Remote Authorization Coordinator - Patient Advocacy

Isis Arizmendez

Culturally oriented human services provider

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

Santa Ana, CA 92704 +1-657-***-**** *************@*****.*** Professional summary

Compassionate behavioral health professional with extensive experience supporting youth and adults facing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges. Skilled in trauma-informed care, crisis de-escalation, and group facilitation. Proven ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, maintain regulatory compliance, and provide empathetic, culturally competent support in high-stress environments. Willing to relocate to: California

Authorized to work in the US for any employer

Work experience

Youth Engagement Specialist

The covenant house Anaheim, CA

May 2021 to 2027

• Ensured a safe, stable, and supportive environment by managing the overnight residential milieu for transition-age youth experiencing homelessness and trauma.

• De-escalated crisis situations and behavioral emergencies during high-stress night shifts by utilizing trauma-informed care and de-escalation techniques.

• Maintained a secure facility by conducting routine security and wellness checks, managing intake protocols, and enforcing safety guidelines.

• Supported compliance with agency standards by collaborating with the multidisciplinary case management team and maintaining detailed, accurate shift logs and incident documentation. Dual Diagnosis Counselor

College Hospital Costa Mesa Costa Mesa, CA

November 2023 to August 2025

• Facilitated specialized, evidence-based therapeutic and psychoeducational groups across diverse units, enhancing patient engagement in acute chemical dependency/detox and adolescent psychiatric programs.

• Delivered targeted interventions focusing on relapse prevention, harm reduction, emotional regulation, and coping skill development, improving outcomes for both adult and youth populations.

• Improved patient care by evaluating engagement, behavior, and withdrawal/crisis symptoms within the milieu, collaborating closely with a multidisciplinary clinical team of psychiatrists, nurses, and social workers.

• Ensured regulatory compliance by maintaining detailed, timely clinical documentation and group progress notes in strict accordance with healthcare regulations, HIPAA, and hospital policies.

• Maintained patient safety and a stable therapeutic environment across secure units by utilizing strong de-escalation skills and trauma-informed principles.

Spanish speaking Peer Support Specialist

Abrazar contracted by NAMI Remote

October 2023 to June 2025

• Provided empathetic, non-judgmental telephone and text-based support to individuals experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, or crisis, fostering trust and connection.

• Promoted empowerment and reduced isolation for callers by utilizing personal lived experience and peer support principles to foster connection.

• Assisted individuals in developing coping strategies and wellness plans, navigating local mental health resources, and connecting with community support systems to improve well-being.

• Ensured confidentiality and data integrity by maintaining strict confidentiality and accurately logging call data and demographics using secure electronic tracking systems. Addiction Counselor Intern

Telecare Santa Ana, CA

August 2023 to July 2024

• Supported clients in early recovery by assisting with assessments and group facilitation, contributing to improved engagement and treatment outcomes.

Drug and Alcohol Counselor Intern

Telecare Corporation Santa Ana, CA

July 2022 to May 2024

• Completed a comprehensive 2-year clinical internship across 4 semesters, balancing specialized training in both community mental health and substance use disorders to enhance clinical competency.

• Supported clients navigating severe mental illness and co-occurring substance use dependencies by applying evidence- based recovery models.

• Facilitated low-barrier support strategies and conducted wellness checks under direct clinical supervision, assisting with case coordination to improve client outcomes.

• Collaborated with a multidisciplinary treatment team to track client progress, maintain accurate charting, and support individualized recovery plans, ensuring continuity of care. Youth Engagement Specialist

Covenant House Anaheim, CA

January 2021 to December 2023

• Supported unhoused and at-risk youth by providing trauma-informed care and crisis support, contributing to increased safety and stability.

Education

Mental health worker (Certification)

Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA

January 2023 to Present

Drug and Alcohol Studies (College Degree)

Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA

October 2021 to Present

Alcohol and drug studies (Associate's degree)

Saddlebavk college Mission Viejo, CA

October 2022 to May 2024

Human services (Associate's degree)

Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA

October 2021 to May 2024

Front and back office Medical assistant (Certificate) InterCoast Colleges-Orange Santa Ana, CA

September 2003 to April 2004

General Education (High school diploma)

Access County Community Orange, CA

November 2001 to May 2003

Upper secondary education

Bachelor's degree

Trade school

Clinical Counseling (Bachelor's degree)

Some college

High school diploma or GED

Skills

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) Family counseling Substance abuse treatment center experience Outpatient Substance abuse Managing patient records Client rapport building Patient care Family advocate experience Interpersonal skills Foster care system Childhood developmental delays Curriculum development Special education First aid Assisting with ADLs Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Decision making Database management Psychoeducational group therapy facilitation Working with geriatric patients - Geriatric patient experience (1-2 years) Team management - Team management (6-15 team members) Microsoft Access Relationship management Working with high schoolers Medical claim denial management Customer issue escalation Medical office experience Medical terminology Experience working with students Quality data entry Providing care for residents - Largest number of residents cared for simultaneously (4-6 residents) Climbing Medical administrative support Organizational skills Clerical experience Grammar Experience Event planning Experience working with individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders ICD-9 Team supervision Resume management software Self-assessments (needs assessment method) Insurance prior authorization Phone communication Crisis intervention counseling Disability services Adobe Acrobat Individual therapy Working with survivors of violence Fair Housing regulations GPS Maintaining patient confidentiality Contracts Patient demographics Calendar management Conflict de-escalation Direct support Employee relationship building Technical report writing Substance abuse counseling Experience with children Experience with individuals with substance use disorders Research Care planning in social services Mobile devices Discharge planning Implementing learning management systems (LMS) Developmental disability care assistance Case service coordination Practicing as a mental health professional Personal injury law Care plan development State healthcare regulations Patient observation Program management Filing Clinical confidentiality policies Working with people experiencing homelessness Patient monitoring School experience Productivity software Security checks in shelters and recovery homes ATS Case management Ethernet Intellectual disabilities support Employment coaching client intake Clinical supervision Experience working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Interview skills training facilitation Advocacy Counselor experience Crisis management Career counseling Working with adult populations Domestic violence situation handling Therapy progress note documentation Service scheduling Property insurance knowledge Physical fitness training Professional networking Client advocacy in social work Microsoft Word Youth academic support program facilitation CRM system proficiency Microsoft Office Relapse prevention group facilitation Team development Business development Overseeing care coordination Data management High-risk population support Spanish Geriatrics Autism spectrum disorders support Teamwork Care plans Child welfare Technical Proficiency Facilities management Staff scheduling Recovery peer support Home & community care experience ICD-10 Medical claims processing Windows Care coordination Social services Employment support for individuals with disabilities Telehealth platforms Mac OS Phone answering

Experience with individuals with physical disabilities Budgeting Stakeholder engagement Hospital experience Substance use assessment Cooking Experience with individuals with cognitive disabilities Elder abuse reporting Physical disabilities support Working with seniors Community outreach Intake Psychotherapy Community resource coordination Customer inquiry handling Working with culturally diverse communities Live chat Career development conversations (needs assessment method) SharePoint Community engagement Diagnostic evaluation Teaching Yardi Interviewing Mental health counseling Quality management JCAHO Utilization review Customer communication Time management Home care Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)

Long term care experience - Long term care experience (3-5 years) Manual handling Addiction counseling Coaching Group counseling Working with people with autism Microsoft Excel Word processing Quality assurance Computer literacy Cultural sensitivity Office experience Behavioral health Incident Reporting Management Behavior management Experience with individuals with mental health conditions Team motivation (leadership skill) Supervising experience EHR systems Working with youth Youth services Conflict management Hiring Clinical counseling Experience working with adults with disabilities Addiction medicine Data entry Clinical documentation Working with families with children Adolescents Motivational interviewing Mentoring Crisis intervention Child welfare services Staff supervision Family services case manager experience Active listening Community relationship building Caregiving IT experience within healthcare Classroom management Family services coordinator experience Skills-building group facilitation Working with people with disabilities Rehabilitation and recovery (patient care) Multitasking Individual / Group Counseling Recruiting PTSD Care Peer group facilitation Clinical team leadership Data reporting Landlord-tenant law Guest services Meeting facilitation Public speaking Analysis skills Non-profit organization community engagement experience IT Telehealth experience Appointment scheduling EMR systems Customer complaint resolution Staff training Group home experience Databases Family therapy

Interdisciplinary behavioral health coordination Marketing Dependability Writing skills Resident observation in shelters and recovery homes Customer relationship building Empathy Transportation planning Budget management in education Customer engagement Social work care coordination Child & family services WordPress HRIS Google Docs Adaptability Clinical information systems Student record keeping Attention to detail Health insurance verification via electronic systems Quality improvement Retail sales CMS regulatory compliance Less DonorPerfect

Experience with individuals from underserved communities Collaborate with healthcare professionals Employee relations Working with people with developmental disabilities Emotional regulation techniques Experience in non-profits Computer skills Social work Medical billing account reconciliation Adult education Leadership Project management Medicare Microsoft PowerPoint Customer relationship management Psychiatry Community advocacy Electronic health records (EHR) management Managed care Training & development Customer service Medical billing Inpatient Emergency management Children Microsoft Outlook Communication skills Administrative experience Security Cognitive behavioral therapy HIPAA Team building

Achieving HIPAA compliance - Largest yearly HIPAA compliance rate achieved (90-95%) Needs assessments for independent living skills HIPAA compliance management Sage Documentation review Telehealth therapy Adults with developmental disabilities Working with families Acute care Collaborating with government agencies Evidence-based interventions in treatment planning Community events Disability support services Career guidance Typing Interpersonal communication Google Sheets Continuing education Caseload management Social media management Leadership development Job search strategy workshop facilitation Clear language communication Youth mentoring Achieving sales targets LMS Referral coordination Working with children with disabilities Direct patient care Managing customer accounts

Direct patient care in social services case management Collaboration Domestic violence intervention Executive administrative support Bilingual Clinical case management Care documentation Task assignment

Languages

Multilingual

Bilingual

Spanish - Fluent

English

Certifications and licenses

Substance Abuse Counseling Certification

Registered Alcohol Drug Technician CCAPP

January 2022 to January 2027

Adult Mental Health First Aider

December 2021 to December 2024

OTR

Driver's License

RBT Certification

Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT)

Additional information

Medical Assistant & Office Administrator Medical Practice Managed front-office operations, including patient check-ins, scheduling, multi-line phone systems, and coordinating appointment workflows to maintain an efficient clinic environment. Handled sensitive patient medical records and billing information with strict adherence to HIPAA compliance and confidentiality regulations.

Conducted routine clinical intake duties, took vital signs, and verified patient medical histories prior to examinations. Liaised between medical providers, insurance companies, and patients to streamline communication, authorize referrals, and resolve administrative inquiries.

Maintained inventory of clinical and office supplies, ensuring exam rooms were fully stocked, sanitized, and prepared for patient care.

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