Experience

Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Psychiatric Intake Social Worker

  • Nov 2021 - Present

  - Intake Social Worker for psychiatric inpatient hospital conducting patient psychiatric assessments, ascertain preliminary diagnosis, and determine if patient meet admission criteria - Provide short term adjustment counseling to assist with emotional/social/economic stresses of mental and physical illnesses and disabilities - Consult with psychiatric providers in determining patient's admission and/or discharge disposition - Preform psycho/social assessments for continuity of care planning for in/outpatients - Using crisis intervention strategies, support patient stabilization and redirection - Provide community mental health, substance abuse treatment, and social service referrals for patients, partners and family members - Work with Designated Crisis Responders to facilitate patient and community-callers emergency services, in-patient evaluation for involuntary holds, and in disposition planning - Document all contacts, follow ups and referrals in Epic, Electronic Health Record systems Show less



Western State Hospital

• United States
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Psychiatric Social Worker

  • Apr 2021 - Sep 2021

  - Manage a caseload of up to 17 forensic patients with psychiatric disorders - Interview patients upon hospital admission and complete bio-psychosocial, substance use, safety, risk and other behavioral assessments - Contact personal and professional supports to identify additional strengths, resources and needs of patients - Collaborate with patients in developing treatment goals and care plans - Provide superior therapeutic support and psycho-education to patients (and their families) regarding their mental health diagnosis, treatment, and preventative care while utilizing Functional Family Therapy skills - Provide individual and group counseling employing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing - Join efforts with, and make referrals for, mental and physical health service providers, managed care organizations, social service agencies and others to coordinate services Show less



Comprehensive Healthcare

• United States
• Mental Health Care
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Therapist/Team Lead

  • Aug 2020 - Feb 2021

  - Team lead for Wraparound child, youth, and family program in Klickitat county - Completed intakes including behavioral and psychiatric assessments (CATS, PHQ-9, PCL-5, CANS, ACE, CAGE,) develop crisis/safety plans and render mental health and family support services to youth (with severe mental health diagnoses and behavioral issues) and their caregivers/families - Provided evidence-based individual and family therapy to individuals and their families utilizing behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, and crisis management techniques in-person, via telehealth, and a hybrid of both to meet the individual needs of clients - Documented all client services and contacts in the Electronic Health Record - Implemented the Wise program to increase access to specialized services for individuals, families, and natural supports - Received Harborview Medical Center Education and Training for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT+) for depression, anxiety, trauma, and parent management Show less



VETERAN ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER

• Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States

• Social Services Case/Care Manager, MSW Internship

  • Aug 2019 - Apr 2020

  - Collaborated in treatment and discharge planning processes with interdisciplinary medical care teams and served as a consultant to staff and team members to increase understanding of the emotional, developmental, cultural, and socio-economic implications for Veteran's facing grief and loss issues, chronic health conditions, traumatic injury, and mental health crisis - Enhanced knowledge of medical and psychiatric diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures to include acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses and injuries; medical and behavioral health terminology; psychopharmacology; common medications and their effects/side effects - Conducted biopsychosocial assessments and provided clinical care management while developing care plans with injured and/or chronically ill veterans with traumatic injury, chronic illness, and mental health and substance use disorders - Empowered Veterans to achieve goals by securing linkages to community resources, long term care services, substance abuse treatment, and methadone maintenance therapy and to obtain VA benefits, Medicaid, SNAP, general assistance, and healthcare in the community and VA system Show less



Mental Health Kokua

• United States
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Mental Health Therapist, Intensive Outpatient Program, MSW Practicum

  • Aug 2018 - Feb 2019

  - Provided crisis intervention and stabilization support to clients (unhoused and with chronic mental illness) in acute psychiatric distress and supported them by utilizing the principles of "harm reduction," motivational interviewing, and other evidence-based interventions - Facilitated therapy groups with individuals with co-morbid opioids and methamphetamines use disorders and schizophrenia, schizoaffective, major depression, bipolar and psychosis illnesses who were unhoused, in shelters or living in supported housing - Assured timely completion of psychosocial assessments guided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), and individual and group notes within the electronic health record (EHR) system - Participated in multidisciplinary staff meetings, care team meetings, peer reviews, weekly supervisions, coordination of community resources, and discharge planning Show less



Honolulu Habitat for Humanity

• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• ReStore Coordinator

  • Jul 2017 - Aug 2018

  -Promoted the organization's community and humanitarian efforts that assist Native Hawaiians with securing affordable and decent housing -Conducted volunteer and family/partner orientations, training, work assignments, and monitored their safety -Promoted the organization's community and humanitarian efforts that assist Native Hawaiians with securing affordable and decent housing -Conducted volunteer and family/partner orientations, training, work assignments, and monitored their safety



Business Consulting

• Seattle, Kailua Kona, and Los Angeles

• Business Consultant

  • Jul 2012 - Sep 2016



Care Planning Associates

• Seattle, Washington, United States

• Case Manager, Court-appointed Guardian

  • Jul 2008 - Dec 2008

  Return Hire - Provided case management and social services to vulnerable adults and people with disabilities as an acting guardian ad litem for King County Superior Court - Consulted with medical and psychiatric professionals regarding geriatric psychiatric and medical diagnoses and treatment procedures - Coordinated services with case managers, financial payees, healthcare providers, and community agencies, and advocated for clients regarding long term care services and supports - Due to excellent rapport with culturally and ethnically diverse non-English speaking clients, assigned to liaise with judiciaries, international embassies, attorneys, families, medical providers, and interpreters to coordinate their care and services on the agency's behalf Show less



University of Washington

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Program Operations Specialist

  • Sep 2003 - Oct 2007

  - Developed and facilitated programs to improve healthcare access to underserved and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations in the Pacific Northwest - Successfully expanded programs by an additional 23 partnerships for the University of Washington (UW) with Indian Health Services, Federally Qualified Health Centers -urban and rural- by cultivating contacts, and establishing positive, effective and collaborative mutually beneficial relationships with community leaders, local, state and regional agencies, influential health professionals, and University stakeholders - Responsible for managing program staff and clinical education programs requiring scheduling, monitoring, and providing brief solution-focused counseling - Managed $300,000 annual budget, reconciled accounts, authorized travel, evaluated outcomes, and collected and used statistical data for prepared monthly, quarterly, and yearly reports for UW, grant funders, and community partner dissemination - Acted in capacity of University Diversity Council member representing the School of Dentistry promoting cultural, ethnic, disability, gay, bisexual, lesbian, and transgender diversity Show less



Care Planning Associates

• Greater Seattle Area

• Case Manager, Guardianship

  • Jul 2002 - Dec 2003

  - Court-appointed case manager to senior, enfirmed, and disabled American, Japanese, Thai, Russian, and other culturally diverse legal guardianship clients - Conducted in-home comprehensive functionality assessments to determine the need for emergency services and to develop a plan of care - Collaborated with legal counsel prepared court reports of secured assets. - Worked with families, estate salespeople, court officers, and vendors to dispose of household goods and financial assets upon the death of the client - Met with Thai and Japanese Embassy and Consulate personnel to ascertain immigration status and international legal implications of Washington state court decisions and designation of heirs - Conducted court-ordered financial and personal asset research, reconstructed historical financial records, and gave testimony in court regarding family and asset exploitation investigation findings - As a Case Manager worked closely with families, healthcare professionals, nursing home, and assisted living facilities to ensure clients end of life choices were accommodated, honored, and secured Show less



Columbia River Mental Health

• Vancouver, WA

• Mental Health Counselor promoted from Case Manager

  • Sep 1994 - Jun 2000

  - Conducted suicide assessment screens, crisis assessments and interventions to adolescent and adult consumers with psychiatric disorders, worked with police, and fire department as needed, and made referrals to Designated Crisis Responders - Advocated for consumers discharging from the hospital into the intensive outpatient and short-term housing stabilization program - Empowered assigned consumers to achieve goals by securing linkages to community resources, substance abuse treatment, and methadone maintenance therapy and to obtain personal identification cards, Medicaid, SNAP, general assistance, and healthcare - Provided individual and group therapy, including cognitive-behavioral, substance abuse, symptom management, and co-led medication/symptom management group Show less



Pacific Gateway Hospital

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care

• Mental Health Milieu Counselor

  • Aug 1990 - Dec 1994

  - Responsible for after hour triage and triage for an inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse treatment hospital, which required quick psychosocial and safety assessments and decision-making - Attained insurance pre-authorizations, completed initial assessments and intake procedures, and supported charge nurse in securing physician orders, administrative tasks, monitoring urinalysis collection, conducting safety screenings, and contraband searches - Established therapeutic relationships with adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients and families. Co-facilitated psychoeducation, alcohol and drug abuse, and other addictive behavior treatment groups with Ph.D. therapists and certified alcohol and drug counselor - Monitored patients on suicide watch - Successfully utilized behavioral prevention/intervention techniques to de-escalate disturbed patients. - Documented individual and treatment group notes per eight-hour shift using Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan (SOAP) format Show less