Karen Gissendanner Cote

** ****** **.

Essex Jct., VT 05452

802-***-****

ado1ez@r.postjobfree.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Care and Service Coordinator, Age Well, May 2020 - July 2021. Provided Person Centered case management to persons on the Choices For Care Program. Worked very closely with Home Health Agencies, Palliative care and Hospice programs. Helped clients obtain care, equipment, and services. Maintained meticulous case notes regarding issues, barriers to progress, and achievement of goals. Interfaced daily with families assisting them with needs as they arose. Assisted clients and families with navigating the health care system.

Social Worker for Long Term Care, Elderwood at Burlington, July 2019 - February 2020. Monitored 95 residents and assisted as needed. Provided grief and end of life counseling daily. Acted as a liaison between residents and family members. Maintained daily progress notes, participated in psychiatric and medical rounds with staff Psychiatrist and Medical Director. Served as a key member of the Interdisciplinary Team. Maintained all mandatory paperwork.

Case Manager for Long Term Care, University of Vermont Home Health and Hospice, September 2017 - April 2019. Maintained a caseload of over 50 individuals on a daily basis. Assisted families with end of life decisions, advanced care, and future planning. Worked very closely with palliative care and hospice programs. Encouraged families as well as clients to be certain that all felt supported. Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to ensure wrap-around services were provided. Options Counselor, Champlain Valley Agency on Aging (CVAA), Essex Jct, VT, 2007 - September 2017. Met with Clients and their families throughout the Champlain Valley to discuss options for their future. Provided information on end of life issues, advance directives, long term care insurance, and potential nursing home placements with a goal of keeping families together and in their own homes as much as possible. Took clients to visit Respite House, when appropriate. Helped mediate family discussions and lead group meetings.

Case Management Supervisor, CVAA, Essex Jct, VT, 2003 - 2007: Supervised case managers in Franklin, Addison, Chittenden, and Grand Isle counties. Maintained performance evaluations, trained case managers, attended all management and training meetings. Assisted DAIL in creating a new ILA to be used by the whole state. Case Manager, CVAA, Winooski, VT, February 2001 - 2003: Provided case management to persons over the age of 60, and to those under 60 with qualifying physical disabilities. Maintained case notes regarding issues, barriers to progress, and achievement of goals.

Community Living Coordinator, Volunteers of America of South Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, 1997 - 1999: Supervision of office and field staff, maintained client records and DMH/MR certifications of 26 group homes. Developed and implemented ISP’s, and provided inservice training to providers and staff. Job Development Coordinator, The ARC of Jefferson County, Birmingham, Alabama, 1995-1997: Assessed adults with disabilities for job readiness, accessed jobs within the community, performed job training and helped clients develop job retention skills. Presented numerous lectures and workshops promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace.

Funeral Director/Embalmer, Brown Service West Chapel, Birmingham, Alabama, 1994-1995: Assisted families in arranging funerals and grief counseling. Embalming and restorative art. Often worked with families prior to death to pre-arrange funerals, and access support groups. Worked in a support group with Parents who had lost children. Geriatric Social Worker, Positive Maturity, Birmingham, Alabama, 1993-1994: Performed home visits for case management, kept detailed progress notes, arranged transportation, medication, and alternative housing for low-income elderly clients. Assisted Clients in working through issues related to death and dying. Assisted with Advanced Directives, and Undertook numerous speaking engagements and presented lectures on issues concerning aging in America.

Funeral Director/Embalmer, Angwin Mortuary, Birmingham, Alabama, 1986-1990: Duties included assisting families in arranging funerals, grief counseling, accessing support groups, embalming, and restorative art. Remained a supportive presence in the lives of those I served after the funeral.

EDUCATION

M.S. Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1999 B.S. Social Work University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 1993 A.A.S. Funeral Service Education, Jefferson State Comm. College, Birmingham, Alabama, 1988

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES, HONORS AND MEMBERSHIPS

● End Of Life Doula - Professional Certificate, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont

● Adjunct Faculty, Department of Social Work, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. Supervised field placements of second year MSW graduate students.

● Certified trainer, “ Powerful Tools for Caregivers,” The Evidenced-Based Training program

● Completed training in “ASIST”, a suicide prevention/intervention protocol, Essex Jct., VT.

● Attended over 200 hours of Vermont DAIL training on topics relating to aging.

● Qualified program leader, “AgingWell” workshops, as designed by Dr. Brian Costello and SASH.

● Completed “Healthy Ideas” training, an evidence-based program to evaluate and assist persons ever the age of 60 who might be suffering from depression.

● Facilitator, Racism Study Circles, Mayor’s Office, City of Burlington, VT

● Graduate, Partners in Policy Makers of Alabama

● Recipient of the Lori Kaye Hebert Academic Scholarship

● Past Chair Alabama Disability Action Coalition

● Past Board Member, League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham

● Co-Founder, Community’s People First, advocacy group for adults with disabilities Co-Founder, Northeast Disabled Athletic Association, providing competitive and recreational opportunities for persons with a physical disability

● Vice President, Temple Sinai Congregation, also chaired several committees over the last 20 years.

REFERENCES

Available upon request.