Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigator, Family Assessment Response (FAR)

• Jul 2020 - Present

•Leading ongoing assessments and interventions on assigned intakes to determine child safety and take protective action as needed•Applying child welfare practice principles, laws, rules and policies in assessing and intervening on assigned intakes or cases to protect children and deliver needed services to families•Interviewing children, families, and collateral sources to assess risks to children and determine family needs•Assessing the needs, risks, and dynamics for out-of-home placement, preparing and counseling families through the process•Creating referrals to appropriate law enforcement agencies, medical evaluations, and forensic interviews•Developing and monitoring service and safety plans for children and families, and completing home visits•Working with diverse family groups, including military and Native American families•Providing support services such as counseling, problem resolution, guidance, and referrals to advocacy and mediation•Providing short-term voluntary placement of children with licensed foster care or relative resources, working with families to resolve abuse or neglect•Initiating payments, documenting case activities, and maintaining case records in the FamLink case management system•Preparing dependency petitions and required legal documents for court, placement, and service delivery

Child Protective Services (CPS), Intake Unit

• Mar 2018 - Jul 2020

•Completed intake reports; interviewed mandated reporters and concerned citizens•Documented information within timelines depending on whether the report screened in/out•Determined present danger versus imminent risk of harm; assessed need for emergent responses•Consulted with supervision to mutually determine appropriate screening decisions•Contacted collaterals including law enforcement, medical, and school staff•Communicated with law enforcement to report crimes and coordinate out of home placements•Accessed multiple databases to search for information about income, benefits, criminal history, birth records, and CPS history including FamLink, ACES, Barcode, DOH, and SCOMIS•Safety planned, provides resource education, and offered intervention services as needed•Asked assessment questions unique to each reported safety concern; assessed risk and protective factors

Child Protective Services (CPS), Indian Child Welfare (ICW), Child Welfare Social Worker

• May 2015 - Mar 2018

•Managed caseload of 20-30 Native American children in foster care, ages 0-18•Concurrently planned for reunification and secondary permanency options, to include making arrangements for adoption, guardianship, or third party custody•Prepared comprehensive reports for the Commissioner and legal parties detailing parent compliance, child well-being, and active efforts to reunify children with their parents•Complied with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA); enrolled Native American children with their Tribe(s) and sought case planning recommendations from Tribal contacts•Interviewed children at their placement home, school, and provider offices to ensure their health and safety in varying environments•Facilitated meetings with parents, relatives, attorneys, Tribal contacts, guardian ad litems, and providers to support case planning•Assessed service needs for parents to address concerns resulting in child removal•Assisted clients with resolving barriers to reunification•Testified at contested hearings and trials

President, Master of Social Work Student Association (MSWSA)

• Jun 2019 - Jun 2020

Vice President, Master of Social Work Student Association (MSWSA)

• Dec 2018 - May 2019

Crisis Response Services

• Sep 2018 - Apr 2020

Shadowing Designated Crisis Responders (DCRs) with/completing some of the following duties:•Assessing whether individuals should be detained under the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) for psychiatric care; coordinating law enforcement and AMR response•Documenting all contacts and composing ITA petitions within legal timeframes•Providing telephonic follow up support to clients, and crisis intervention to callers with acute mental health concerns•Safety planning and organizing crisis stabilization services not limited to collaboration with hospital psych triage and emergency responders•Providing crisis intervention and evaluation services for individuals of all ages and families in emotional crisis as well as psychiatric emergencies

Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) Therapist

• Aug 2013 - May 2015

•Provided in-home crisis intervention, counseling, skill-building, and advocacy to families whose children were at imminent risk of placement•Assessed and addressed immediate safety concerns of families not limited to domestic violence, substance abuse, child neglect, and poverty•Utilized a variety of evidenced-based, therapeutic strategies not limited to Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)•Developed intervention goals, service plans, and comprehensive assessments while adhering to strict due dates; delivered completed clinical documentation to DCFS•Maintained rapport with clients, providers, and DCFS social workers; remained accessible to clients on all days, at all hours•Communicated client safety concerns and progress to DCFS social workers several times per week•Assisted clients with accessing formal and informal community resources; provided transportation

Parent/Child Visitation Specialist

• Jul 2013 - Sep 2013

Intern

• Apr 2013 - Jun 2013

•Shadowed Permanency Caseworkers and Child Protective Service Workers (CPS)•Recorded client progress and case management services received; wrote referrals•Interfaced with social service providers to establish appointments and report updates•Independently completed check-ins with children at schools and foster homes•Attended home visits, client intervention sessions, and court hearings•Assisted with foster home placements; transported foster children•Assessed adoption home studies and contacted adoptive families

Volunteer

• Jan 2013 - Jun 2013

•Organized case files concerning permanency for children at risk of abuse and neglect•Entered data into database accurately and appropriately•Summarized police reports and DHS assessments

Intern

• Sep 2012 - Dec 2012

•Became familiar with international and domestic adoption casework and home studies•Completed administrative tasks: data entry, phone use, client communication, errands•Contacted 50+ hospitals and pregnancy resource centers for networking purposes•Attended regional staff meetings, a COA meeting, and networking events•Researched agency policies, programs, and populations served•Participated in web-based trainings•Assembled informational handouts•Organized case files

Volunteer Childcare Assistant, Family Relief Nursery

• Feb 2011 - Sep 2012

Volunteer Program Facilitator, Youth Prevention Services

• Jul 2011 - Sep 2011

Volunteer Childcare Assistant, Family Recovery Center

• Mar 2011 - May 2011

Elementary Tutor

• Apr 2012 - Jun 2012

•Helped classes of 20+ students with reading, writing, and finishing assignments•Gained exposure to their Spanish Immersion Program•Graded assignments and supervised the classroom•Administered tests

Volunteer Domestic Violence Shelter Assistant

• Oct 2011 - Jan 2012

•Worked to provide and maintain a safe refuge for women and children who were victims of violence•Achieved 40-hour domestic violence training certification•Organized and provided resident resources•Participated in general shelter upkeep•Completed administrative tasks•Managed emergency call-line•Enforced shelter guidelines•Assisted with childcare