Natdean Mechelle Gary, MSW **** Sandy Hook Road, Randallstown, MD 21133

240-***-**** adxyuo@r.postjobfree.com

Case Management Counseling

Core Competencies

Counseling / Therapy

Education / Training

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Case Management / Crisis Response

Operations & Program Coordination

Team Building & Leadership

Client Care & Rehabilitation

Quality Assurance

Global / Multi-Cultural Acumen

Objective

To obtain a secure position that will enable me to provide top quality work and help others achieve their goals.

Education

Master of Healthcare Administration, 2024, University of Maryland Global Campus, Adelphi, MD

Master of Arts Degree, School of Social Work, 2004, University of MD, Baltimore, MD

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology Counseling, 2001, Sojourner Douglass College, Baltimore, MD

Professional Overview

Social Science Specialist, Crisis Responder, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration 2022

Makes outgoing calls to Veterans if a Veteran has sent an email or letter to the White House, or some other government agency; Keeping a caller, texter, or chatter engaged while multi-tasking to document work, look up resources, and instant message for assistance when needed; Implements suicide/mental health crisis prevention strategies; Provides support for the identification of veterans at high risk, and coordinates enhanced care;

Conducts interviews and utilizes assessments tools to assess emotional, functional, and/or psychological conditions; Completes structured diagnostic and clinical assessments; Prepares and maintains records and reports in accordance with program guidelines; Provides psycho-education and directs advice regarding suicide/mental illness crisis; Works collaboratively with other members of the VA Crisis Hotline Program to identify appropriate services for Veterans in crisis; Assists Veterans and their family/friend/significant other with issues regarding the Veterans' mental health issues, referrals, benefits, support groups.

Foster Care Social Worker, Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, Landover, MD 2015-2022

Provides extensive case management and crisis intervention services to customers regarding personal, economic and social problems to promote successful child welfare outcomes. Completes monthly home visits with youth that are placed in out of home placements to ensure basic living standards are met, indicators of child abuse and neglect are not present and youth are safe. Contact collateral sources such as agency records, educational settings, mental health and community service providers to identify strengths and problem areas as it relates to education, medical, emotional, abuse/neglect and social and economic deprivation to assist youth and families with treatment, discharge and aftercare planning as they transition from involvement with the child welfare system. Develops and implements individualized case plans, service plans and treatment plan utilizing a strength-based model in accordance with state, local and federal policies and procedures. Establishes and maintains professional relationships with other helping agencies/community stakeholders to facilitate referrals and on-going services to families. Participates in team meetings for families and children to discuss strengths and needs of the case in order to create goals to resolve barriers and formulate case plan, maintains up-to-date case plans for clients to include problem identification and choice of intervention. Serve as a resource person to external agencies on cases of mutual interest and provides information to clients and their families by acting as a community liaison to advocate for client’s strength and other areas that require additional supports, to minimize problems related to his/her adjustment to the community. Provide individual, group and family counseling to help youth recognize, accept and resolve social, educational, environmental, emotional, and medical problems. Maintains office case records in accordance with all applicable program guidelines, regulations and policies and ensure that information is secured and services rendered are clearly documented and that all required casework activities and reports are comprehensive Maintains timely documentation related to an assigned case in the agency's database, including case notes of youth and collateral contacts, monthly summaries of case progression, and an annual social study for each youth.

Child Protective Social Worker, Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, Landover, MD 2004-2015

Investigating all reports of child and sexual abuse, neglect, and mental injury, where the health and welfare of children may be endangered by the actions or inactions of parents or other adults responsible for the children’s care or by any household or family member. Work closely with law enforcement, court and juvenile system. Assisting families that have been brought to the agency’s attention due to neglector abuse issues concerning children, provide direct services and referrals to families for parenting training, individual/family counseling, Medicare, Medicaid, drug/alcohol counseling, mental illness, substance abuse, child care and housing assistance, community and agency resources. Responsible for accessing, identifying and documenting abuse and neglect cases and finding the appropriate services to enhance child welfare outcomes. Completed home visits to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect. Provided assessments to determine whether a parent or guardian is fit to provide care, evaluating whether a child should be temporarily or permanently removed from his living situation and placing children with foster care or adoptive families. Requesting case documentation from medical and mental health providers as well as law enforcement, to assist with CPS investigation. Planned and co-facilitated Family Involvement Meetings, which are held to engage families and their support network to assess the needs of the family, develop service plans, make recommendations for the safest and least restrictive placement for children, while also considering appropriate permanency and well- being options for children. Experienced in analyze highly complex formal complaints of discrimination in accordance with laws, conduct legal research and applies relevant case law to support dismissal of claims, drafting legally defensible, signature ready documents at the expert level, regulations, policies, and procedures that govern the processing of Federal complaints of discrimination and child abuse.

Mental Health Associate, University of Maryland Medical Systems, Baltimore, MD 2002-2004

Work as a Mental Health Associate on the adult psychiatric unit with a multi-disciplinary team consists of doctors and social workers. The unit consists of 15 patients suffering from mental illness and substance abuse. I assist patients in daily activities such as ADL’s, vital checks, occupational therapy, community groups, individual counseling, discharge planning and multiple therapeutic groups. Responsible for vital checks, occupational therapy, community groups, individual counseling, discharge planning and therapeutic groups. Provided direct case management services, to include referrals to housing and educational programs, mental health, medical and legal services to prepare patients for discharge and assisted with their rehabilitation back into the community with achieving permanency and sustainability by providing referrals to such as services that assisted rehabilitation back into the community. Application of skin creams as directed by RN. Collection of cultures, urine and stool samples, etc. Promoted infection control through hand washing before and after every patient. Communicated effectively with lead RN’s and psychiatrist to achieve discharge goals by reporting any mental changes, behavioral adjustments and abnormal findings. Utilized case management and organizational techniques, systems and procedures to collaborate with other intra and inter-agencies to ensure healthcare data is relevant, accurate and comprehensive and in accordance with state, local and federal policies and procedures. The MHA provides direct services that will assist rehabilitation back into the community.

Psychiatric Referral Specialist, University of Maryland Medical Systems, Baltimore, MD 2001-2002

Worked as a fulltime Psychiatric Referral Specialist with a multi-disciplinary team consist of doctors and social

workers. Participate in daily preliminary telephone screening of potential patients diagnosed with mental illness

and substance abuse. The referral sources are obtained by collecting standard information used by P.A.R.C

personnel, documentation for clients and assisting clients with psychiatric legal proceedings. Prepare preliminary

daily, weekly and monthly reports and marketing activities. Obtain authorization for treatment from third party

payers; private insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid and perform related duties as required. Maintains

excellent verbal, written, communication and interpersonal skills in order to work collaboratively with team

members and staff across various healthcare service lines.

Residential Counselor, Maple Shade Youth & Family Services, Mardela Springs, MD 2000-2001

Worked as a fulltime residential counselor providing structure and guidance for adolescent girls with moderate to psychiatric problems with a multi-disciplinary team consist of doctors and social workers. The agency consists of eight emotionally disturbed girls ages eleven to seventeen as a community-based alternative to institutional placement. Some duties may consist of one on one counseling, group counseling, substance abuse treatment and attending therapy counseling with the girls. The counselor provides a therapeutic environment for girls to teach skills that will enable residents to better cope with life circumstances and behave in more adaptive and socially acceptable ways.

Instructional Administrative Teacher Assistant, Beaver Run Elementary School, Salisbury, MD 1996-2000

Hands on experience in the classroom working with teachers and students with daily tasks. Taking the role as classroom teacher when needed. Working one on one or in small groups with children. Record grades, set up or prepare materials for instruction. Assist administration with faxing papers, filing and contacting parents.

Instructional Senior Administrative Teacher Assistant, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, MD 1996-1999

Responsibilities included opening and closing the center and programming the security system. Worked with other teachers and students with daily tasks. Instruct students as the classroom teacher. Working in large and small groups with children ages eight weeks to five years old. Record daily accomplishments and set up or prepare materials for instruction. Assist administration with filing and contacting parents.

Volunteer Work

Peninsula Regional Medical Center, 100 East Carroll St. Salisbury, MD 1997-1997

Assist in physical therapy and mental health, transporting patients. Assisted in medical process, admissions, x-rays, medical records, and registering and discharging patients.

Paid Internship, St. Elizabeth School, 801 Argonne Drive, Baltimore, MD 2002-2003

Interned as a Social Worker/ Behavioral Specialist in a non-public special education facility-serving adolescents with developmental and emotional disabilities. Interned with two individual clients and families, co-lead a high school girls discussion group, co-lead an art therapy group, provide crisis intervention to 120 students. I have mastered a significant amount of agency paperwork, participated in multidisciplinary team meetings with doctors and social workers, as well as transition reviews and IEP (Individual Educational Plan) reviews.

Paid Internship, Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, Landover, MD 2003-2004

Interned as an MSW Social Worker/Student in a public child-welfare agency in the Family Preservation Department. Assisting families that have been brought to the agency’s attention due to neglector abuse issues concerning children, provide direct services and referrals to families for parenting training, individual/family counseling, drug/alcohol counseling, child care and housing assistance, co-facilitating groups with a multi-disciplinary team consist of doctors and social workers.

Special Skills

Computer skills, 60 words per minute, counseling skills, vocational development and employment skills, assessment skills, adaptive technology skills, automated disbursing systems, basic electronic fund transfers, microcomputer accounting applications, third party payer, marketing, psychiatric screening, referral and legal proceedings. Proficient in MD CHESSIE (Maryland Children's Electronic Social Services Information Exchange System): MD CHESSIE is a Maryland statewide tracking child welfare date system

Honors/Accomplishments

Dean’s List, Outstanding Volunteer Performance, Presidential Honors, Cum-Laude Honors 2001, Who’s Who Among Students in America Universities 2001, Manchester Who’ Who 2005-2006, NASW Member, 90 Hour Child Care Certification

Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) expected in 2019

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