Experience

Caritas Family Solutions

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Family Finding & Recruitment Supervisor

  • Nov 2022 - Present



BJC HealthCare

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Housing Liaison

  • Jan 2022 - Nov 2022

   Homeless Outreach – seeking out individuals with a major mental illness who are a result, are experiencing chronic homelessness  Crisis intervention  Engage individual experiencing homelessness in community services (housing – emergency shelters and permanent housing, medical, mental health, substance abuse, state aid, disability services, vocational training etc.)  Help clients secure necessary documents: ID, Birth Certificate, Social Security Card, medical records  Prepare SSI/SSDI packets, write a medical summary/social history report, and act as the client’s representative to expedite the SSI/SSDI process and appeals  Recruit local landlords and property managers who are willing to house clients through BJC housing voucher program  Ensure client housing meets the federally required Housing Quality Standards (HUD)  Act as a support and coordinator to all other case managers who work with clients experiencing homelessness.  Update St. Louis City and County Community Resource Guide  Active member of Coordinated Entry Committee and Continuum of Care Committee



Caritas Family Solutions

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Foster Care/Intact/Adoption Supervisor

  • Jan 2018 - Jan 2022

   Ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and families by overseeing a team of 5-7 workers, one lead worker and roughly 120 children and families (birth – 21).  Develop strong working relationships with families, DCFS, court personnel and community service providers.  Provide direct client care when employees resign.  Advocate for individual children and families through court testimony, administrative case reviews, IEP meetings.  Advocate for policy change and outreach efforts for children and families in St. Clair County (through St. Clair County Youth Coalition and Juvenile Justice Coalition).  Help build engagement and de-escalation skills and evaluate workers on their performance.  Facilitate weekly supervision, monthly team and department meetings.  Attend voluntary trainings and present new information to the department (roughly 50 staff members) once per month.  Train workers on delivering strength based, trauma informed, family centered care.  Help staff develop in the field through mentoring and supervising interns and MSW students.  Reach out to potential employees, interview, hire and support staff as they obtain their licensure.  Follow through with disciplinary actions up to and including termination.  Keep flexible hours (including 24 hour on call) to ensure that staff and families receive the support they need in real time.  Oversee/Approve all documentation including case plans, community referrals, mileage reimbursement etc.  Complete weekly audits, program tracking/data and monthly billing requirements.



Catholic Diocese of Belleville

• Belleville, Illinois, United States

• Child Protection Trainer

  • Oct 2019 - Mar 2020

   I presented topics (including: sexual, verbal, and physical abuse, bullying and sexual harassment) to youth groups during church hours on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings (ages pre k -8th). *Program discontinued due to COVID  I presented topics (including: sexual, verbal, and physical abuse, bullying and sexual harassment) to youth groups during church hours on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings (ages pre k -8th). *Program discontinued due to COVID



Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Foster Care Case Manager

  • Dec 2016 - Jan 2018

   Built rapport with abused and neglected youth who have been taken into DCFS custody, as well as their foster families and biological families in order to facilitate a safe, permanent placement for children in a timely manner.  Carried a caseload up to 32 youth, including youth with specialized educational and behavior needs.  Developed service plans based on the family’s strengths and needs and evaluated their plan to reflect the family’s efforts.  Completed referrals and followed up with service providers.  Maintained continuous contact with DCFS, CASA, employers, educators, probation officers, lawyers, medical staff, and a variety of service providers.  Obtained the title of a Child Family Team Meeting facilitator.



Division of Youth Services

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Youth Specialist

  • Aug 2016 - Dec 2016

   Cared for adjudicated youth by providing basic needs such as ensuring their safety, providing a positive learning environment and facilitating individual and group therapies.  Engaged youth in team building exercises.  Built rapport, and gained compliance in a residential setting.  Served as a mentor for youth, communicated with the youth's family, and set personalized treatment goals to promote a positive and stable reentry into their family home and community.  Cared for adjudicated youth by providing basic needs such as ensuring their safety, providing a positive learning environment and facilitating individual and group therapies.  Engaged youth in team building exercises.  Built rapport, and gained compliance in a residential setting.  Served as a mentor for youth, communicated with the youth's family, and set personalized treatment goals to promote a positive and stable reentry into their family home and community.



Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Research Assistant

  • Aug 2014 - Dec 2016



The Women's Center

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Domestic Violence Advocate/Rape Crisis Hotline

  • Jan 2015 - Jun 2016

   Supervised and tutored school age children in the domestic violence shelter’s after-school program.  Engaged children through play therapy, supplemental educational programs, safety programs and basic life skills (cooking, manners, good touch/bad touch etc.).  Planned and volunteered at fundraising/awareness events  Answered phone calls for the Women’s Center Crisis Line  Conducted initial intakes and screenings of families seeking shelter *Now called "Survivor Empowerment Center.



Federal Probation Southern Illinois

• Benton, Illinois, United States

• Federal Pretrial Probation and Parole Officer

  • Jan 2016 - May 2016

  Full Time Internship - Pre-trial, probation and parole services. Viewed case evidence, helped interview individuals and prepare their court report prior to their trial date. Actively participated in safety and crisis team training Completed background checks Shadowed visits with probationers/parolees Attended court hearings Completed mock job interviews and provided resume feedback to federal inmates (as part of their job readiness program) Full Time Internship - Pre-trial, probation and parole services. Viewed case evidence, helped interview individuals and prepare their court report prior to their trial date. Actively participated in safety and crisis team training Completed background checks Shadowed visits with probationers/parolees Attended court hearings Completed mock job interviews and provided resume feedback to federal inmates (as part of their job readiness program)