Maria Chua

Experience

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  Real Alternatives Program

  Jan 1992 - Jan 1993

  Intern/Case Manager

  Developed curriculum on promoting self-esteem and cultural and political awareness. Taught youth leadership class. Counseled and provided case management services to gang-affiliated female youth. Supervised fundraising project. Led youth in after-school leadership development and culturally relevant activities. Began an on-site recycling program that promoted environmental awareness while raising money for the Student Fund.

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  Asian Americans for Community Involvement

  Jan 1993 - Jan 1994

  AIDS Project Coordinator

  Developed a Centers for Disease Control AIDS prevention grant as part of a multi-agency team. Hired and supervised AIDS program staff. Developed curriculum for AIDS Skills Training Workshops. Trained staff on AIDS case management. Counseled and provided case management services to clients living with HIV/AIDS and their significant others. Facilitated Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual support groups and conducted in-service training on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual issues. Conducted AIDS prevention presentations at the university and community levels. Conducted public health outreach in bars, schools, and community organizations. Show less

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  UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, Spanish Speaking Clinic and Eating Disorder Clinic

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1996

  MSW Intern

  Co-facilitated a monolingual Spanish-speaking men's psychotherapy group and a process group for people with eating disorders. Provided bio-psycho-social assessments for individuals, families, and couples in both crisis intervention and long-term treatment modalities. Provided case coordination and clinical assessment for clients in the Eating Disorders Clinic. Conducted phone intakes and screening of clients.

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  Venice Family Clinic

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1995

  MSW Intern

  Co-facilitated a support group for low-income women. Provided crisis intervention in the Homeless and Teen Clinic programs. Conducted focus groups for collaborative community needs assessment project between the Venice Family Clinic an St. John's Hospital. Provided assessment, clinical counseling, and advocacy with families and individuals.

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  Hillview Mental Health Center

  Jan 1996 - Jan 1998

  Psychiatric Social Worker

  Provided psychosocial assessments and treatment for U.S. Federal Probation clients. Developed and conducted a Spanish-speaking women's therapy group and a Spanish-speaking mixed gender, multi-diagnosis day treatment group. Worked as crisis therapist as officer of the day and for the emergency phone line on a 24 hour on-call basis. Conducted psychiatric evaluations and provided individual, family, and couples therapy. Formulated individual and family treatment plans. Successfully applied comprehensive case management services to a large case load meeting the demands of acute care and chronic issues. Trained social workers in developing coordinated treatment plans. Provided translation in English and Spanish for psychiatrists and clients during medication evaluations. Assessed applicants for independent living skills for agency residential apartments. Show less

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  UCLA

  Jul 1996 - May 1997

  Research Interviewer

  Interviewed low-income women who had work and welfare experience for a welfare policy study. Participated in a comprehensive interview skills training program on how to appropriately and effectively conduct research interviews. Participated in bi-weekly meetings reviewing research findings and restructuring research instruments.

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  County of Los Angeles, Department of Mental Health

  Mar 1998 - Dec 1999

  Psychiatric Social Worker II

  Developed and provided services for the County's children psychiatric mobile response team. Worked as a crisis therapist as officer of the day and for the on-call night rotation providing psychiatric evaluation for hospitalization for clients in Department of Children and Family Services group homes and residential placement facilities. Chaired Utilization Review committee and developed effective quality assurance policies. Trained new clinical staff in developing coordinated treatment plans. Co-facilitated an adolescent girls process group. Served as Safety Committee Liaison between Edelman Mental Health Children and Adult Services Programs. Conducted presentations on clinical issues specific to children and adolescents to community groups and for in-service trainings, Participated in a 4 month Dual Diagnosis in Children and Adolescents course. Developed and provided school-based treatment services. Conducted psychiatric evaluations and provided treatment for children, adolescents, and their families. Show less

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  Los Angeles Unified School District

  Dec 1999 - Jun 2011

  Program Facilitator/Psychiatric Social Worker

  Developed and implemented Alternative Education and Work Centers/School Mental Health Collaborative. Served as the Program Facilitator for AEWC Social Workers. Presented at the national and state levels on best practices with at-risk youth, violence prevention, and community engagement. Developed psyhco-educational curricula on topics such as family engagement, academic success, conflict resolution, and stress reduction. Conducted psycho-educational groups at multiple school sites. Provided consultation to the Division of Adult Education on clinical issues and school mental health services. Implemented and ran Parent-in-Control groups at multiple school sites. Served on multiple Local Disrtict Crisis Teams and school site crisis teams providing emergency services and training on threat management. Provided in--service training and staff development on high risk youth, crisis intervention, and threat assessment to Adult School adminstrators and staff. Provided individual and family counseling to students and their families. Supervised MSW intern. Provided clinical supervision to ASW. Show less

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  Los Angeles Unified School District

  Sept 2011 - now

  Developed and coordinated professional development for all Student Health and Human Services staff on topics such as resiliency building skills, managing anxiety, community and self-care, motivational interviewing, commercial sexual exploitation of children, law and ethics, solution-focused therapy, and grief and loss. Served as the Continuing Education Program Administrator leading a multi-departmental group of social workers, attendance counselors, Wellness Programs staff, and school nurses. Led the collaboration and partnership with the David Lynch Foundation which created training of transcendental meditation for staff, administrators, students and families. Facilitated the development for the Roadmap for Social Emotional Wellness for Parents/Caregivers and Educators. Led the Policy Workgroup which created multi-disciplinary educational policies related to wellness, mental health, and physical health for all LAUSD. Co-wrote District policy related to substance abuse prevention, intervention and resources. Led the collaboration between the National Center for Childhood Bereavement which provided ongoing training and consultation for District personnel. Developed the SHHS Administrative Cohort in collaboration with California State University, Dominguez Hills which created a first ever curriculum specific to health and human services personnel working on their administrative credential. Wrote Board Informatives and Impact Statements in response to Board of Education resolutions. Developed content for SHHS Leadership meetings. Represented the Executive Director at District level and community meetings. Show less Supervised over 65 staff members including a School Mental Health administrator, Mental Health Consultants, Crisis Counseling and School-based Psychiatric Social Workers in Local District Central. Provided mental health consultation and expertise to Local District leadership and site administrators on strategies that facilitate student development and their ability to successfully deal with social emotional barriers, crises, or traumatic experiences. Provided direct support to Local District Operations staff related to crisis intervention, threats, suicide, workplace violence, and employee support related to mental health. Served as technical resource to Student Health & Human Services personnel, principals, teachers, and other school personnel regarding mental health services, and other issues related to the development/maintenance of on-site mental health services within a school or Local District. Coordinated with multidisciplinary staff, including all LA Unified divisions, Local Districts, and school staff for mental health services, evidence-based practices, crisis intervention and other related services. Coordinated and collaborated with Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and Department of Children's Services, and other nonprofit mental health agencies to assist student families in obtaining additional assistance outside the District. Planned and directed staff development and in-service activities for District and branch personnel. Created and developed New PSW Orientation and PSW Mentorship for staff. Show less Directly supported the Executive Director and served as a project manager and consultant in strategic planning and communications planning for the Student Health and Human Services Division. Led strategic planning efforts including the design, management and implementation of the Student Health and Human Services Communications Plan. Spearheaded and implemented the Military Families Campaign coordinating the distribution of free resources to support military families to all LAUSD schools which culminated with a multi-disciplinary panel and news conference with City of Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti and the University of Southern California. Served as the Division Lead for the Youth Mental Health First Aid grant and training of all SHHS Division trainers. Facilitated coordination among all departments and units within the Student Health and Human Services Division. Utilized data-driven problem solving models for building capacity within each department to be compliant, efficient and effective in working with students, their families and the staff who serve them. Served as liaison between District Divisions, community partners and Student Health and Human Services to ensure consistency, teamwork and effective implementation of collaborative projects and programs. Show less Developed and provided professional development and training to school administrators and staff on threat assessment, crisis intervention, secondary traumatic stress, suicide prevention, psychological first aid, anti-bullying, trauma in schools, and self-injurious behavior on the district-wide level. Conducted threat assessments and provides crisis response as a first responder on the District Level Crisis Team. Provided mental health consultation to administrators, school staff, and community agencies. Trained district-level and school site crisis team members on crisis response and management, threat assessment, and suicide prevention and intervention. Conducted presentations on Suicide Prevention, Anti-Bullying, and Psychological First Aid to parents and caregivers in English and Spanish. Presented on Compassion Fatigue at the Annual District Crisis Team training and to certificated and classified personnel. Participated and deliberated on expulsion hearings on the District Level. Participated on Student Attendance Review Board. Provided clinical supervsion to MSW/ASW. Show less Provided mental health consultation to administrators, school staff, and community agencies on issues related to threat assessment, crisis intervention, psychological first aid, trauma, and self-injurious behavior. Conducted presentations on anti-bullying prevention and intervention for the Compensatory Education Advisory Council as well as for parent groups, student assemblies, and teachers. Conducted threat assessments and crisis response as a first responder on the District Level Crisis Team. Participated in the Safe Passage Collaborative for the Belmont and Northeast Los Angeles areas, Discipline Policy Foundation, and Community Action Team through the LA City Mayor's Office. Show less Facilitated a Reflective Learning Clinical Supervision Group on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the local district level. Assessed for eligibility of Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS) during collaborative case review between School Mental Health and Psychological Services. Represented the District at IEPs where ERMHS was indicated. Provided comprehensive individual and family therapy in the home, school, and clinic settings for elementary, middle school, and high school age students in Special Education. Formulated comprehensive treatment planning and developed ERMHS goals for IEPs. Provided consultation to school sites on ERMHS as needed. Show less

  • Administrative Coordinator, School Mental Health

    Oct 2022 - now

  • Division Coordinator, Student Health and Human Services

    Jul 2019 - Oct 2022

  • Field Coordinator, School Mental Health

    Sept 2016 - Aug 2019

  • Coordinator, Division of Student Health and Human Services

    Jul 2014 - Sept 2016

  • Mental Health Consultant, Superintendent's Intensive Support and Innovation Center

    Jul 2012 - Jun 2014

  • Mental Health Consultant, Local District 4

    Mar 2012 - Jun 2012

  • Psychiatric Social Worker/ERMHS Provider

    Sept 2011 - Apr 2012