reference and background checks, compiling documentation and composing comprehensive home study narrative. Completing thorough re-assessments on approved foster parents. Maintaining case documentation and records on each foster family.

Contributions and Achievements:

Agency leader in home study completion and approvals

Primary training facilitator for both in-service and pre-service foster parent training

Foster home re-assessments always completed in a thorough, accurate manner obtaining approvals without errors or omissions.

The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN May, 2016 - Present

Case Manager, Work Force Specialist, Education Counselor

Provided case management services to at-risk youth and their families. Assisted unemployed and underemployed individuals in obtaining additional job training and employment. Provide social-emotional training and support to students and parents.

Contributions and Achievements:

Achieved the organization’s goals in helping challenged high school students to graduate with a high school diploma.

Provide soft skills training, resume assistance and job referral services to job seekers with a high rate of placement.

Introduced students and families to social emotional learning and how it affects the students during their school years and beyond.

Education

Master of Science in Human Services (MS), Capella University Minneapolis, MN

Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW), University of Tennessee Chattanooga, TN

Training and Development:

PATH Master Trainer (Pre-Service Training for Foster and Adoptive Parents)

Child Abuse, Foster Care, Adoptions, Case Management, Supervision (40 Hr. Yearly Training)

Home Study Training

Volunteer and Involvement:

Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare

National Association of Social Workers

Computer Skills: Microsoft Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint), Agency Software Applications, PC/Windows

Contact this candidate