Abigail Simmons
Summary
Passionate and adaptable Master's in Social Work student with over 6 years of direct services work in Tucson, Arizona supporting diverse individuals with complex needs. Resilient and detail-oriented advocate with a history of trauma and crisis work; specifically, in domestic violence and victim services. Looking to utilize my robust experience and interpersonal strengths to empower survivors, advocate for policy change, and create safe, accessible spaces for healing. Seeking admittance into PROGRAM to increase expertise and knowledge on best, trauma-informed practices to better support survivors of violent crime. Working to establish a career as a licensed clinical social worker.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Hotline Specialist
Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse
07.2021 - 06.2024
- Full-time; averaged 40 hrs/week
- Provided participants with crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals, domestic abuse education and emotional support, as appropriate.
- Conducted lethality assessments to determine caller's immediate needs and connected them with Emerge services and/or community resources, as appropriate.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to support participant's needs and meet safety goals.
- Facilitated services with law enforcement and victim service agencies utilizing the Arizona Intimate Partners Risk Assessment Instrument System (APRAIS) to connect participants to Emerge services.
- Created an internal referral template to increase proficiency and productivity among staff that was implemented into Emerge's onboarding training.
Lead Street Outreach Volunteer
StandUp for Kids, Tucson Chapter
11.2022 - 06.2024
- Averaged 6 hrs/week
- Cultivated and maintained positive relationships with youth and young adults (24 years & younger) on the street or at-risk of becoming houseless.
- Facilitated and monitored outreach activities to build community awareness.
- Developed strong interpersonal skills through frequent interactions with diverse populations during street outreach.
- Provided food and hygiene packs, among other needed/seasonal items (i.e., rain/heat protection), to support youth's wellbeing.
- Connected youths to needed community resources and social services, as appropriate.
- Recorded, transcribed and maintained the Tucson Youth Outreach and Outreach Event trackers to collect data on youth's demographics, inventory, and other critical information as lead volunteer.
Victim Services Intern
Attorney General's Office, Criminal Division/Victim Services Section
01.2020 - 05.2020
- Averaged 10 hrs/week
- Collected, organized and transcribed relevant data related to defendants' case files and status, judicial rulings, attorney notes, and victim requests, among other confidential information, into internal computer systems.
- Prepared and sent relevant letter(s) to victim(s) regarding court proceedings and the status of their case(s).
- Supported staff members in their daily tasks, reducing workload burden and allowing for increased focus on higher-priority assignments.
Volunteer Crisis Victim Advocate
Pima County Attorney's Office, Victim Services Division
11.2018 - 03.2020
- Averaged 20 hrs/month
- Provided crisis counseling, empathetic listening, and empowerment to victims of violent crimes in emergency situations, when requested by law enforcement agencies.
- Utilized evidence-based practices (i.e., Motivational Interviewing) to provide effective crisis intervention and stabilization during emergencies for affected clients and families.
- Evaluated victim's social, emotional and medical needs and connected them to appropriate community resources.
- Explained legal rights to victims and relevant following proceedings (i.e., Initial Appearances), as appropriate.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ05.2021
Master of Arts - Social Work
Arizona State University
Phoenix, AZ05-2027
Skills
- Crisis intervention
- Domestic violence safety planning
- Client advocacy
- Trauma-informed care
- Active listening
- Multidisciplinary collaboration
- Cultural Competency
- Cultural sensitivity
- Adaptability & Flexibility
- Interpersonal communication
- Confidentiality practices
- Community outreach
Timeline
Lead Street Outreach Volunteer
StandUp for Kids, Tucson Chapter
11.2022 - 06.2024
Hotline Specialist
Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse
07.2021 - 06.2024
Victim Services Intern
Attorney General's Office, Criminal Division/Victim Services Section
01.2020 - 05.2020
Volunteer Crisis Victim Advocate
Pima County Attorney's Office, Victim Services Division
11.2018 - 03.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Arizona
Master of Arts - Social Work
Arizona State University
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