April Brooks, LCSW-S
Dallas-Fort Worth,TX
Summary
Skilled and passionate Clinical Social Worker with nearly twenty years of mental health experience in counseling and advocacy for individuals and groups in hospital, outpatient, educational, and community settings. Adept in the ability to develop and implement programs and effective plans of action that address micro and macro needs. Dedicated and analytical professional with a record of exceeding expectations through the utilization of ethical, organized, consistent practices. Highly collaborative partner who builds and maintains strategic relationships that foster access and strengthens outcomes.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Employee Support Liaison
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX
12.2023 - Current
- Functions as primary point of contact and advocate for employees seeking mental health services
- Triages and/or proactively addresses employee support-related issues/concerns
- Promotes awareness and understanding of wellness/mental health support services available among employees and leaders through various communication channels
- Maintains close working relationship with outsourced EAP service provider, ensuring that services are delivered effectively and in line with agreed-upon standards/expectations
- Collaborates with HR and campus leadership to identify and address any emerging trends or concerns related to employee well-being and make recommendations for program enhancements
- While maintaining employee confidentiality, provides consultation and support, as needed, to Employee Relations on employee fitness for duty
- Develop and implements strategies to increase employee engagement and utilization of mental health services
- Conducts regular evaluations and assessments of employee support program's effectiveness, utilizing feedback from employees and other stakeholders.
- Provides support and guidance to department leaders on how to recognize and address employee concerns, referring them to appropriate resources when necessary.
- Works collaboratively with others to foster internal alignment with employee wellness, safety, and other similar initiatives.
- Maintains confidentiality and adheres to ethical guidelines in handling sensitive employee information
- Keeps up to date with industry best practices and advancements in EAP services, incorporating them into program enhancements as appropriate
EAP Specialist
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX
08.2016 - 11.2023
- Performed short-term therapy with employees and their eligible family members
- Provided appropriate referrals to external resources to meet client needs
- Developed partnerships with community organizations to expand services and referrals
- Provided crisis intervention services to individuals facing emotional and mental health challenges
- Conducted critical incident debriefings to individuals and teams following crisis or traumatic events
- Developed and conducted psychoeducational and skills-based training seminars
- Served as consultant to Human Resources on crisis management, fitness for duty, and employee wellness
- Performed management consultations with departmental leaders to plan interventions, strategize, problem solve, and resolve conflict
Clinical Social Worker
San Antonio State Hospital
11.2013 - 01.2016
- Served as active member and psychosocial expert on multidisciplinary treatment team for residential patients with severe and persistent mental illness
- Developed and implemented detailed treatment plans of care
- Facilitated weekly goal-oriented, didactic, and psychoeducational group counseling and family sessions
- Established and nurtured key relationships with community mental health liaisons for adequate patient resources and effective discharge planning
- Coordinated individualized discharge plans to manage safe transition back into community and home environments.
- Advocated for patient rights and ethical treatment of patients in residential setting
- Provided complex case management
- Provided court testimony for involuntary/court-mandated hospitalizations
- Collaborated with healthcare providers to drive continuity of care.
- Educated patient family members on diagnosis, patient care plans, and available resources
Managing Social Worker
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano
08.2011 - 05.2013
- Directly recruited by Director of Behavioral Health to develop first Partial Hospitalization Program at Seay Behavioral Center
- Developed, implemented and assumed oversight of Partial Hospitalization Program, including program curriculum, policies and procedures, and daily operations
- Adhered to strict HIPAA guidelines to protect patient privacy
- Formulated treatment plan strategies with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive and continuous care plan
- Coordinated external healthcare professionals for continuity of care
- Facilitated multi-family psychoeducational groups
- Facilitated 80% of programming, including didactic and process groups
- Participated in interdisciplinary team clinical staffings to coordinate patient care
- Developed and conducted in-service clinical staff trainings
- Maintained consistent program census and productivity that surpassed hospital goals and targets
- Developed daily risk assessment process that allowed for timely intervention preventing patient self-injury
- Advised senior leadership on program evaluation, process improvement, and daily operations
- Recipient of President's Service Award
Mobile Assessment Team Clinician
Hickory Trail Hospital
09.2011 - 11.2011
- Served as on-call crisis assessment clinician for six Dallas-Fort Worth hospital emergency departments
- Completed psychiatric and substance use assessments on patients presenting to assigned emergency departments in crisis and determined appropriate level of care
- Provided detailed clinical information necessary for obtaining authorization for hospitalization from insurance companies
- Facilitated patient transfers from emergency department to appropriate inpatient facility
- Fostered collaborative relationships and coordinated effectively with emergency department staff at six assigned hospitals
Social Worker/Social Services Coordinator
Dallas Independent School District
06.2010 - 06.2011
- Administered clinical, outreach, and support services through federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
- Provided individual, family, and group counseling to students and families affected by homelessness
- Consulted with campus personnel, district administration, and parents to maximize students' academic and social-emotional growth
- Coordinated with campus personnel and used student data to identify enrollees who met federal definition of homelessness and identified service needs
- Educated campus and district administration on federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act and campus requirements for compliance
- Collected and interpreted data on homelessness among students in district to evaluate effectiveness and identify needs
- Organized and obtained donations for goods and services for students and families affected by homelessness
- Collaborated with community organizations and facilitated access and referrals to necessary resources
- Through relentless advocacy, accomplished 100% success rate of enrollment for students experiencing homelessness who lacked customary documents required for enrollment pursuant to McKinney-Vento Act
- Made regular visits to Dallas homeless shelters and motels identified to house homeless students to provide outreach services
- Supervised afterschool programs and staff
Psychiatric Social Worker
Methodist Richardson Medical Center
01.2008 - 06.2010
- Counseled clients in individual and group therapy sessions in inpatient setting to address acute issues related to mental illness and substance use
- Conducted comprehensive assessments to develop individualized treatment plans
- Formulated individualized treatment plan strategies with multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive and continuous care plan.
- Presented clinical documentation, observations, and recommendations to interdisciplinary team
- Provided psychoeducation to family members regarding diagnosis and treatment and worked to develop support networks and resourced focused on client and family needs
- Coordinated comprehensive crisis and discharge plans
- Coordinated with various counties' mental illness courts to obtain orders of protective custody for involuntary psychiatric treatment
- Served as field instructor for University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work and supervised masters level social work interns
- Recipient of Champion Award for Outstanding Service for role in preventing patient suicide
Counselor
Homeward Bound, Inc.
03.2005 - 01.2008
- Completed chemical use and suicide risk assessments
- Managed caseload of 20 to 25 clients
- Provided individual and group counseling and support in intensive outpatient setting to clients with substance use issues
- Created partnership and served as point of contact with local community mental health agency referral services for co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders
- Coordinated care with external professionals and organizations to provide clients with comprehensive support.
- Facilitated multi-family psychoeducation and support groups
- Supported aftercare planning for continued recovery after treatment.
- Served as liaison with county probation and parole offices for court-mandated clients
- Provided crisis intervention to address clients' immediate needs and prevent harmful behaviors.
- Served as field instructor for University of Texas at Arlington School of Social work and supervised masters level social work interns
Intake Specialist
Managed Health Network
11.2003 - 03.2005
- Answered inbound phone calls from EAP and plan members from multiple large corporate accounts
- Responded to member and provider inquiries regarding plan benefits, authorizations, and claims
- Connected members with specialized behavioral health providers in their respective areas
- Authorized outpatient behavioral health treatment and coordinated services with external providers
- Problem solved to assist members and providers in analyzing and resolving complex authorization and claims issues
- Obtained initial clinical information from facilities for higher level of care authorizations
- Provided accurate benefit and plan explanations and interpretations to members and contracted providers
- Offered compassionate and attentive guidance to members during moments of crisis
Education
Master of Social Work - Mental Health And Interpersonal Practice
University of Michigan School of Social Work
Ann Arbor, MI12.2002
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology And Social Welfare
Dillard University
New Orleans, LA05.2001
Licensure, Certifications, Affiliations
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Supervisor , #40341, Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners
- Certified in QPR Triage Assessment and Training for Suicide Prevention
- Certified Grief Recovery Specialist
- Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist
- Certificate in School Social Work—University of Michigan School of Social Work
- Member Employee Assistance Professionals Association
- Certified Employee Assistance Professional-Pending
Presentations
- Assessing and Establishing Rapport with Court-Mandated Clients/Patients
- Assessing Suicide Risk
- Communication Insights for Leaders
- Communication Strategies for Challenging Patient Interactions
- Creating an Effective Self-Care Plan
- Domestic Violence and its Effects in the Workplace
- How to Deal with Difficult People
- Managing Holiday Stress
- Setting Healthy Boundaries
- Strategies for Preventing and Overcoming Burnout
- Stress Management at Work
- Strategies for Managing Stress
- Overcoming Stinking Thinking
- Resilience in the Workplace
- Work-Life Integration
Timeline
Employee Support Liaison
UT Southwestern Medical Center
12.2023 - Current
EAP Specialist
UT Southwestern Medical Center
08.2016 - 11.2023
Clinical Social Worker
San Antonio State Hospital
11.2013 - 01.2016
Mobile Assessment Team Clinician
Hickory Trail Hospital
09.2011 - 11.2011
Managing Social Worker
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano
08.2011 - 05.2013
Social Worker/Social Services Coordinator
Dallas Independent School District
06.2010 - 06.2011
Psychiatric Social Worker
Methodist Richardson Medical Center
01.2008 - 06.2010
Counselor
Homeward Bound, Inc.
03.2005 - 01.2008
Intake Specialist
Managed Health Network
11.2003 - 03.2005
Master of Social Work - Mental Health And Interpersonal Practice
University of Michigan School of Social Work
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology And Social Welfare
Dillard University