MICHELE L. BROOKS

**** ********* ******

Indianapolis, IN 46205

Cell: 317-***-****

E-mail address: adsjtc@r.postjobfree.com

CAREER OBJECTIVE

Accomplished professional seeks a claims-related position that will maximize my excellent oral and written communication, training/teaching, customer service, organizational, investigative, research, project management, and legal skills.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE

Butler University, Indianapolis, IN

Major: Communications (English, Journalism, Speech, and Radio/TV) and Business; Minor: Political Science

GPA: 3.3/4.0 Graduated with Honors

TEACHING CERTIFICATION IN SOCIAL STUDIES, MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL

Indiana Wesleyan University, Indianapolis, IN 12/2005 graduate, 3.8 GPA

-Licensed in Government, Sociology, and Economics & Highly Qualified Status in Language Arts

SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION (EH/BD, LD, MIMH), Butler University, 2008 graduate, 3.8 GPA

PARALEGAL CERTIFICATION, 2000 graduate, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (I.U.P.U.I.)

LOMA (insurance trade association) courses: Meeting Customer Needs with Insurance and Annuities;

Insurance Company Operations; Regulatory Environment for Life Insurance, 2019

Certified Child and Family Team Meeting Facilitator, 2020

CAREER SUMMARY

STATE OF INDIANA, Disability Determination Bureau, Indianapolis, IN 2021- PR

DISABILITY CLAIMS ADJUDICATOR, DISABILITY DETERMINATION BUREAU

Make medical decisions of eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance and SSI claims

Review initial and reconsideration (appeals) claims to determine the evidence needed to document medical and

non-medical facts of record; developed strong knowledge of medical terminology

Analyze medical records to determine need for consultative examinations as well as vocational assessments; possess

the ability to read voluminous medical documents within a short timeframe

Research Social Security program regulations and policies to assess severity ratings, draft residual functional

capacity assessments and Psychological Review Technique forms based on claimants’ severity ratings

Work closely with staff physicians and psychologists on interpreting medical/psychological exam results and

assessing credibility of claimants’ symptoms to determine if additional information or testing is needed

Interview claimants over the phone regarding work history when vocational assessments are required

Confer with medical staff and writes the final determinations of eligibility; submit determinations electronically

STATE OF INDIANA, Dept. of Child Services, Indianapolis, IN 2019 -2021

LICENSING SPECIALIST, FOSTER CARE

Met with prospective foster parents to provide information about licensure and coordinate trainings

Conducted home visits for initial licensure, annual review, and relicensure to ensure compliance with licensing

Wrote detailed home studies evaluating the foster home’s physical environment, strengths and needs, family history,

structure, parenting styles, and type of children best suited for placement

Conduct background checks on all foster parents for licensure

Served as liaison between DCS and all foster parents

Foster Care Division Employee of the Month, August 2020

MICHELE L. BROOKS’ RESUME CONTINUED

DELAWARE LIFE INSURANCE, Indianapolis, IN 2018 to 2019

CUSTOMER SERVICE COORDINATOR, Annuities

Answered inbound client and agent calls regarding annuities, investments, living benefit and death benefit riders,

product information, tax implications, fees, procedures, and financial industry regulations while adhering to high

call quality and efficiency standards. Utilized various computer applications and online resources to retrieve

information while responding to customer inquiries

Maintained detailed electronic records by accurately documenting all actions taken

Investigated and resolved customers’ issues while exceeding measurable department standards

STATE OF INDIANA, Indianapolis, IN 2013 to 2018

PROGRAM DIRECTOR (GRANT MANAGER), IN. CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE (ICJI), 2016 - 2018

Responsible for the management and administration of approximately 50 federal and state grants awarded to

statewide non-profit agencies and governmental entities to assist domestic violence and sexual assault victims

Provided oversight of program and fiscal reporting by subgrantees, including reviewing and approving clients’

reports for contract adherence and fiscal inaccuracies. Prepared and compiled reports for federal reporting

Provided customer service and technical assistance daily to clients with grant-related issues as well as training on

requirements and reporting. Trained clients in-person, via e-mail, and telephone on grant software and reporting

Prepared documentation relating to the grant award/contract processes, and other required government reporting

Completed site visits annually to monitor subgrantees and write post visit compliance monitoring reports; determined

remedial steps for improvement based on outcomes, and provided any necessary remediation to clients

CASE MANAGER, DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SERVICES, ASSESSMENT (INVESTIGATION DIVISION), 2013 – 2015

Investigated suspected incidents of child abuse and/or neglect, made determinations regarding whether evidence was

enough to substantiate, and developed recommendations to upper management and Juvenile Court for disposition

Assessed level of risk to the child for additional injury or harm, including whether the child was in imminent danger,

and removed the child from the family as the situation warranted; placed the child in a protected environment

Performed needs assessments to determine treatment options for children reported as abused/neglected or

referred by law enforcement, other social service agencies, or schools as a child-in-need of services

Testified in Juvenile Court concerning the needs of the children and families, the families’ ability to remedy the

abusive/neglectful situation, or concerning alleged criminal activities of a parent or other alleged perpetrator

Provided on-call emergency investigation periodically to investigate allegations of child abuse/neglect 24/7

Wrote in-depth reports for each assessment in order to close every investigation within a 30-day deadline

FCM of the month in Assessment division, June & July 2014

KELLER & KELLER, Indianapolis, IN, 2012-2013

DISABILITY CLAIMS PARALEGAL

Managed large caseload of more than 200 clients applying for Social Security SSDI and SSI; performed all legal,

administrative, and customer service responsibilities related to the disability claims process

Filed electronic and paper appeals and hearing requests; wrote summaries of clients’ medical histories for the attorneys

Drafted a variety of legal documents and correspondence to the SSA and clients

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS, Indianapolis, IN, 2007 – 2011

SOCIAL STUDIES/LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER/SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER grades 7 -12

Diploma Plus Academy (Lawrence Township’s alternative middle/high school for at-risk and special needs students)

School closed due to funding issues

Taught Economics, Government, Sociology and Psychology, English 10 – 12, and Speech to at-risk and emotionally

handicapped/learning disabled (EH/LD) students. Also, developed and taught a career/college counseling course.

Managed all lesson planning and student assessment. Supervised classroom Instructional Assistants (IA’s)

Wrote individualized educational plans (IEP’s) for special education students in compliance with Federal

and State special education laws; collaborated with families to resolve academic and behavioral problems

Created and implemented daily and unit lesson plans, administered testing, tracked, and analyzed class performance

Earned above average evaluations every year

Coordinated and conducted case conferences with parents, teachers, and special education service providers

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Published author, Indiana Historical Society website – Wrote various history-related lesson plans as a resource for teachers

Pi Beta Phi Alumni Advisory Council (AAC) Advisor, Butler University chapter, 2003- 2007

National History Day Judge 2008 – 2019. Volunteer judge for annual Indiana competition for middle and high school students

AmeriCorps member – Served two terms as a volunteer in service to America, summers 2007 & 2004. Volunteered full-time as a social services counselor at a local homeless shelter and as a GED instructor for a work release facility for felons

Former political volunteer – Vice Ward Chairperson and Precinct Committeeperson, Marion County

Gleaners Food Bank Volunteer, 2018 – 2020. Assisted food bank clients one Saturday each month.

References provided upon request.

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