Experience

DePelchin Children's Center

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

• Parent Educator

  • Sep 2023 - Present

  Houston, Texas, United States As a Parent Educator for the DADS Program at Depelchin Children's Center I provide a combination of clinical case management and psychoeducation and support to father's and co-parenting couples. Using research-informed curricula I provide in-depth and culturally humble support through parenting education. Additionally I use evidence-based and informed practices to meet the unique needs of the extremely diverse population of families in the Houston metro area.



California State University-Dominguez Hills

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Faculty Lecturer

  • 2023 - Present

  I taught Foundations of Social Work Practice course to class of 16 Master of Social Work students and partnered with fellow faculty members in improving the Social Work program and strengthening integration of community needs assessments.



Los Angeles Defense Attorney Law Firm

• Social Worker Investigator

  • Apr 2023 - Jul 2023

  As a Social Worker at the law firm, I thoroughly investigate and assess cases involving dependent children. Under the guidance of the Law Firm Director and Law Firm Supervisors, I closely examine the circumstances surrounding these cases and evaluate the parties involved. Collaboration plays a crucial part in my work, as I work closely with attorneys to conduct interviews with clients, witnesses, and other relevant individuals. I gather evidence that can shed light on the impact of the… Show more As a Social Worker at the law firm, I thoroughly investigate and assess cases involving dependent children. Under the guidance of the Law Firm Director and Law Firm Supervisors, I closely examine the circumstances surrounding these cases and evaluate the parties involved. Collaboration plays a crucial part in my work, as I work closely with attorneys to conduct interviews with clients, witnesses, and other relevant individuals. I gather evidence that can shed light on the impact of the circumstances on both the individuals and families involved. Show less



Families Uniting Families

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Supervising Social Worker

  • Jun 2016 - May 2023

  Running a team of 12 and partnering with government agencies, I orchestrate placement, supervision, and reunification of hundreds of children and youths annually. Mainly, I investigate domestic abuse and negligence allegations and actively steered cases through legal processes. I hosted engagements and advocated prioritization of foster youths’ welfare, support stable placement, and overcome reunification barriers. 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 ✦ I revamped onboarding… Show more Running a team of 12 and partnering with government agencies, I orchestrate placement, supervision, and reunification of hundreds of children and youths annually. Mainly, I investigate domestic abuse and negligence allegations and actively steered cases through legal processes. I hosted engagements and advocated prioritization of foster youths’ welfare, support stable placement, and overcome reunification barriers. 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 ✦ I revamped onboarding curriculum, enabling new social work staff and interns to deeply understand client experiences and develop innovative clinical skills. ✦ I developed 30+ interns collectively, engaging with 4 academic institutions in implementing program policies and procedures. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 & 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 ✦ I helped achieve 90% win rate for all court cases – investigating ~15 allegations annually and testifying for family members and youths at Children’s Court and Juvenile Probation Courts. 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ✦ With my experience on all 4 agency programs, I was handpicked to for the influential 12-member Strategic Planning Team. ✦ Through developing compliant agency policies and procedures, I enabled agency to acquire 3-year accreditation twice. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ✦ I overhauled the Independent Living Program to improve and accelerate life skills development of ~25 foster youths and ensure easy transition to adulthood and independent living. ✦ I organized and taught parenting classes required for 300+ fathers prior to reunification. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ✦ I forged partnerships with 30+ local and national organizations, collaborating on programs including housing, legal advocacy, substance abuse treatment, health & fitness, and financial education. ✦ I grew agency’s influence through public engagements including 10+ annual resource fairs and speaking opportunities.

• Fatherhood Parenting Classes Facilitator

  • Oct 2010 - May 2023

  Long Beach, CA I co-founded and currently operate Project Fatherhood, a $5M psychoeducational program under our agency's umbrella initiative. Our aim is to assist birth parents in enhancing their parenting skills, attitude, and meeting court-ordered requirements. I act as an ally and advocate for birth parents in Dependency Court and Family Court proceedings. My role involves fulfilling all legal demands and overcoming barriers to reunification. In addition, I developed various training programs to… Show more I co-founded and currently operate Project Fatherhood, a $5M psychoeducational program under our agency's umbrella initiative. Our aim is to assist birth parents in enhancing their parenting skills, attitude, and meeting court-ordered requirements. I act as an ally and advocate for birth parents in Dependency Court and Family Court proceedings. My role involves fulfilling all legal demands and overcoming barriers to reunification. In addition, I developed various training programs to increase parents' awareness of supporting children's development, covering areas such as health, nutrition, education, and addressing issues of child abuse and domestic violence. I supervise 4 case managers and provide training for new staff and up to 4 interns annually. 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 & 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 ✦ Collaborating with agency members and external partners, I achieved a 75% success rate in court-decided cases, resulting in successful reunification of 200+ families. ✦ Project Fatherhood gained recognition as a court-approved parenting education program – ballooning referrals by 300% since launch. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ✦ I facilitated 16-week Strengthening Fatherhood Involvement (SFI) program and the 10-week Life Coaching & Fundamentals of Fatherhood Project, educating ~400 fathers per program with 75% completion rate. ✦ I successfully increased participation and retention among "difficult-to-engage" groups, bucking the trend observed in other agencies and entities. ✦ I streamlined documentation procedures, simplifying intakes and assessments for clinical case management staff, which led to a smoother and more successful reunification process. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ✦ Partnering with local family law firm, I provided free advocacy and support to birth families on legal cases, including fulfilling civil, criminal, or probation court requirements, divorce process, restraining orders, and custody.

• Foster Care Social Worker (FCSW)

  • May 2011 - Jun 2016

  Long Beach, CA Joining Families Uniting Families as a Foster Care Social Worker, I organized and facilitated 3 foster youth process groups into administering 30 foster care-related cases annually, focusing on developing foster youth’s independent living skills to enable successful transition into adulthood. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ✦ I added 50 newly certified foster families to the roster, effectively managing full recruitment to onboarding lifecycle to ensure competence… Show more Joining Families Uniting Families as a Foster Care Social Worker, I organized and facilitated 3 foster youth process groups into administering 30 foster care-related cases annually, focusing on developing foster youth’s independent living skills to enable successful transition into adulthood. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ✦ I added 50 newly certified foster families to the roster, effectively managing full recruitment to onboarding lifecycle to ensure competence, capability, and reliability of new foster families to provide quality care. ✦ I advocated for biological family members and testified at Children’s and Juvenile Probation Courts with a 95% success rate. ✦ I was tapped as a Guest Presenter on Child Welfare course for 24 students at CSULB School of Social Work.



Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services

• Public Safety
• 700 & Above Employee

• Emergency Response Children's Social Worker

  • 2012 - 2013

  Hired as Emergency Response Children's Social Worker, I organized 30+ investigations of abuse and negligence allegations, engaging with families through home visits and conferences to assess minor family members' safety conditions and determine risks, and advise necessary actions. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ✦ I enabled 80% of youth to maintain current residences in lieu of detention or removal by introducing comprehensive, personalized plans to ensure minors' safety… Show more Hired as Emergency Response Children's Social Worker, I organized 30+ investigations of abuse and negligence allegations, engaging with families through home visits and conferences to assess minor family members' safety conditions and determine risks, and advise necessary actions. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ✦ I enabled 80% of youth to maintain current residences in lieu of detention or removal by introducing comprehensive, personalized plans to ensure minors' safety and easing accessibility of support resources. ✦ By introducing use of Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-focused Therapy techniques, I brought distrusting and undereducated clients to ally with social workers throughout reunification process. ✦ By leveraging expert, empathic interpersonal communications, and relationship management strategies, I maintained 100% positive interactions with all families conferred and visited. ✦ I pioneered community resource guide adopted as key resource for training organization’s current and future social workers. Show less



UTEC

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Foster Care Intern

  • Aug 2010 - Aug 2011

  Long Beach, CA Worked with Youth on Emancipation Skills, Monitored Parent/Child Visits, Co-facilitated Support Group for Fathers, Case Management for At-Risk Fathers, Community Outreach



EAP Zamorano

• Honduras
• Higher Education
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Math and Science Teacher

  • Sep 2009 - Jun 2010

  Zamorano, Francisco Morazan, Honduras I crafted and taught new curricula for 2 grade levels while simultaneously serving as coach for a sports program. I also actively advocated to authorities for additional academic resources. Some of the students I taught were later admitted to Ivy League universities.



Peace Corps

• Youth Development Specialist

  • 2007 - 2009

  Engaging in volunteer work as Youth Development Specialist for Peace Corps in Honduras, I trained 10 local teachers on teaching methodologies and taught 200 students on diverse subjects, including English, physical education, sports, organic gardening, environmental education, business fundamentals, and computer and IT systems. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ✦ I pioneered a reproductive health and family planning program within the school system and at the local health… Show more Engaging in volunteer work as Youth Development Specialist for Peace Corps in Honduras, I trained 10 local teachers on teaching methodologies and taught 200 students on diverse subjects, including English, physical education, sports, organic gardening, environmental education, business fundamentals, and computer and IT systems. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ✦ I pioneered a reproductive health and family planning program within the school system and at the local health center, organizing up to 20 workshops in cooperation with the Municipal Women’s Office. ✦ To effectively deliver education initiatives, I forged partnerships with 7 local agencies and learning institutions. Show less



The Ohio State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Student Housing Resident Advisor

  • 2005 - 2007

  By creating and employing diverse programming to increase socialization and accessibility to campus resources, I supported freshmen students in safely adjusting to college academic environment. I also resolved various inter-student conflicts.

• Diversity Services Office Director’s Assistant

  • 2003 - 2007

  Partnering with academic counselors and the Director of the Diversity Services office, I implemented programs to connect students to vital academic resources and opportunities such as vocational counseling and tutoring.