Organized team leader builds positive rapport, inspires trust and guides teams toward achievement of organizational goals. Strong facilitator adept at working cross-departmentally with co-management and top-level leadership. Excellent trainer and mentor.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Social Work Team Lead
Le Sueur County Department of Human Services
Le Center, MN
07.2018 - Current
Opens cases and develops social service plans for clients, parents, and their interested parties to best serve the client the least restrictive and most natural setting.
Conducts and compiles case evaluations for the purpose of assessing problems and determining appropriate treatment plans.
Prepares and maintains case records.
Monitors the services provided to the client by ensuring appropriate service has been chosen and is meeting their needs.
Assists with keeping accurate and timely records of services provided and service provider interaction with clients.
Testifies in court and assists with other legal matters related to program area and/or case work.
Provides work assignments, technical assistance, case direction and evaluation assistance to other agency social workers and staff on behalf of supervisor.
Assists unit supervisor with staffing and training needs. * Assists to schedule and coordinate training for the unit.
Attends various meetings and leads committees or groups as a representative of the county and division.
Data analysis using various methods to determine trends and tracking performance on mandatory performance measures in addition to areas of interest to the agency.
Liaison work and training the community (Law Enforcement, Schools, Service Providers and others) communicating the latest local, state and national data related to concerns specific to the audience's scope of influence in addition to the county as a whole.
Researches, writes and monitors grants for services and/or equipment that may benefit the unit and/or agency.
Assists with program development, best practice/procedure standards and community projects independently or within a multidisciplinary team.
Chemical Use Assessor
Le Sueur County Department of Human Services
Le Center, MN
01.2015 - 07.2021
Interview individuals in need of a chemical use assessment.
Coordinated and collaborated with family members, friends, other providers to ensure accurate completion of assessment.
Produced recommendations based on client interview, observation and collateral contact.
Facilitated coordinator of care based on recommendations that may include: chemical health treatment referrals, coordination, approval for funding.
Maintained contact with individual to ensure connection with needed resources and services.
Agency Social Worker
Le Sueur County DHS
Le Center, MN
07.2009 - 07.2018
Assisted clients in navigating public assistance programs, increasing their ability to access essential resources such as housing, healthcare, and financial aid.
Supported client independence through the development and implementation of individualized service plans.
Facilitated group sessions for clients, fostering a supportive environment for personal growth and change.
Increased client satisfaction by providing timely and appropriate crisis intervention services.
Delivered culturally competent services tailored to the unique needs of diverse populations within the community served by the agency.
Ensured compliance with all state regulations governing social work practice while maintaining high ethical standards throughout all client interactions.
Mentored and supervised new social workers, providing guidance on best practices for successful case management.
Advocated for clients in court proceedings as necessary, presenting detailed case information to judges and legal counsel.
Maintained working relationships with staff.
Coordinated care among various service providers to ensure continuity between medical professionals, mental health providers, educational institutions, and other relevant agencies.
Developed strong rapport with clients by maintaining consistent communication and demonstrating genuine concern for their wellbeing.
Improved community resources access for clients by establishing partnerships with local organizations.
Continuously expanded professional knowledge by attending conferences, workshops, and trainings to stay current with industry trends and innovations in order to provide the highest quality of care for clients.
Enhanced client relationships by conducting thorough assessments and developing personalized case plans.
Implemented treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups to achieve treatment goals.
Conducted comprehensive assessments to identify client needs, strengths, and barriers to success.
Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to create holistic care plans addressing various aspects of clients'' lives.
Maintained accurate documentation of client interactions, interventions, and progress towards goals in accordance with agency guidelines.
Implemented evidence-based interventions proven effective in helping clients overcome challenges related to substance abuse, mental health issues, or interpersonal conflict resolution.
Updated client documentation for accurate, compliant and current records.
De-escalated stressful situations through individual and family crisis interventions.
Supported clients and families with empathy and compassion during difficult times.
Helped clients develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to drive behavior modification.
Advocated for clients to assure respected rights and wishes.
Maintained regular contact with clients by calling and visiting clients' homes.
Monitored clients' progress and adapted treatment plans to meet changing needs.
Assisted clients with navigating and accessing social services such as housing and medical care.
Conducted home visits to assess living environment and facilitate access to necessary resources.
Helped clients with recognizing and managing mental health concerns through evidence-based interventions.
Assisted families in navigating the social services system, including applying for benefits, accessing resources and connecting with other family support services.
Completed comprehensive assessments of families to identify needs and develop treatment plans.
Arranged medical and psychiatric tests to identify difficulties and indicate potential remedial approaches.
Child Support Enforcement Aide
Le Sueur County DHS
Le Center, MN
03.2008 - 07.2009
Reviews court orders establishing support payments and prepare documents for accounting and computer input and maintenance; which generate billings, case management reports and statistical reports.
Enter data into computer system
Assists child support officers in investigating the identity, location, and financial status of absent parents by making telephone and written inquiries to individuals and agencies and reviewing relevant case files.
Monitors on-going accounts for compliance with court orders and recommend action with regard to delinquent accounts, i.e., income withholding, referring case to child support officer to pursue court remedy.
Interviews payees to obtain factual information in completing the necessary paperwork and to open and maintain IV-D cases.
Education
Master of Science - Human Services Administration
Capella University
Minneapolis
12-2009
Bachelor of Science - Community Health
Minnesota State University
Mankato, MN
05-2007
Skills
Attention to detail
Conflict resolution
Schedule management
Client communication
Deadline management
Strategic planning
Project management
Program development
Accomplishments
Assisted in development of the Community Connections Project, which was a new program to Le Sueur County. This program required detailed planning, consistency, relationship building. It has been successfully implemented for close to 8 years.
Social Work Team Lead (Developmental Disability) at Faribault & Martin County Human ServicesSocial Work Team Lead (Developmental Disability) at Faribault & Martin County Human Services
<ul>
<li>Spearhead the management and oversight of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) project, a pivotal national asset developed in partnership with the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Homeland Security (DHS)</li>
<li>Collaborate with USDA and DHS stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition of operations and mission capabilities from the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) to NBAF, ensuring uninterrupted research, diagnostics, and training essential to national security</li>
<li>Lead the operational endurance phase, validating work processes and laboratory setups to guarantee compliance with the highest safety and biocontainment standards, particularly in biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) environments</li>
<li>Act as the hiring manager, conducting interviews and selecting high-quality employees to ensure the success of both DCA and NBAF</li>
<li>Serve as a subject matter expert pert for the payroll system Paychex, overseeing and approving payroll for 63 officers biweekly while managing paid time off and leave requests to maintain the security posture for the facility</li>
<li>Monitor project milestones, providing critical updates to senior management and stakeholders while ensuring alignment with USDA's mission objectives and federal guidelines</li>
<li>Direct the development and execution of strategic initiatives to facilitate efficient collaboration with federal partners, ensuring all laboratory operations adhere to regulatory requirements set forth by the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP)</li>
<li>Foster a culture of excellence and professionalism within the team, emphasizing rigorous training, safety compliance, and operational integrity as key components of NBAF's mission to safeguard public health and the nation's food supply</li>
<li>Monitored budgeting activities by tracking expenditures and providing regular updates to management.</li>
<li>Analyzed existing processes within a department or organization in order to identify areas for improvement or increased efficiency.</li>
<li>Implemented quality control measures throughout each stage of a project's lifecycle.</li>
<li>Worked closely with senior managers to ensure that all projects were completed according to schedule.</li>
<li>Conducted research on potential vendors, suppliers, contractors and subcontractors for projects.</li>
<li>Provided administrative support to the Project Manager in order to facilitate successful project outcomes.</li>
<li>Prepared monthly progress reports summarizing key accomplishments achieved since the last report.</li>
<li>Trained junior staff on best practices for managing multiple projects simultaneously.</li>
</ul> at Defense Contracting Activity, LLC<ul>
<li>Spearhead the management and oversight of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) project, a pivotal national asset developed in partnership with the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S</li>
<li>Department of Homeland Security (DHS)</li>
<li>Collaborate with USDA and DHS stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition of operations and mission capabilities from the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) to NBAF, ensuring uninterrupted research, diagnostics, and training essential to national security</li>
<li>Lead the operational endurance phase, validating work processes and laboratory setups to guarantee compliance with the highest safety and biocontainment standards, particularly in biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) environments</li>
<li>Act as the hiring manager, conducting interviews and selecting high-quality employees to ensure the success of both DCA and NBAF</li>
<li>Serve as a subject matter expert pert for the payroll system Paychex, overseeing and approving payroll for 63 officers biweekly while managing paid time off and leave requests to maintain the security posture for the facility</li>
<li>Monitor project milestones, providing critical updates to senior management and stakeholders while ensuring alignment with USDA's mission objectives and federal guidelines</li>
<li>Direct the development and execution of strategic initiatives to facilitate efficient collaboration with federal partners, ensuring all laboratory operations adhere to regulatory requirements set forth by the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP)</li>
<li>Foster a culture of excellence and professionalism within the team, emphasizing rigorous training, safety compliance, and operational integrity as key components of NBAF's mission to safeguard public health and the nation's food supply</li>
<li>Monitored budgeting activities by tracking expenditures and providing regular updates to management.</li>
<li>Analyzed existing processes within a department or organization in order to identify areas for improvement or increased efficiency.</li>
<li>Implemented quality control measures throughout each stage of a project's lifecycle.</li>
<li>Worked closely with senior managers to ensure that all projects were completed according to schedule.</li>
<li>Conducted research on potential vendors, suppliers, contractors and subcontractors for projects.</li>
<li>Provided administrative support to the Project Manager in order to facilitate successful project outcomes.</li>
<li>Prepared monthly progress reports summarizing key accomplishments achieved since the last report.</li>
<li>Trained junior staff on best practices for managing multiple projects simultaneously.</li>
</ul> at Defense Contracting Activity, LLC