Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Avrill Blondell

Summary

Compassionate and dedicated School Social Worker with 5 years of experience providing social, emotional, and academic support to students. Skilled in counseling, crisis intervention, and collaborating with parents, teachers, and community resources. Committed to promoting students' mental health and well-being while fostering a positive and inclusive school environment.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

School Social Worker

NYC D.O.E.
09.2022 - Current
  • Provide targeted supports to individuals and selective services to identified groups.
  • Provide short term individual and group counseling to at risk students with mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and trauma-related issues.
  • Serves as success mentor for chronically absent students and maintain an individual attendance plans.
  • Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to ensure a comprehensive approach to student well-being.
  • Offer crisis intervention and support during school emergencies, including student behavior management and conflict resolution.
  • Participate in meetings for students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) or 504 plans.
  • Facilitate workshops and programs aimed at enhancing social-emotional learning and bullying prevention.
  • K-5

Bridging the Gap School Social Worker (STH)

NYC D.O.E.
03.2019 - Current
  • Support the needs of the homeless student population and ensure the delivery of services to facilitate the student's attendance and access to appropriate education.
  • Interprets laws relating to homeless students; works as a team member to develop intervention strategies.
  • Provides case management; monitors student progress; and makes referrals.
  • Assesses students identified as homeless and makes visits to shelters/living areas to assess the family environment.
  • Collaborates with school staff to develop interventions for students identified as homeless and develops individualized service plans.
  • Implements case management services (including individual counseling); monitors student/family progress and status; and makes referrals to other professional staff members or community agencies as needed.
  • Serves as a liaison between schools and such agencies/facilities as homeless shelters (DHS, HRA, social services, court services to coordinate assistance for homeless students.
  • Provides families with information related to the needs of their child and acts as a resource to parents/guardians by providing family support activities and communicating available services.
  • Acts as a resource to school-based administrators, guidance counselors, teachers, and health services personnel regarding homeless students, interpretation of homeless/school attendance policies and laws, and record-keeping requirements.
  • Acts as a resource to school staff and conducts training to school staff on school laws including McKinney Vento Act, Chancellors Regulation's as it relates to the homeless student population; and recommends strategies for supporting the needs of these students.
  • Maintains necessary records ensuring confidentiality of students and their families and prepares related reports.
  • Models' nondiscriminatory practices in all activities.
  • High school

ABA Therapist

Emilias Kids-Center
12.2021 - 12.2024
  • Conduct one-on-one therapy sessions to improve communication, social skills, and adaptive behaviors.
  • Create and implementing individualized treatment plans tailored to the needs and goals of each client.
  • Collect data on client progress and behavior, using this information to adjust therapy techniques as necessary.
  • Collaborate with other professionals, speech therapists or occupational therapists, to provide a comprehensive care plan.
  • Assessing and analyzing behavior, developing, and implementing treatment plans, and monitoring progress.
  • Provide training and support to caregivers to ensure consistency and effectiveness of interventions outside of therapy sessions
  • Bright Future for the Children

Program Director

U.R.I.
03.2017 - 03.2019
  • Responsible for assisting with implementing homeless programs and maintain general overview of assigned site.
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state and local regulations as well as agency and program policies.
  • Develop, implement and maintain consistent policies and practices regarding program management, client services and other agency protocols.
  • Ensure entry into DHS CARES system of ongoing service delivery.
  • Work with program staff and evaluation staff to build and develop best practices.
  • Hire, train and supervise staff as needed.
  • Ensure that staff receives ongoing training in assessing risks and needs, identifying and reporting child abuse, and neglect, effective case management, strategies and evidence-based/evidence-informed approaches, such as motivational interviewing.
  • Monitor program budget, account for spending, and provide necessary financial documentation.
  • Review and revise shelter policies and protocols as needed.

Social Work Supervisor

U.R.I.
04.2016 - 03.2017
  • Responsible for clinical supervision of Case Managers, Housing Specialist and Overnight Supervisor.
  • Provided administrative and group supervision, Chairs case conference meetings and ensures the coordination and monitoring of service plan implementation.
  • Evaluated mental health status of residents on admission and provides brief psychotherapy and referrals as needed.
  • Attended consortium meetings, e.g., with DHS, DOE and others pertaining to service delivery.
  • Ensured compliance with DHS outcome measures regarding placements, long term stayers, placement retention, facility standards, as well as URI's performance and quality assurance measurements.
  • Oversaw day-to-day smooth functioning of a 32 bed Homeless shelter, including intake, crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling and group support, community-building, conflict mediation, and transition support for life after shelter.
  • Functioned as a member of agency's senior management team.
  • Maintained excellent shelter records, track outcomes, generate reports monthly.

Education

Master of Social Work -

Adelphi University
Garden City, NY
01.2006

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

York College
Jamaica, NY
01.2002

Skills

  • Counseling: Individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, emotional support
  • Assessment: Behavioral assessments, risk assessments, and academic performance evaluations
  • Cultural Competency: Providing services to diverse populations and promoting inclusivity
  • Communication: Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
  • Collaboration: Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team to address student needs
  • Case Management: Developing treatment plans, monitoring student progress, coordination with parents, teachers, and external agencies

Certification

  • School Social Worker Permanent Certification, LMSW, Restorative Circles, DESSA, NYU Certificate in Leadership: Managing Change in Primary and Behavioral Health Settings, Big Brothers and Big Sisters Certified Mentoring Supervisor, Non-violent Crises Prevention & Intervention
  • Evidence Base Practices: Trauma Informed Focus, Social Emotional Learning Theory, Motivational Interviewing, Person Centered Approach, Stages of Change- Rehab and Recovery Model, CPR

Timeline

School Social Worker

NYC D.O.E.
09.2022 - Current

ABA Therapist

Emilias Kids-Center
12.2021 - 12.2024

Bridging the Gap School Social Worker (STH)

NYC D.O.E.
03.2019 - Current

Program Director

U.R.I.
03.2017 - 03.2019

Social Work Supervisor

U.R.I.
04.2016 - 03.2017

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

York College

Master of Social Work -

Adelphi University