Case Management Benefits Representative

MARLA CANALES

***** ********, ** 956-***-**** ************@*****.***

Summary

Seasoned social work professional with 5+ years in case management, team leadership, and federal regulatory compliance. Proven ability to manage complex reunification cases, streamline operations, and engage multidisciplinary stakeholders. Bilingual in Spanish, adept in client advocacy, risk evaluation, and process improvement.

Skills

Supervision

Data integrity

Work delegation

Risk assessment

Strategic planning

Effective communication

Discretion

Budget control

Staff scheduling

Time management

Office administration

Stakeholder engagement

Experience

Lead Unification Manager 10/2024 - Current

The Providencia Group Ashburn, VA

Provide strategic leadership and guidance to a multidisciplinary team of Unification Specialists, cultivating a high-performance environment aligned with organizational values and federal child welfare standards.

Oversee the end-to-end management of reunification cases for Unaccompanied Children, ensuring accurate documentation, risk mitigation, and compliance with ORR protocols and legal frameworks.

Direct operational processes to enhance efficiency and consistency across case management systems, while maintaining a focus on quality assurance and regulatory alignment.

Foster collaborative relationships with federal entities, legal professionals, and community-based organizations to advance reunification outcomes and ensure child-centered continuity of care.

Exercise sound judgment in identifying case-related risks and implemented responsive strategies that supported both program integrity and the safety and well-being of children under care.

Assistant Lead Unification Manager 08/2022 - 10/2024

The Providencia Group Ashburn, VA

Provided critical leadership and guidance to Unification Specialists, fostering adherence to ORR protocols and enhancing the integrity and consistency of the family reunification process for Unaccompanied Children (UCs).

Ensured excellence in case management by maintaining accurate, real-time documentation in ORR systems, streamlining reunification workflows and reinforcing compliance with federal standards.

Championed onboarding and professional development initiatives for new staff, strengthening team capacity and promoting a high standard of practice in sponsor assessments and case handling.

Drove cross-sector collaboration with legal representatives, foster care agencies, and social service providers to address reunification barriers and safeguard child welfare throughout the process.

Proactively identified and resolved procedural inefficiencies, supporting leadership in implementing policy-aligned solutions that elevated case outcomes and reinforced organizational accountability.

Virtual Reunification Specialist 07/2021 - 08/2022

The Providencia Group Ashburn, VA

Led intake strategy for Unaccompanied Children (UC), aligning assessment protocols with federal standards and driving informed reunification decisions that upheld child welfare and legal compliance.

Directed end-to-end oversight of the Family Reunification Packet (FRP) process, enhancing stakeholder coordination and ensuring timely, policy-aligned execution across complex caseloads.

Maintained governance over case management systems (UC Portal, VESTA), implementing best practices in data integrity and regulatory compliance to support audit readiness and operational excellence.

Forged and sustained high-impact partnerships with federal agencies, NGOs, and community organizations, advancing collaborative efforts to streamline reunification and post-release care initiatives.

Played a pivotal role in global crisis response efforts, providing leadership in virtual case management operations during refugee emergencies, ensuring service continuity under dynamic and high-stakes conditions.

Reunification Specialist 04/2021 - 07/2021

Chicanos Por La Causa Donna, TX

Spearheaded virtual case management efforts for unaccompanied minors, ensuring full compliance with ORR regulations and contributing to efficient and timely case progression in a high-demand emergency shelter setting.

Successfully facilitated complex reunification processes by conducting detailed sponsor assessments, verifying documentation, and overcoming placement barriers to ensure child safety and well-being.

Led risk evaluation and safety planning initiatives, proactively identifying placement concerns and developing alternative solutions that supported long-term stability for children in care.

Enhanced sponsor readiness and post-release success by delivering clear, compassionate guidance on responsibilities, legal processes, and access to community-based support services.

Fostered effective interagency collaboration with federal, legal, and child welfare partners to streamline placement outcomes, uphold regulatory standards, and resolve emergent reunification challenges.

Youth and Family Case Manager 10/2019 - 04/2021

Texas Tropical Behavioral Health

Spearheaded the development and implementation of individualized, strengths-based care plans that effectively addressed complex behavioral, emotional, and psychosocial needs of youth and families.

Delivered targeted therapeutic interventions that significantly enhanced client resilience, emotional regulation, and overall mental health outcomes through consistent skill-building sessions.

Played a pivotal role in crisis prevention and response by conducting thorough risk assessments and coordinating immediate, client-centered safety plans in collaboration with families and providers.

Strengthened continuity of care by fostering collaborative partnerships with interdisciplinary teams, ensuring that all services were seamlessly integrated and aligned with each client's evolving treatment goals.

Championed client advocacy by navigating barriers to access and empowering families through education, ultimately improving engagement, treatment adherence, and long-term support systems.

Education

M.D.: Social Work 08/2018

University of Texas At Arlington

Bachelor's Degree: Social Work 05/2017

University of Texas At Arlington

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