Alexis Owens

Plans, assigns and directs the work of 10 Social Workers II/III, interns and Social Casework Assistants engaged in providing social casework services which may include adoptions, foster home and institutional placements within children’s protective services; instructs subordinates in casework methods and/or procedures; ensures maintenance of acceptable standards of casework practices and caseload management; develops and implements State mandated training programs and requirements; ensures that corrective action procedures are developed and implemented; and other related work as required.

• Decreased length of stays at receiving centers for at risk children, youth and Non Minor Dependents.
• Plans, organizes and conducts trainings for staff in social work methods and techniques.
• Identifies program and court related problems and effectively communicate them to management with suggestions for solutions.
• Developed and maintains communication portal for Deputy Director, Division Managers and Supervisors to communicate regarding readiness and/or barriers to case transfers case promotions and closures.
• Supervises and evaluates casework of subordinate staff including evaluating effectiveness of staff efforts in solving client problems, interpreting rules and regulations and analyzing situations and conditions which require application of specialized social work skills.
• Facilitates interagency communication to ensure seamless coordination of care and services across multiple providers.
• Supported families experiencing crisis situations by facilitating wrap-around services tailored specifically to each unique situation.
• Develops strong community partnerships to enhance available resources and support for clients.
• Improves client outcomes by implementing evidence-based practices and individualized care plans.
• Enhances staff performance through regular supervision, training, and professional development opportunities.
• Streamlines case management processes for increased efficiency and improved service delivery.
• Participates in community events to promote services and engage with public.

Performed advanced and difficult case investigations dealing with highly complex individual and family concerns and issues which involve court actions for over 300 families. Provided highly skilled casework services to children and adults with social, economic, emotional, and environmental concerns. Petitioned the juvenile dependency court for appropriate orders related to clients.

Duties:

• Interviewed complainants, witnesses, and employees to gather facts in order to investigate cases of alleged sexual abuse or other forms of abuse of children.
• Conducted site visits to collect documents and physical evidence to perform analysis of documents and evidence collected.
• Prepared concise and thorough reports of investigation activities conducted and testified in Court, at arbitrations or hearings on investigation findings.
• Maintained case files and case management records in order to report status of assigned investigations.
• Collaborated with and assisted other investigative staff, senior leaders and Attorneys to conduct large scale and complex investigations, and to help shape child welfare policies.
• Assessed undefined and complex problems; identified immediate and potential risk to children and/or adults in abusive family situations and other living situations.
• Handled high-pressure, crisis situations professionally and extracted appropriate information in such situations.
• Exercised sound judgment in making diagnostic risk assessments and decisions regarding placement of children.
• Formulated case plan strategies with families and multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive and continuous care plan.
• Monitored clients' progress and adapted treatment plans to meet changing needs.
• Interviewed clients, families, or groups to assess situations, limitations and issues and implement services to address needs.
• Educated families on available community resources, connecting them with essential services such as housing assistance and mental health support.
• Updated client documentation for accurate, compliant and current records.
• Maintained accurate case documentation, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and facilitating informed decision-making by team members.
• Reduced recidivism rates among at-risk youth by providing targeted interventions focused on skill-building, pro-social activities, and positive role modeling.
• Increased client engagement in case plans by building trusting relationships through empathetic listening and consistent support.
• Provided crisis intervention services for clients experiencing acute mental health or substance abuse issues.
• Contributed to policy development efforts within organization or broader community context, advocating for systemic change that would benefit clients'' needs more effectively over time.

Served individuals and families with end of life case management, while supportively empowered care team members to reach their full potential in client centered service delivery and advocacy. Worked cohesively within a multi-disciplinary team in a fast-paced environment.

Duties:

• Helped define service delivery intervention and processes, operational foundation and marketing strategy for program launch in 2015 that increased program presence in community, helped cultivate trusted partnerships and supported accomplishment of serving 500 initial clients within 6 months using organic efforts to build relationships and disseminate program benefits utilizing various methods.
• Supervised 10 Care Team Members including Care Navigators, Case Manager, and Volunteers
• Held regularly scheduled conferences with Care Team Members to discuss casework problems, assist in professional development, and to interpret organization policies and practices
• Worked collaboratively with Executive Director, Program Manager and Research Physician to evaluate program goals and effectiveness, define intervention manual, and performance targets using data-driven analysis techniques, resulting in continuous improvement efforts.
• Identified and assessed individual client's health, social, emotional and spiritual needs for community services available while utilizing trauma-informed approach to promote healing and empowerment for clients.
• Reduced case resolution time by streamlining processes and improving communication between team members
• Increased referral rates by establishing partnerships with community organizations and service providers.
• Facilitated regular meetings with clients, ensuring progress towards goals was on track and addressing any barriers encountered.
• Developed and implemented training programs for new case managers, improving overall team performance.
• Managed crisis situations effectively, providing immediate assistance and coordinating follow-up support as needed.
• Coordinated services with other agencies, community-based organizations, and healthcare professionals to provide useful benefits to clients such as trusted resources, Palliative Care and Hospice benefits, etc.
• Demonstrated proficiency in handling navigational software updates, ensuring access tools and resources to meet client needs.

Provided therapeutic interventions for children, adults, families and couples while diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems and trauma informed approach.

• Conducted intake and needs assessments to set therapeutic goals and establish professional relationships with clients.
• Developed individualized treatment plans to address specific needs and goals of clients.
• Empowered clients by teaching effective problem-solving strategies and building resilience within families.
• Led workshops focused on topics such as communication skills, conflict resolution, and stress management, enhancing participants'' overall wellbeing.
• Addressed intergenerational trauma within families by implementing culturally sensitive interventions that promote healing across generations.
• Increased parental involvement through education on child development stages and parenting strategies, fostering positive change for households.
• Continually developed professional skills by participating in ongoing trainings and staying informed about current research in field of family therapy.
• Enhanced clients'' coping skills through cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions.
• Implemented crisis intervention strategies for families in distress, leading to stabilization and improved functioning.
• Established rapport with diverse clientele, creating safe environments for open dialogue and growth.
• Utilized play therapy techniques with children to facilitate expression of emotions and processing of traumatic experiences.
• Provided psycho education to clients on mental health conditions, fostering understanding and self awareness.
• Leveraged practice management software to complete weekly progress notes, update quarterly treatment plans and maintain patient records.