Angela Thelen

In my role as a supervisor, I lead a team of up to six dedicated case managers, in various stages of their learning and development, who are responsible for addressing allegations of child abuse and neglect. My primary focus is to implement state policies and statutes to ensure the utmost safety and protection of children.

As a supervisor, I provide training and support to any new case managers assigned to my team to ensure they are knowledgeable and prepared for their role as a case manager. I provide guidance and oversight on any safety decisions and/or safety interventions that are implemented on an assessment. I review and approve all safety and risk assessments conducted by my team of case managers to ensure compliance with state policies and procedures. I also had the responsibility of reviewing and granting approval for all legal documents that are submitted to the juvenile court. This ensures that all necessary measures are taken to safeguard the well-being of the children involved.

Furthermore, I diligently monitor the performance of my team and promptly address any deficiencies or liabilities that could potentially impact the State of Nebraska. It is crucial for me to ensure that our operations are in compliance with the highest standards, and I take proactive steps to rectify any shortcomings.

I also have served on several work groups throughout my time as a supervisor to brainstorm, develop, and provide feedback for any new or existing state policies and procedures.

In order to foster a collaborative environment, I actively engage with external providers. This allows us to identify and address any issues that arise, while also facilitating effective communication and cooperation between our respective agencies. By working together, we are able to enhance the overall effectiveness of our efforts in protecting vulnerable children.

As a Child and Family Services Specialist on an initial assessment team, I was assigned to complete assessments on reports of child abuse and/or neglect. I would assess in accordance to the safety model and within compliance of state policies and procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of children. I would implement safety intervention services as needed with the goal to keep children safely in the home, however if that was not possible I would work with the County Attorney's office to have children placed with the custody of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. I would provide support and monitoring on any family during the assessment period, connect them to community resources, and complete all the needed documentation in accordance with state policies and procedures to prepare for case transfer to an ongoing team or case closure. I also worked collaboratively with external provides to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the children and family.

As a Pediatric Social Worker, I was the only social worker for a 32 bed unit for patients receiving short and long term care. I coordinated admissions of new patients with hospitals and other referral sources. I requested authorizations with insurance companies for admission of new patients and completed weekly and/or monthly insurance reviews. I provided one-on-one weekly visits with patients as needed for emotional, behavioral, or mental health support/intervention. I provided support to families and connected them to community resources as needed. I coordinated school services, interpretation services, and behavioral and/or mental health services for patients. I coordinated discharges by arranging nursing, training, home health equipment, and any other needed services.

As a Child and Family Services Specialist on an ongoing team, I was assigned to provide case management for families that were identified in the initial assessment period to have safety concerns and involved in a non-court or court case. I would work collaboratively with the families, external parties, and the juvenile court to develop case plans to address the safety concerns that brought the family to the attention of the Department. I would provide support and monitoring of these services in accordance to state policies and procedures to continually ensure the safety of the children and progress towards the family's permanency objective. I would also provide continual assessments in accordance to the safety model and within compliance of state policies and procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of children.

I was the only social worker assigned to a girls group home that had up to six residences ranging in age from 6 years old to 13 years old. I would assess the needs of incoming residents and complete a thorough admission screening, which includes health, emotional, physical, behavioral, and academic assessment. I Completed reports for each resident which include, incident reports, needs and assessment appraisals, thirty day reports, behavioral plans, quarterly reports, and discharge summaries in compliance with the expectations of California Department of Social Services. I facilitated weekly group therapy sessions among the residents. I assisted clients in reaching behavioral goals and establishing new ones, if necessary. I obtained community support thru fundraising efforts. I supervised residents and staff on the floor and assist in daily needs or activities.

I supervised the Magellan and State transportation programs and managed 20 to 25 employees and a caseload of 250 to 325 clients. I handled daily crises, processes employee billing, maintained client database, and processed weekly statistics. I marketed with prospective clients: therapists, local agencies, and child protective services case managers with the Department of Health and Human Services. I was on-call every three weeks to advise in emergency situations for the State Services Program. I facilitated interviews for prospective employees, and facilitated training classes for new employees.