Experience

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  Wamata

  Jan 2010 - May 2010

  Master of social work intern

  Developed and facilitated innovative group counseling programs and ongoing evaluationsResearched and wrote proposals to granters to receive over $15,000 in grant fundsRecruited and managed volunteer assistance in creating a WAMATA websiteDeveloped counseling log and intake forms, and edited an employee HIV/AIDS policy at a collaborating hospital

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  Texas department of family and protective services

  Sept 2010 - Jan 2012

  Conservatorship worker

  Managed a case load of 25-30 children and their caregivers and familiesRefered children, youth, parents, families and caregivers to services and programs intended to develop safe and stable environments leading to permanency for childrenRepresented the perspectives of the Department of Family and Protective Services in meetings, court hearings and trialsCommunicated professionally and productively with lawyers as well as representatives of law enforcement, health care and various community agenciesDocumented interactions and case changes in a complete and timely fashion Show less

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  Casa of travis county

  Jan 2012 - Aug 2014

  Senior child advocacy specialist

  Supervised a team of 20-30 volunteers by supervising, supporting, and engaging them in their advocacy for the best interests of 50-70 childrenEdited and approved written reports to be presented to judges; provided oral reports in courtConducted home visits to gather information and make recommendations effecting the welfare of children and families; collaborated with a diverse group of families and professionalsAssisted management through presenting at community panels and CASA trainings, supervising staff during court hearings, reviewing and approving staff court reportsDocumented contacts precisely and efficiently Show less

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  Casa for children of essex county

  Aug 2014 - Feb 2015

  Advocate coordinator

  Supervised a team of 20-30 volunteers by supervising, supporting, and engaging them in their advocacy for the best interests of 50-70 childrenEdited and approved written reports to be presented to judges; provided oral reports in courtConducted home visits to gather information and make recommendations effecting the welfare of children and families; collaborated with a diverse group of families and professionalsDocumented contacts promptly and helped maintain database and track dataDeveloped in-service training calendar and assisted with trainings Show less

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  Court appointed special advocates (casa) of middlesex county

  Feb 2015 - now

  Executive director

  Program Oversight: increased percentage of children served from 13% to 67% of children in the state’s custody; grew network of volunteers by 160% (40 to 104) and Peer Coaches, advanced volunteers who provide mentorship to new volunteers, by 400%; founded and chair statewide Wellbeing Committee for developing and implementing wellbeing surveys, a tool used to monitor changes in child wellbeing; created the organization’s first Race Equity Team; selected by CASA of New Jersey to serve on Continuous Quality Improvement and Advanced Data and Outcomes CommitteesFund Development: increased annual income by 288% ($170,000 to $660,000); increased financial reserves by 560%; plan and implement annual fundraisers including development of new Help a Hero peer-to-peer fundraising campaign; established Legacy Fund to provide goods and experiences to childrenStakeholder and Public Relations: publicly represent the organization at presentations, meetings, events, and in the media; responsible for creation of multi-agency nonprofit seminar in collaboration with chamber of commerce; represent New Jersey’s CASA programs in the state’s Race Equity Leadership Team involving intensive training and leadership opportunities in the area of racial disproportionality in the child welfare system; facilitated a training introducing Trust Based Relational Intervention to 12 programs statewideGovernance and Strategic Planning: separated CASA of Middlesex County legally and administratively from CASA of New Jersey, establishing a new legal tax-exempt nonprofit and membership with National CASA; increased number of staff from two to seven, creating new positions in program activities, outreach, development, and communications; led the creation of the organization’s first Strategic Plan; updated all governing documents according to new quality standards released by National CASA while ensuring adherence to the standards of the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts Show less