Experience

• 

  Louisiana department of children and family services

  Nov 2006 - Apr 2012

  Conducted investigations of allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children in accordance to agency policy and state law on cases of more complex or sensitive nature including all sexual abuse cases. Prepared and submitted appropriate reports to the District Attorney on valid cases in compliance with state law and agency policy. Prepared and submitted appropriate affidavits, and testified at court proceedings. Evaluated and provided services required for the child’s immediate safety, i.e., removal and placement in a foster home or with relatives, temporary shelter, etc. Acted as lead worker and performed duties, such as: participate in the training of new Child Welfare Specialist and Student Interns; modeled on-site visits with new workers and students; represented the office/agency by participation in planning and carrying out special projects; acted as an official assigned “mentor” for less experienced workers; and assisted in the absence of the supervisor. Show less Participated in setting case plans and objectives in family team conferences and agency staffings; prepared cases for presentation to the multi-disciplinary team for consultation.Provided supportive counseling and other supportive services for clients and arranged for the provision of services from community resources based on the case plan.Interviewed clients and families and composed correspondence to compile social histories and psychosocial assessments.Prepared and submitted appropriate reports to the court and the district attorney on cases in compliance with state laws and agency policy, prepared and submitted necessary affidavits. Testified in court proceedings.Assessed, developed and executed a plan to achieve permanence for the child including return to the family, adoptions, transfer of custody, independent living, or other alternative plans.Located, selected, and oversaw the most appropriate placement or change of placement for a child.Through home studies, examined and evaluated information gathered about families, housing, and environment in relation to agency criteria and licensing regulation for certification of perspective adoptive and foster homes. Show less

  • Child Welfare Specialist III - Child Protection Services

    Jul 2009 - Apr 2012

  • Child Welfare Specialist I - Foster Care

    Nov 2006 - Jul 2009
• 

  Florida parishes human services authority - rosenblum mental health center

  May 2012 - Aug 2012

  Msw intern

  Conducted clinical assessments, social histories, and treatment plans with clients.Attended weekly staff meetings to resolve client issues.Organized parent support group sessions.Participated with counselors in co-therapy sessions with clients.Located and selected the most appropriate inpatient facility for clients needing services.

• 

  21st judicial district court - juvenile drug court

  Aug 2012 - Aug 2013

  Treatment case manager

  Reviewed all new referrals and conducted psychosocial evaluations and intake screenings.Prepared and submitted court reports to the Drug Court Team and testified in weekly court proceedings.Conducted interviews with families, attorneys, school personnel, community-based organizations and other professionals as required to identify problems within the family.Provided intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment and random drug screens to clients.Maintained a treatment plan or course of action for each client.Coordinated services provided to the families by public and private social service agencies. Show less

• 

  Louisiana department of children and family services

  Aug 2013 - Apr 2017

  Guided employees in the assessment of services needs of clients, the development of psychosocial assessment of case goals/objectives and/or case plans for clients and their families, and the implementation of the case plan.Hired new employees and conducted on-the-job training.Approved the plan to request removal of children from the care and custody of their parents or caretakers to place them in agency custody, relative custody, or other alternative placement plans for the child.Led conferences and multi-disciplinary team staffings for case plans/objectives which are formalized in a written contract form; case plans are reviewed with clients, their family, and community resource partners. Show less Participated in setting case plans and objectives in family team conferences and agency staffings; prepared cases for presentation to the multi-disciplinary team for consultation.Provided supportive counseling and other supportive services for clients and arranged for the provision of services from community resources based on the case plan.Interviewed clients and families and composed correspondence to compile social histories and psychosocial assessments.Prepared and submitted appropriate reports to the court and the district attorney on cases in compliance with state laws and agency policy, prepared and submitted necessary affidavits, and testified in court proceedings.Assessed, developed, and executed a plan to achieve permanence for the child, including return to the family, adoptions, transfer of custody, independent living, or other alternative plans.Located, selected, and oversaw the most appropriate placement or change of placement for a child.Through home studies, examined and evaluated information gathered about families, housing, and environment in relation to agency criteria and licensing regulation for certification of perspective adoptive and foster homes. Show less

  • Child Welfare Supervisor - Family Services

    Feb 2015 - Apr 2017

  • Child Welfare Specialist II - Foster Care

    Aug 2013 - Feb 2015
• 

  Southeastern louisiana university

  Apr 2017 - Sept 2019

  Director

  Responsible for administrative duties of managing the Discovery and Renew Family Resource Projects. Budget head and responsible for overseeing the daily operation of the Discovery and Renew Family Resource Projects. Oversaw the activities of the staff members of the Discovery & Renew Family Resource Projects, assuring they maintained and completed all required paperwork and records needed to document services and to meet the requirements set by the funding sources.Responsible for interfacing with the funding and referral agencies and making hiring decisions. Held staff meetings and acted as a consultant to the employees of the Family Resource Projects. Performed social work services with assigned clients: provided parenting education (both in home and group settings); provided core services to both adults and children in both home and group settings; provided advocacy services on behalf of assigned clients; conducted all required agency functions (i.e., staff meetings, supervisory meetings, case consultation sessions, etc.); and conducted the recruitment, training, and oversight of all staff. Supervised interns or delegated to Assistant Director. Presented at conferences and/or community forums. Past Secretary of the Louisiana Family Resource Center Network Show less

• 

  Florida parishes human services authority

  Sept 2019 - now

  Social worker 5-b / functional family therapy supervisor

  Coordinates and participates in regularly scheduled consultation calls with FFT-LLC consultants, and conducting weekly team and individual supervisory sessions.Ensures regular telephone/email communication with probation officers, DCFS representatives or other referral sources as appropriate.Meets regularly with the Assistant Behavioral Health Director and other staff to ensure that FFT services are well coordinated within FPHSA clinics and other services.Ensures that the FFT team complies in a timely manner with all agency and FFT-LLC. required assessments and documentation in the agency EHR and the FFT required EHR (CSS).Ensures that supervisees successfully meet all FPHSA and FFT-LLC. required trainings.Works consistently to ensure fidelity to the FFT model and provides information and training to FPHSA staff to familiarize the agency with the FFT model. Functions as a clinician serving up to 5 families/youth who are involved with the Department of Child & Family Services (DCFS) programs, or youth with significant family conflict referred to the FFT team from the FPHSA Behavioral Health Centers. Provides model compliant assessment and treatment services using approved diagnostic interviews and Functional Family Therapy techniques to youth and families served by FPHSA. This requires strict adherence to the practice model.Completes assessments of individuals served including diagnosis, history, treatment planning, mental status, strengths, needs and resources and recommendations for additional services.Completes assessments that support the diagnosis and provides evidence of medical necessity.Completes individualized service/treatment plans/updates, progress notes, and other documentation within required time frames.Completes FFT documentation including assessments of relatedness/connectedness of client and family members and model compliant assessments of hierarchies present during the session. Show less

• 

  Southeastern louisiana university

  Aug 2020 - May 2023

  Adjunct lecturer

  Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (SW 203)