Jenna C. Shales

Experience

• 

  WKNH-FM 91.3

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2003

  On-Air Host, Music Director, General Manager
• 

  Keene State College

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2003

  • Provided primarily first-year students with a healthy atmosphere for personal success, study and growth• Mediated confrontations and reported judicial matters• Organized academic and social programming for residents• Served on Resident Assistant Selection Committee • Managed community budget and resource acquisition • Assisted in crisis intervention and provided academic and counseling resources to students • Conducted regular Health and Safety Inspections of student rooms and common areas Show less

  • Learning Assistant/Supplemental Instructor

    Jan 2003 - Jan 2003

  • Resident Assistant

    Jan 2001 - Jan 2003
• 

  Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2006

  Exhibit Educator / Programming Liaison; JASON Expedition 2005

  • Worked closely with Wheeler’s Aquarium Vocational Experience for Students (WAVES) outreach program participants (grades 9-12) to develop academic, social and life skills in an inquiry-based learning environment• Developed educational interactive programming and displays for visitors• Co-chaired “2005 JASON Expedition to Mars” workshop for area educators to develop and enhance curriculum-embedded performance tasks and activities for use in their classroom • As Team Captain, supervised staff and coordinated daily operations Show less

• 

  Barnes & Noble

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2008

  Department Manager (Music)

  • Maintained daily operations of music department and staff to meet or exceed standards of performance through communicating departmental and individual goals to staff, implementing procedures and providing the resources needed for success• Cultivated positive working relationships and environment within the department and with other areas of the store• Lead meetings, interviewed and hired candidates, created and lead training sessions • Evaluated, addressed and took action regarding concerns ranging from employee performance to customer service Show less

• 

  Rhode Island School of Design

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2008

  Resident Director

  • Oversaw staff of 6 Resident Assistants (R.A.), facilitated weekly team meetings, scheduled and led bi-weekly development sessions with each R.A. • Created guidelines for and trained R.A. staff to assess student learning needs and to develop curriculum-based programming• Led judicial hearings; created, implemened and followed-up on educational sanctions• Assisted in the development of future R.A. hiring practices and training procedures• Organized and hosted a variety of all-hall events and trips• Crisis management, mediation• Identification and development of behaviors• Created and implemented educational programming initiatives Show less

• 

  J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center

  Sept 2008 - Jun 2015

  • Developed accommodative curriculums and other learning opportunities that fostered growth toward individual goals and objectives• Served as a client advocate and liaison between the individual, support staff, multiple support agencies, allied services, families and state assistance offices to ensure individual needs are met• Created and instituted plans for maximization of service authorizations through high quality service delivery strategies • Managed aspects of human resource management within the program, including payroll; recruitment, hiring, and training; professional development, appraisal, and discipline; team-building; volunteer management• Cultivated a positive environment that promotes growth and learning through the oversight of all day-to-day aspects of the program, including the development of peer-mentoring program• Led team meetings to communicate relevant information and in-service opportunities • Ensured staffing was maintained at levels that promoted the safety and wellbeing of individuals receiving supports Show less • Led the annual planning process; Helped individuals to obtain, understand and utilize their service packages, complete and submit annual Individualized Service Plan (ISP) and purchase order (PO)• Engineered tools to streamline support coordination operations such as caseload management, contact notes, ISP planner and submissions database• Collaborated with Clinical and Nursing Departments to identify behavioral/medical challenges and to create growth-based intervention plans in addition to rewards-based learning models and incentive programs • Created and maintained data collection resources to ensure implementation of and progress toward identified goals Show less • Fostered a team environment by building healthy working relationships with staff and collaborating with other teams/departments• Interviewed, trained, supervised and evaluated direct support staff and assistant team supervisor• Addressed and responded to employee performance per union contract, ranging from positive recognition/reinforcement to adjudication utilizing the progressive discipline process• Developed and maintained comprehensive training materials for Direct Support Professionals (DSP) and Assistant Team Supervisors (ATS), assisted with residence-specific modification and implementation for partner programs• Managed program budget and individual residents’ financial affairs, achieving 100% audit accuracy• Maintained schedules and processed payroll for program(s)• Achieved consistent compliance with safety regulations including fire drills, inspections and in-services• Led positive programmatic, intra-departmental and inter-departmental collaboration and development• Provided day-to-day care and support for clients in a residential setting • Optimized and maintained accurate documentation on-site: individual profiles, medications, managed care, safety and evacuation plans, daily documentation/data collection • Responded to crisis situations and call outs via 24-hour on-call rotation Show less

  • Program Coordinator, Adult Day Services

    Oct 2013 - Jun 2015

  • Support Coordinator, Adult Services

    Jan 2012 - Oct 2013

  • Team Supervisor, Residential (and Asst. Team Supervisor, Residential)

    Sept 2008 - Jan 2012
• 

  Massachusetts College of Art and Design

  Jan 2015 - May 2015

  Assistant ADA Access Coordinator (Practicum with Dr. Loring Brinckerhoff)

  • Provide information to interested students and families regarding disability services, guidelines for required documentation, and the process for requesting accommodation • Facilitate intake assessments and collaborative planning sessions with students to determine classroom accommodations that are appropriate for their disability• Draft and implement accommodation plans in compliance with ADA, FERPA, IDEA, etc., • Provide referrals to students for allied services such as counseling and wellness, writing assistance, academic coaching, etc., • Follow up with students, families, faculty and staff as needed to promote successful participation of students with disabilities in the MassArt community• Promote a community-wide understanding of disability-related needs, including a focus on those pertaining to students with learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, autism, intellectual disabilities, and mental illness Show less

• 

  Seven Hills Rhode Island, an affilliate of Seven Hills Foundation

  Jun 2015 - Oct 2016

  Area Director of Residential Services

  • Oversee all operational and case management aspects of seven 24-hour residential programs• Lead positive programmatic, intra and inter-departmental collaboration• Co-Chair SHRI Quality Committee; Serve on President’s Diversity Committee and SHRI Strategic Planning Committee• Organize and facilitate quarterly stakeholder engagement events• Ensure compliance with agency, state, and federal guidelines for licensing and service provision• Develop, implement, and assess operational objectives aligned with foundation, agency, and department strategic plans• Oversee department financial operations and ensure appropriate program-specific monitoring and financial management processes• Lead human resources initiatives, including streamlining the recruitment, hiring, onboarding and training process Show less

• 

  Seven Hills Rhode Island, an Affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation

  Oct 2016 - Dec 2018

  Director of Support Coordination (Case Management), Adult Services

  • Oversee all aspects of case management and the Support Coordination team to promote an engaging, educational, and strengths-based experience for all individuals receiving Adult Services• Create and implement streamlined systems, modifying as needed through ongoing review, that foster high quality youth-to-adult transitions• Evaluate all new service inquiries and referrals, identifying needs through techniques including interpretation of external assessments and dialectic interview, and pairing with services that meet individual needs while enhancing independence and growth• Increase compliance with organizational, state, and federal statutes and standards related to ADA Law, HCBS Final Rule, Olmstead Act and related Consent Decree, etc., • Maintain ongoing dialogue with internal and external stakeholders through various committees and workgroups to ensure ongoing development of well-informed strategies and resources for support • Contribute to the ongoing modification or creation of employee training opportunities based on areas of identified need, leading trainings (orientation, Safety Care, etc.,) as needed and tracking/reporting employee training status. Show less

• 

  RI Dept of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH)

  Dec 2018 - Apr 2019

  Programming Services Officer - Division of Developmental Disabilities

  • Create and implement user-friendly data collection tools, analyze data to identify trends, and recommend actions to address areas of opportunity for multiple operational initiatives at the Division of Developmental Disabilities • Conduct on-site Quality Reviews at BHDDH-licensed Developmental Disabilities Organizations, providing written reports and recommendations for certification status• Provide technical assistance to Developmental Disabilities Organizations to enhance compliance and quality initiatives related to recently promulgated regulations and standards * Lead a stakeholder work group to facilitate the composition of guidelines for Individualized Service Plans Show less

• 

  Self-employed

  Apr 2019 - Apr 2021

  Human Services Consultant & Independent Plan-Writer

  • Provide contracted, consultative support to Developmental Disability Organizations and individuals or families accessing services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities • Analyze and streamline operational processes, developing user-friendly tools as indicated• Enhance stakeholder relations, strategies for information-sharing, and program development• Improve regulatory compliance while enhancing the quality of services provided• Develop customized annual plan resources to promote successful maximization of service resources available, preparing and aiding in the facilitation of appeals processes Show less

• 

  Bridgewater State University

  Aug 2019 - now

  • Director of Student Accessibility Services

    Jul 2022 - now

  • Associate Director of Student Accessibility Services

    Aug 2019 - Jul 2022