Lauren Digena-Ford

Experience

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  Wegmans Food Markets

  Aug 2004 - Nov 2011

  Cashier

  Trained as a cashier to provide excellent knowledge-based customer service, I eventually worked in multiple departments of the store, including assisting with the interior organization of a new building during the summer of 2006, and demoed samples to increase customer knowledge and satisfaction with our Olde World Cheese and Bakery fresh bread offerings.

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  University at Albany

  Aug 2007 - May 2008

  Dept. of Residential Life, Resident Assistant

  As a Resident Assistant on an all-freshman quad, I served as a 24 hour resource for residents, fellow staff members and the greater UAlbany community. This included enforcement of the campus community rights and responsibilities contract, navigating emergency situations, and the creation and implementation of academic, social and diversity based programs campus wide. During my service as a Resident Assistance I was awarded both the "Found Being: Inclusive"and "Friend of Diversity Awards."

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  Empire State Pride Agenda

  Jan 2008 - May 2008

  Intern

  Over the course of my first internship with the Empire State Pride Agenda I was trained in the nuances of 501©3, 501©4 and PAC organizational structures, assisted in the coordination of major statewide events such as LGBT Health and Human Services Network Advocacy Day and the Equality and Justice Lobby- Day. In preparation for Equality and Justice Day, I was responsible for organizing and structuring over a hundred and fifty legislative lobby visits for constituents from across the state.

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  Human Rights Campaign

  Jun 2008 - Aug 2008

  Communities and Volunteer Relations Intern

  Located in Washington, DC, the Human Rights Campaign is the Nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization. As the Communities and Volunteer Relations Intern, I assisted in a variety of developmental tasks including the creation of tools to assist steering committee members in online event notices using Reddot Software and innovating volunteer management tools and techniques for HRC's 30+ steering committee's across the country.

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  Parsons Child and Family Center

  Sept 2009 - May 2010

  BSW Student Intern

  As a Bachelors Level Social Work Intern, my role was to serve as a connecting bridge between school and home for families with children receiving special education preschool services. This included home visits, classroom observation, assisting with special education evaluations and participating in special education team meetings. I provided specific case management for two families: coordinating health and human services to meet their childs comprehensive learning, health and developmental needs. I provided therapuetic social-emotional experiences for students in both integrated special education classrooms as well as self contained behavioral classrooms. Show less

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  Empire State Pride Agenda

  Jan 2010 - May 2010

  Intern

  I was invited back as an intern with the Empire State Pride Agenda in the spring of 2010, assisting New York State's largest LGBT civil rights organization in event planning and grassroots organizing - particularly regarding the Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act. Additionally I researched and analyzed education policy regarding LGBT public school K-12 students in New York State.

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  Pride Center of the Capital Region

  May 2010 - May 2011

  MSW Center Support Intern

  As part of the field curriculum for Advanced Standing social work masters students I interned with the Pride Center of the Capital Region within the Center Support Program. In my role, I provided sliding scale clinical social work services to individuals and couples, specializing in therapeutic support for sexual orientation, gender identity and relationship issues. I oversaw a major reconstruction of the Pride Center's resource and referral guide to assist community members in accessing LGBTQ-friendly health and human service providers. Additionally, I co-facilitated the LGBTQ youth group and provided support for the Queer Youth Chorus in addition to my day-to-day programmatic duties. Show less

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  Pride Center of the Capital Region

  Mar 2012 - Dec 2014

  As the LGBTQ Health Specialist, I manage the Center Support program at the Pride Center. While maintaining a caseload of ten to fifteen case management clients and fielding referral calls for LGBTQ-friendly heath and human services including mental health professionals, medical professionals and lawyers, I supervise our rapid HIV testing, healthcare enrollment, and counseling programs. I currently manage a team of two staff members and seven interns.Additionally, I assist with the Mental Health component of our training and education curriculum for service providers. With a focus on health and human services access, I have worked on special projects such as on-site flu shot clinics, voter registration initiatives and a workshop to educate transgender and gender non-conforming individuals regarding the process for legal name changes and gender maker updates.Check out the March 2014 (vol 2, issue 2) issue of CommUNITY Magazine below to read my article, "In Poor Health: Poverty is an LGBTQ Health Issue," on page 11.Check out the August 2014 (vol 2, issue 6) issue of CommUNITY Magazine below to read the article I co-wrote with Elizabeth Pivonka from the Social Security Administration titled: "Legally Married and Thinking about Retirement? Your Spouse may be Covered by Social Security!" on page 17. Show less While serving as the Mental Health Specialist at the Pride Center of the Capital Region I created a new component of our Center Support program: Case Management Services. Case Management Services offers service coordination and advocacy for LGBTQ individuals accessing health and human services. During my time as the Mental Health Specialist I oversaw the launch of our on-site rapid HIV testing program and expanded our social work internship program to provide field opportunities to more students than ever before.Additionally, I created and delivered training's for health and human service providers around providing competent care to the LGBTQ community and assisted with special events such as Capital Pride and other Pride Center events.Check out page 16 of the August 2013 issue of CommUNITY Magazine below to read about the first year of Case Management Services at the Pride Center! Show less

  • LGBTQ Health Specialist

    Sept 2013 - Dec 2014

  • Mental Health Specialist

    Mar 2012 - Sept 2013
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  Professional Development Program, Rockefeller College

  Dec 2014 - Sept 2017

  Senior Trainer

  As a Senior Trainer, I served as the subject matter expert to 22 unique training programs and was responsible for the project management of 11 program areas.

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  University at Albany

  Sept 2016 - May 2017

  Independent Field Instructor

  Part-time. I supervise 3 social work graduate level interns.

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  New York State Community Action Association

  Oct 2017 - Oct 2018

  Training Specialist
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  Northern Rivers Family of Services

  Oct 2018 - now

  Training Manager