Experience

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  Maryville academy

  Oct 2008 - Feb 2011

  Mental health professional

  • Provided daily therapeutic care to mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, and substance abuse patients • Researched and executed weekly rehabilitation and psychoeducational treatment groups• Intervened to restrain violent or potentially violent or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required• Guided patients in daily morals, goals and life skills to better prepare them for a safer and healthier living environment and future.

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  Mercy home for boys and girls

  Feb 2011 - Oct 2014

  Maintains primary responsibility for the Endurance Fundraising Program through creation and implementation of strategies designed to grow the house file, build community and donor loyalty, measure and increase donor engagement, and influence and expand fundraising dollars • Personally manages a portfolio of over 300 fundraising runners and their respective donors through cultivation, solicitation and stewardship• Acquire a number of new corporate sponsorships that result in the underwriting of thousands of dollars of program expenses for the Chicago Marathon endurance campaign• Project manages runner fundraising website, social media channels and daily correspondence via email, phone calls and visits to all runner fundraisers generating 50% more traffic and communication• Plans and executes community fundraising events, recruiting workshops and charity seminars, and serves as primary liaison for a large network of volunteers• Creates strategies for engaging fundraisers, donors, volunteers, and program sponsors in efforts to grow the program through the addition of other endurance events• Regularly assists in preparation of the Endurance Program Budget and expense reports Show less • Assisted the tutoring program at the Hay Boys Campus by ensuring that volunteer tutors were effectively trained for their work with our young people and maintained records of tutors’ attendance and timeliness on a nightly basis• Provided support and coverage for the education and youth employment team and focused on the youth’s educational goals and progress• Participated in the quarterly development of Individual Treatment Plans, Individual Education Plans, and family therapy sessions to monitor therapeutic progress• Had a case load of twenty students between the ages of 13-18 and worked closely with each member of the academic teams involved in 18 different private, public, and therapeutic day schools to ensure ultimate academic success Show less • Provided professional and therapeutic care to mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, and substance abuse patients• Participated in the creation of attainable therapeutic goals and was responsible for developing Individual Treatment Plans for patients in case load• Intervened to restrain violent or potentially violent or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means while maintaining a strengths based approach to recovery• Was responsible for twice the normally assigned caseload of patients as a designated youth advocate in daily morals, goals and life skills to better prepare them for a safer and healthier living environment and future Show less

  • Endurance Program Coordinator - Mercy Home Heroes

    Aug 2013 - Oct 2014

  • School Resources Coordinator

    Jul 2012 - Aug 2013

  • Youth Care Worker

    Feb 2011 - Jul 2012
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  Argosy university

  Sept 2012 - Dec 2014

  Teacher's assistant

  • Reported academic progress and recommendations to students while supporting and assisting to the department’s academic advisors• Advised students regarding course work, implementation of learned counseling skills, and individual growth while representing the university through a code of ethics and formal supervision• Ensured that all necessary documentation in support of students’ academic program was promptly completed• Assisted in the observation and evaluation of all students enrolled Show less

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  Tasc, inc. (treatment alternatives for safe communities)

  Aug 2014 - Jul 2015

  Therapist intern

  •Completes a comprehensive mental and behavioral health assessment to determine the client’s current functioning level, strengths and abilities.•Collaborates with the client to develop an individualized treatment plan and provide treatment services.•Maintains a therapeutic alliance with clients through appropriate treatment services and/or programs.•Provides education and support in relation to mental health and/or substance abuse concerns.•Assesses, identifies and responds to emergency or crisis needs of clients.•Provides family, individual, and group counseling or facilitation, as needed.•Provides substance use and extensive outpatient services to clients.•Completes accurately and in a timely manner all necessary forms, case notes, and reports as required by program guidelines and contractual obligations.•Activity participates in multi-disciplinary treatment team meetings, regular supervisory and team meetings.•Develops and maintains appropriate relationships with external social service, mental health and treatment providers. Show less

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  Macneal hospital

  Oct 2014 - Oct 2015

  Mental health counselor

  Assists in providing holistic patient care to psychiatric patients under the direction of the Registered Nurse (RN). Contributes to the accomplishment of improved customer satisfaction; patients, evaluations, treatment, physicians, employee, quality of care and cost effectiveness; provides individual and group education. The Mental Health Counselor and Registry Mental Health Counselor participates in the assessment, planning, goal attainment, implementation and evaluation of care for patients in the Behavioral Health Unit. Offers psychiatric interventions based on assessed needs for patients with behavior related psychotic states, major depression, mood disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse, anxiety and dementia. Participates in the development and implementation of therapeutic groups based on assessed needs of patient population. Supports basic patient care and treatments such as basic Activities of Daily Living, ambulation per orders, assistance with complex care, vital signs and patient monitoring. Weights and dietary intake. Records information on a graphic sheet or in the medical record, according to department procedure. Monitors patients with special precautions, i.e. fall precautions, elopement, suicide precautions, seizure and other types of monitoring. Performs patient rounds to assess status of patients and overall safety of the unit. Proficiency to anticipate risk to the organization and/or individual, and initiates action to prevent, correct or minimize the risk. Show less

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  Volunteers of america

  Oct 2015 - Jul 2017

  Under the direction of the President/CEO, the Director supervises and administers a unit of professional direct service workers. In addition, serves as a member of the VOA of IL Leadership Team and provides direct Case Management services to client's in need.• Responsible for supervising assigned child welfare workers, case and volunteers who work in the Foster Care Department. Conducts regular supervision with assigned workers to guide and evaluate case management services.• Evaluates all assigned employees and may recommend personnel action• Summarizes case management activities and reports results of assigned department to appropriate staff and administrators• Conducts regular conference with the CEO to brief him/her on current services and services being planned by child welfare workers • Together with the CEO or designee and child welfare, determine when application and cases should be staffed and/or brought to a consultant• Collaborates with specialists or consultants on casework practices and on specific cases• Conducts orientations and develops programs for assigned child welfare workers and participates in creating training materials• Suggests policies and changes in current program that will increase the effectiveness of the program • Responsible for the oversight of all counseling subcontractors, including quality assurance of services provided and fiscal controls of billing • May carry limited caseload with the case management duties involved• Deliver services with sensitivity to the clients’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics Show less •Provides individual and group counseling or psychotherapy to clients and/or families at one or more of Volunteers of America of Illinois’ Veterans housing properties, in-home to children and families in our foster care program, or at the main office site •Demonstrates analytical and psychosocial diagnostic skills and resourcefulness in developing treatment processes utilizing agency approved treatment modalities•Acts upon own analysis of client situations under decreasing supervision•Reports progress on case load to supervisor; makes written evaluation reports on the progress of each client and performs record keeping functions required by the agency.•Participates in agency studies of particular problems or casework practices•Contributes to clinical staffings for foster care or veteran clients•Conducts in-service trainings to service delivery staff•Delivers services with sensitivity to the clients’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics•May provide supervision to practicum students•Upholds and actively demonstrates investment in the mission and values of Volunteers of America of Illinois Show less

  • Director of Foster Care

    Oct 2015 - Jul 2017

  • Therapist

    Oct 2015 - Jul 2017
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  Gateway foundation

  Jul 2017 - Feb 2024

  • Admissions Supervisor

    Nov 2022 - Feb 2024

  • Admissions Coordinator

    Jul 2017 - Nov 2022
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  Compass health center

  Feb 2024 - now

  Director of clinical program initiatives