Career Objective: I have ** + experience working in a customer service/people profession; 18+ years of extensive social work experience.

I have excellent writing, interpersonal and written skills.

I am a highly enthusiastic and very talented social worker with the experience of working with diverse populations experiencing crisis or people who are socially excluded.

I have provided support to enable clients to empower and help themselves. I have maintained professional relationships with clients, acting as a guide, advocate and as a critical friend.

I have 14+ years working in child welfare and child protection services, which includes experience in professional social work, direct support counseling, guidance, home study writing and case management involving high risk child abuse and neglect or other problematic situations involving counseling services to clients with social, emotional, psychological, or behavioral problems. In addition to gathering and analyzing information, determining needs, planning and/or carrying out treatment plans. I received specialized training on cases dealing with mental illness, domestic violence, immigrant population and substance abuse.

Experience

01/10/2022-present

Rutgers University Behavioral Health (UBHC) – Mental Health Clinician II

-Provides supportive care counseling and crisis management for NJ Hope Suicide Line. Other job duties include providing referrals and connections to mental health treatment services and resources that can help in addressing housing, employment or financial difficulties if needed.

Hours Per Week: 18+ Salary: $23.00 hourly rate

05/01/2004 – 12/01/2021

Senior Intake Investigator Supervisor – (Family Service Specialist II) FSSII

NJ Dept. Of Children and Families – Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)

Hours per Week: 40+ Salary: 85,000.00 USD Per Year

-Supervised 5+ workers Investigations, allegations of child abuse or neglect within 24 or 72 hours. Over saw interviews of the child, parents, relatives and neighbors as well as other collateral parties to the family or institution.

-Took appropriate action to seek court intervention, police assistance, or in severe situations, removal of the child from an unsafe environment in accordance with NJ statute.

-Conducted periodic visits within an assigned area to obtain social, economic, personal and other data necessary to prepare a plan of action; acquired medical care and services for clients.

-Provided advice to clients concerning school problems, finances, health, and family relationships. Visited schools, clinics, hospitals and welfare agencies, relatives, physicians and others to collect information required to prepare recommendations for social, court and other action.

-Finally, prepared and maintained case histories, prepared court reports containing findings and recommendations, prepared correspondence, maintained records and files.

10/04/2013 – 09/03/2018

Resource Development Specialist

NJ Dept. Of Children and Families – Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)

Hours per Week: 40 Salary: 76,000.00 USD Per Year

-Responsible for the development, support and retention of resource families.

-Additional responsibilities included meeting with a potential resource/foster family as soon as an application was approved to develop a relationship with the family.

-Completed a home study for a resource family applicant and prepared homes for the licensing review within 90 days of receipt of the application or recommending denial of a home.

06/04/2008 – 09/10/2011

Family Support Specialist (Permanency Unit)

NJ Dept. Of Children and Families – Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)

Hours per Week: 40 Salary: 52,000.00 USD Per Year

Worked with families extensively by providing support services and guidance to maintain family stability and/or family reunification by ensuring proper services and referral directives from DCP&P have been properly carried out. Conducted monthly visits to families’ home to ensure safety and well-being of children, provided advice and guidance to families.

In addition, was in constant contact with schools, clinics, hospital and welfare agencies, relatives and physicians to collect information to prepare recommendations for court and/or other action.

06/2002-07/2005

Disability Claims Manager

Prudential Financial

Hours per Week: 40 Salary: 36,000.00 USD Per Year

Evaluated and answered customer inquiries, utilized computerized system for tracking, gathering and providing service to the customer, managed product, account, policy, and service inquiries.

Explained benefit coverage and documented and investigated complaints.

Directed disability claims toward the appropriate outcome while providing customer service and early intervention in the disability cycle to prevent short-term impairments from becoming long-term disabilities.

Frequent multi-tasking involved in position and calculated appropriate dates and payment amounts accurately.

Specialized Training

Domestic Violence training-New Jersey Child Welfare Training Academy (2009)

Mental Illness training and certification-Rutgers University (2009)

Human Trafficking Training-New Jersey Child Welfare Training Academy (2014)

Street Gang(s) Training-New Jersey Child Welfare Training Academy (2009)

Stages of Child Development Training-New Jersey Child Welfare Training Academy (2008)

Immigration Training-Rutgers University (New Jersey Child Welfare Academy) (2015)

Specialized Sexual Abuse Training-New Jersey Child Welfare Training Academy (2009)

Specialized Training in Home Study Writing-New Jersey Child Welfare Training Academy (2013)

Certification in SAFE Home Study Writing-New Jersey Child Welfare Training Academy. (2013)

Specialized training in Forensic Interviewing – Montclair State University 2017. (2017)

Understanding Substance Abuse – New Jersey Child Welfare Training Academy (2016)

LGBTQ Youth and Foster Care - New Jersey Child Welfare Training Academy (2016)

Education

May 2006

Bachelor of Arts (B.A in Sociology/Minor in Psychology

Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

Possible Relevant coursework: Human Rights; History of South Africa

may 2007

Graduate Course Work toward MSW

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

Possible Relevant coursework: Psychopathology, Child Welfare Policy I and II, Human Behavior I and II, Culture and Diversity of immigrant populations.

August 2016

Adolescent Advocacy and Public Policy Post Baccalaureate Certificate

Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ

Completed a 35-credit post baccalaureate certificate program Adolescent and Child Advocacy policy and practice.

May 2017

Master of Arts (M.A) in Adolescent Advocacy and Public Policy/Public Child Welfare

Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ

Possible relevant coursework: Human Trafficking, Forensic Interviewing of Children, Public Child Welfare Research and Evaluation, Children and the Law, Case Practice Law, Development and Trauma in the Adolescent, Seminar in Adolescent Advocacy, Engaging the Adolescents and the System, Culturally Competent Practice in Child Advocacy, Child Protective Services Investigation, Child Welfare Policy, Child Advocacy Policy and Practice, Research and Evaluation and Master’s Thesis.

References are available upon request

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