Community Strategist (Racine) - Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families

• Jan 2020 - Present

Manages the engagement, coaching, technical assistance, training, and capacity building efforts for the Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families Program Office across the three LIHF communities (Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine) working to improve healthy birth outcomes for African American women and their families. • Partnership development and community/stakeholder engagement -Identify African American lead grassroots organizations in assigned city; engage community partners with strategic planning; Convene and managed community conversations; Educate and provide awareness to community/ partners on infant mortality through meetings and public presentations; Recruit and maintain involvement of stakeholder committees and/or boards. • Implementation- Co-design and implement evidenced-based capacity building activities with community-based organizations.; Co-Lead the implementation and support the evaluation of the capacity building activities including determining targets for success and appropriate corresponding workplans; Build cross-sector engagement and develop and implement strategies for long-term involvement of community institutions, organizations, and individuals in the assigned city- Racine County. • Strategic Planning: Co-design evidenced-based capacity building strategies; Identify additional local, regional, and national resources and/or expertise to complement strategic plans; Identify, vet and contract with expertise for technical assistance or training needs; Facilitate short- and mid-term goal setting and document progress to shared goals; Support the training and technical assistance needs and be responsive to the needs of each organization. Show less

Executive Director

• Jan 2017 - Present

Consultant

• May 2005 - Present

Successfully provides training and technical assistance to the childcare program to improve the quality of childcare. • Training and Facilitation: Facilitate training (Shaken Baby Syndrome/ Head Trauma, Sudden Infant Death, and First Aid/CPR) to ensure child health, safety, and security needs are met. Educate staff and community members on the state of Wisconsin Childcare programing, polices, and procedures to provide and understanding of expectation and standards. • Quality Control Audits: Review childcare and child nutrition programing to weigh the health and safety of children and to improve the overall quality of the organization. Collaborate with management and staff to identify ways to address areas of audits areas of improvement. • Program Implementation: Consult with childcare management to develop, implement, and execute, organizational development plans that including expanding childcare operations, accreditation options, and ways to build partnership. Show less

Assistant Project Manager

• Apr 2016 - Sep 2019

Managed community engagement, collaborative meetings, trainings, and project operations for the Racine Healthy Birth Outcomes Project to improve birth outcomes for African American women and their families. • Community Awareness/Engagement: lead Planning and implementation of Baby Expo (annual community resource fair) designed to bring awareness and education to community re: reducing risk of infant mortality; Planned and convened a Certified Lactation Consultant training for community members from Racine and surrounding area to become certified and provide lactation services in efforts to address equity and increase diversity of people of color as lactation consultants; Arranged and implemented trainings for collaborative members on a variety of subject matters. • Collaboration: Lead, organized and convened monthly Collaborative meetings with community partners ( healthcare systems, Racine County Home Visiting Network, the City of Racine Health Department, Racine County Child Support, UW Extension, and Racine Unified School District) designed to reduce African American infant mortality and bring awareness; Hosted focus groups to discuss impact of social determinates of health; Collaborated with team members on the completion of evaluations; Spearheaded Breastfeeding committee with a focus on policy and system changes; Networked and partnered with local, state and national experts to advance/improve program quality. • Grants and Monitoring: Utilized a Gantt chart to tract and monitor program goals, objectives and outcomes; Implemented evaluation tools for data collection data; Completed end of year grant reports; Researched and assisted with grant applications. Show less

Child and Family Specialist 1 (Prenatal and Postnatal- Home Visitor)

• Oct 2014 - Apr 2016

Successfully provided prenatal and postnatal home visiting case management services to at risk mothers. • Data Collection: Conducted participant surveys (Ages and Stages, Edinburgh depression screenings, and Adverse Childhood Experience) to assess participants’ needs and provide educational and supportive resources; Provided home assessments; Entered Survey Data into Children’s Hospital data software. • Community Engagement: Meet with participants regularly, provided support, resources and advocacy to assigned caseload; Mentored and modeled the development of positive, nurturing family relationships; Offered evidence-based education utilizing both Bright Beginnings and Parents as Teachers curriculum. • Program Implementation: Provided assessments to ensure child safety; Supplied participants with home safety items (ie. outlet plugs, cabinet safety locks, door lock, and safety gates) Completed birthing plans; Educated on Safe Sleep and Shaken Baby Syndrome; Advocated for pack and plays and car seats. Show less

Childcare Subsidy Specialist

• Jul 2013 - Oct 2014

Provide confidential, case management services and assess cases to ensure childcare subsidy eligibility. • Meet face to face with participants regarding concerns and eligibility. • Accurately maintain and complete participant files, including case comments. • Educate Participants about the Wisconsin Share Program’s Policies and Procedures Provide confidential, case management services and assess cases to ensure childcare subsidy eligibility. • Meet face to face with participants regarding concerns and eligibility. • Accurately maintain and complete participant files, including case comments. • Educate Participants about the Wisconsin Share Program’s Policies and Procedures

Childcare Case Manager

• Oct 2011 - Jul 2013

Successfully provided intensive case management services to program participants in all phases, while observing applicant confidentiality. •Received recognition for exceptional performance within first year of employment. •In charge of intake and initial assessment of program participant’s needs and strengths, formulation of service plans, referral and follow-up of the individual to appropriate agencies/services. •Facilitated trainings for Kenosha County Job Center, ie: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Shaken Baby Syndrome. •Provided excellent customer service by responding to participant needs through close monitoring of alerts, and maintained strong communication with Income Maintenance Teams and Call Center staff. Show less

Program Administrator

• May 2005 - Oct 2011

Effectively trained and managed a staff of 14, while overseeing child curriculum. •Implemented age appropriate curriculum for children to stimulate their social, emotional, small motor, gross motor and cognitive development. •Secured an increase in new clients and maintained customer accounts. •Ensured company compliance with WI State and Federal Policies & Procedures. •Executed marketing strategies to increase customer base. •Facilitated trainings for center including, Child Abuse and Neglect trainings, Nutrition, CPR, First Aid, and AED. Show less