Amanda Smith
Pryor,STATE_US
Summary
Dedicated Child Welfare Specialist with proven expertise in trauma-informed care and client advocacy. Skilled in effective communication and relationship building to enhance access to vital community resources for families.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Child Welfare Specialist II
Cherokee Nation
06.2025 - Current
- Participated in training sessions to enhance knowledge of child welfare policies.
- Facilitated communication between agencies, caregivers, and community resources.
- Continuously updated professional knowledge and skills by attending trainings, conferences, and workshops related to child welfare best practices.
- Enhanced public awareness of child welfare issues through community presentations and participation in local events promoting child safety and wellbeing.
- Contributed to improved inter-agency collaboration by participating in joint meetings, trainings, and initiatives focused on enhancing child welfare practice.
- Increased access to resources for struggling families by connecting them with relevant community organizations and programs.
Child Welfare Specialist III
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
01.2022 - 06.2025
- Assessed child welfare cases to ensure compliance with state regulations and agency policies.
- Developed comprehensive service plans tailored to individual family needs and circumstances.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate services for at-risk children and families.
- Conducted home visits to evaluate family dynamics and support resource allocation effectively.
- Monitored progress of implemented service plans, adjusting interventions as needed for optimal outcomes.
- Engaged community partners to enhance support networks for families involved in child welfare cases.
- Prepared detailed reports documenting case findings, recommendations, and client progress for legal proceedings.
- Advocated for the best interests of children during court proceedings, presenting clear recommendations based on thorough evaluations.
- Assisted in the placement of children into safe, nurturing foster homes by conducting comprehensive home studies.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure optimal service delivery for children and families.
- Provided crisis intervention services as needed for clients experiencing urgent challenges related to child protection concerns or family dynamics issues.
- Coordinated closely with schools, medical providers, therapists, and other relevant professionals to ensure comprehensive support for children in care.
- Strengthened client engagement by utilizing trauma-informed practices when engaging with children and families experiencing adversity.
- Improved child welfare outcomes by conducting thorough assessments and developing tailored case plans.
- Maintained accurate records of client interactions, service referrals, case plan progressions in adherence to agency standards for quality assurance purposes.
- Facilitated successful adoption placements by completing detailed assessments and matching children with appropriate adoptive families.
- Managed complex caseloads effectively while adhering to strict timelines as mandated by federal regulations or state policies.
- Ensured child safety through regular home visits, careful documentation, and ongoing communication with involved parties.
- Developed strong relationships with clients, fostering trust and rapport to better support their needs throughout the case process.
- Enhanced family reunification rates through diligent monitoring and support of parent-child visitations.
- Built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs.
- Documented data and completed accurate updates to case records.
- Assisted families in navigating the social services system, including applying for benefits, accessing resources and connecting with other family support services.
- Maintained detailed case histories, metrics and reports to meet strict standards.
- Completed comprehensive assessments of families to identify needs and develop treatment plans.
- Collaborated with school personnel, parents and mental health providers to maintain comprehensive and integrated approach to student services.
- Conducted outreach to families and other community partners to identify ways to address social, emotional and behavioral needs.
- Facilitated family meetings to ensure communication and collaboration between family members.
- Worked with educational team to develop Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for students.
- Contributed to court proceedings, advocating for family's best interests and recommending balanced solutions.
- Arranged medical and psychiatric tests to identify difficulties and indicate potential remedial approaches.
- Continuously updated professional knowledge and skills by attending trainings, conferences, and workshops related to child welfare best practices.
- Enhanced public awareness of child welfare issues through community presentations and participation in local events promoting child safety and wellbeing.
- Contributed to improved inter-agency collaboration by participating in joint meetings, trainings, and initiatives focused on enhancing child welfare practice.
- Increased access to resources for struggling families by connecting them with relevant community organizations and programs.
Staffing Coordinator/Recruiter
Complete Home Health
07.2018 - 01.2022
- Coordinated staffing schedules to optimize resource allocation across various departments.
- Managed recruitment processes, including job postings and candidate screenings.
- Developed and maintained relationships with external staffing agencies for supplemental support.
- Implemented onboarding procedures to enhance new employee integration and compliance.
- Verified payroll, vacation and sick time hours to support accounting processes.
- Assisted in onboarding new hires, facilitating a smooth transition into their roles and supporting employee retention efforts.
- Increased client satisfaction by maintaining thorough knowledge of client needs and matching suitable candidates for open positions.
- Developed and facilitated new-hire orientations.
- Supported HR functions such as benefits administration and employee relations, enhancing overall organizational efficiency.
- Developed strong relationships with clients, leading to repeat business and long-term partnerships.
- Assisted with personnel records management to support recordkeeping accuracy.
- Collaborated with manager to determine department's short and long-term hiring needs.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Human Resources
Rogers State University
Claremore, OK05-2020
Skills
- Trauma-informed care
- Teamwork
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Time management
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Organizational skills
- Team collaboration
- Active listening
- Effective communication
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Relationship building
- Client documentation
- Community resources
- Task prioritization
- Client advocacy
- Self motivation
- Interpersonal skills
- Goal setting
- Conflict resolution
- Professionalism
- Motivational interviewing
- Family services
- Written communication
- File management
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Professional demeanor
- Multicultural awareness
- Community outreach
- Resource coordination
- Prepare reports
- Maintain case files
- Experience with at-risk youth
Timeline
Child Welfare Specialist II
Cherokee Nation
06.2025 - Current
Child Welfare Specialist III
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
01.2022 - 06.2025
Staffing Coordinator/Recruiter
Complete Home Health
07.2018 - 01.2022
Bachelor of Science - Human Resources
Rogers State University