Becky Sierra Tijerina
Hereford,USA
Summary
Dedicated Social Worker offering nineteen years of counseling and crisis intervention expertise. Offering comprehensive background in social services, mental health and substance use as well as strong interpersonal, organizational and computer skills. Builds client rapport and assesses needs to provide appropriate resources. Superb social worker strongly emphasizing domestic violence education and prevention. Extensive experience in family therapy, substance abuse prevention and parent-child conflict resolution. Hardworking and passionate with strong organizational skills eager to secure Master Social Worker or Mental Health Counseling position who is eligible and working towards licensure for LMSW. Ready to help team achieve company goals. Motivated Social Worker with comprehensive knowledge of social justice issues and systems affecting marginalized communities. Passionate about developing and facilitating programs to support communities in need. Collaborative and analytical advocate builds strategic partnerships, advocate for clients and advance change for communities in need. Knowledgeable of Amarillo and rural areas of community resources for multiple populations for children, families, elderly, disabled persons, and homeless population.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Behavioral Health Therapist, Master Social Worker
01.2024 - Current
- Minimum supervision in leadership role utilizing problem solving skills, collaborating with all members of treatment team in assessment of patient needs related to discharge planning and coordinating interventions with other members of the treatment team to meet the needs in a quality cost effective manner
- Completed psychosocial assessments to identify and seek to address patient needs
- Developed and implemented intensive individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior and other psychosocial issues
- Facilitated daily counseling groups of individuals
- Scheduled family counseling to bring awareness of problems, deal with crisis situations and develop action plans
- Determined if non-progressing clients should continue to be counseled or referred to other specialists
- Conducted thorough discharge planning processes, ensuring a solid foundation for client success following the termination of therapy services
- Interviewing, assessing individuals through Intake office when in crisis situations, screening for inpatient or outpatient referrals
- Communicating with psychiatrist or behavioral health nurse practitioner for their recommendations or diagnosis if admitting
- Contacting law enforcement officials when needed if patient should be considered for an involuntary status admission
- Providing individuals and their families with resources
- Providing unit nurse with report of new patient admission and assisting patients with completion of inpatient paperwork along with guiding them through the admission process
Child Protective Investigations
Texas Department of Family & Protective Services
04.2018 - 01.2024
- Investigating reports of abuse, neglect, sex or labor trafficking of children
- Responding quickly in crisis situations involving children who may be in an abusive or neglectful situation including dangerous situations
- Conducting forensic investigations of reports of abuse/neglect to children to determine if abuse or neglect occurred
- Conducting assessments to determine the current or future risk of harm to children
- Observing children for signs of any harm and assess the signs to determine if they are the result of abuse or neglect involving children with serious injuries and child fatalities
- Interviews people in each case such as the parents, caregivers, person who reports the concern, family members, and others familiar with the family situation
- Communicating with other professionals including medical staff, teachers, law enforcement, attorney's, etc., regarding the case
- Assessing child safety and takes the necessary actions to protect the child as appropriate including removing a child from their family
- Talking frankly and objectively with families about matters they may consider personal and private, such as parenting decisions and actions, sexual abuse, income, money management, and personal relationships
- Determining action to be taken to remove or to reduce an immediate threat to the safety of a child to include working with families to identify family members who can assist with keeping the child safe, testifying in court to seek emergency protective services, placing children in substitute care, referring family for immediate crisis intervention therapy or other community resources
- Documenting all relevant and appropriate information gathered during the investigation and completes all required forms accurately and in a timely manner
- Gathering family and kinship information to support the child in a placement, should the child be placed in DFPS custody
- Participating in a regular on-call rotation that requires response to situations of abuse/neglect after normal business hours including overnight and weekend
- Developing and maintains effective working relationships with law enforcement officials, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and the community
- Works under constant deadlines that require prioritizing tasks and the ability to work flexible hours
- Maintaining a balance of objectivity and empathy for families living in stressful and crisis situations
- Attending and participates in training/meetings/staffing's
- Performing other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations
- Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers and all work-related contacts
- Attending work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy
- Reliable motor vehicle and acceptable driving record for the past 30 years and a current, valid Texas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load
- Conducted in-depth assessments to determine if children were safe from harm and abuse at home
- Interviewed children, members of families, medical personnel and law enforcement to gain valuable information for each case
- Documented all relevant information by filling out forms and completing case reports
- Devised and implemented safety plans for children suspected as victims of abuse or neglect
- Remained objective in handling each case, especially when children and families were in high-stress situations
- Assessed each child's unique needs and coordinated delivery of appropriate services and resources
- Collaborated with school personnel, parents and mental health providers to maintain comprehensive and integrated approach to student services
- 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
Adult Protective Services
Texas Department of Family & Protective Services
11.2005 - 04.2018
- Investigated reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of elderly or disabled adults
- Assessed the urgency of the problem by interviewing clients, family members & others
- Gathered social, functional, physical and mental-emotional information for evaluation
- Provided case working services including making referrals, exploring resources
- Maintained after normal working hours including weekends for 24-hour coverage of on call for receiving reports of alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation
- Determined temporary or long-term action to be taken to remove or lessen an immediate threat to the life or health of an adult protective services client
- Provided counseling clients and caregivers along with providing information such as referral services
- Staffed cases with Program Administrators, Supervisors and legal team in cases of removing the client from their situations and homes
- Created Affidavit's in cases of a warranted removal
- Testified in court to seek emergency protective services
- Searched for alternate housing when necessary, and provided on-going services
- Developed individualized service plans to meet the needs of the adult protective services client
- Maintained detailed documentation on each case within 24 hours of making contact with the client
- Gave presentations for community awareness and participated in activities to inform the public about the program
- Served in lead capacity in absence of supervisor
- Performed other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations
Education
Bachelor of General Studies -
West Texas A&M University
Master of Social Work - Mental Health And Substance Use
University of Texas @Arlington
Skills
- Mental Health
- Substance Use
- Bilingual (Spanish)
Timeline
Behavioral Health Therapist, Master Social Worker
01.2024 - Current
Child Protective Investigations
Texas Department of Family & Protective Services
04.2018 - 01.2024
Adult Protective Services
Texas Department of Family & Protective Services
11.2005 - 04.2018
Master of Social Work - Mental Health And Substance Use
University of Texas @Arlington
Bachelor of General Studies -
West Texas A&M University
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