Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Benita C. Asher

Summary

Experienced Social Worker with a history working with a diverse population, including those with mental health issues, survivors of intimate partner violence, learning problems and substance use. Providing 26 years of intense case management services also crisis intervention, medical social work, assisting with obtaining inpatient substance\mental health treatment and safe housing for domestic violence survivors. Skilled in writing reports, updating records and handling simultaneous tasks in fast-paced settings.

Provided Case Management in a 358 bed acute care hospital during MSW practicum to rehab patients. Completed psychosocial assessments and casements on all rehabilitation patients and assisted with aftercare/discharge planning. Also, provided case management and counseling to individuals at a Domestic Violence in house facility.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Targeted Assessment Specialist

University Of Kentucky
, KY
03.2008 - Current
  • Conducts holistic assessment, referral, pre-treatment, service coordination/ intensive case management, and follow-up services focused on identifying and addressing substance use problems, mental health problems, intimate partner violence victimization, and learning disabilities/deficits, as well as other barriers impacting families
  • Pre-treatment services help minimize internal barriers and prepare participants for engagement and retention in services
  • Provides case coordination/intensive case management to facilitate engagement and improve access to recommended services and resources
  • Case coordination\intensive case management - assists with resolving external barriers such as connecting individuals with community services for transportation, treatment, appointments, food, housing, utilities, and childcare
  • Also it involves teaching individuals to advocate for themselves
  • Caseload varies from 27 to 52 participants at a time
  • With trauma-informed comprehensive assessment, strengths-based intensive case management, pre-treatment services, and follow-up, assisting families in overcoming barriers to self-sufficiency
  • Established and maintains multidisciplinary advisory councils and other community collaboration groups to assist in program planning, identifying, and addressing systemic service gaps, and ensuring efficiency and continuous improvement
  • Comprehensive assessment and intensive case management services
  • Assist participants overcome barriers to self-sufficiency and family safety by focusing on (1) mental health, (2) substance use, (3) intimate partner violence, and (4) learning disabilities or deficits
  • Provides motivational interviewing and strengths-based intensive case management, prepare participants for treatment, refer them to community-based services and treatment programs, and facilitate their follow through with referrals and services
  • In addition, helps participants remove structural barriers to engagement, which may include lack of childcare, transportation, food, clothing, housing, utilities, and medical care
  • Further provided pre-treatment services to prepare and motivate participants to follow through with referrals and immediate referrals for those who are ready
  • Participant advocates on behalf of participants to other service providers
  • End of each case provides aftercare\discharge planning for participant being served so they are able to meet their own needs effectively and have their basic needs met independently., Healthcare, 358-bed, acute-care hospital:
  • Duties: Completed psychosocial assessments and case management on all rehabilitation patients and assisted with aftercare\discharge plans
  • Performed assessments to obtain information on home environment, family relationships, health history, and patients' personality traits
  • Evaluated data gathered for medical plan of treatment, available social service programs, and knowledge of casework or group work and devise pertinent therapy programs to provide maximum benefits
  • Assists patients and/or families through various conferences to understand, accept and follow medical recommendations and instructions
  • Acts as patient advocate and participates in conferences on behalf of patients with other hospital personnel and community agencies
  • Provides advisory services on social problems, arranges for discharge or postoperative care at home or in institutions
  • Provides and coordinates discharge planning and follow-up to assure continuity of care
  • Provides counseling services to attempt to alleviate anxieties and/or fears concerning disabilities, disfiguring illnesses, or uncertain future and to assist the patient in returning to community life
  • Furnishes advice on financial assistance to patients or families during illnesses
  • Individuals served daily were 10 to 15.

Child Protective Services Clinician

Cabinet For Health And Family Services
, KY
02.1997 - 03.2008
  • Conducted in home and out of home child protective services (CPS) including but not limited to on-going services and cps investigations for neglect and abuse
  • Continuous assessment for maltreatment of vulnerable population (children and adults)
  • Case management services to assist family in making sure their basic needs are met on daily basis
  • Investigated reports of child neglect and abuse, child fatalities\near fatalities, schools, long term care facilities, day cares, school staff as well as other social workers
  • Participated in multi-disciplinary teams for domestic violence, adult, and youth fatalities as well as continuous assessment of family’s needs
  • Filing petitions requesting court intervention to ensure safety of vulnerable
  • Also, providing ongoing case management services to assist individuals with medical appointments, housing, food, as well as finding support services in community
  • Caseload varied from 30 to 60 families at a time.

Education

Master of Social Work -

University of Kentucky
2009

Bachelor of Science - Major Police Admin, Minors in Corr And Psychology

Eastern Kentucky University
1995

Skills

  • Uses Daily: Outlook 365, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel,
  • Typing and inputting case information, accessing community resources
  • Familiar with completing Power Points,
  • Implemented and chaired Zoom and face to face advisory council meetings,
  • Took part in multidisciplinary teams
  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills with participants served, community partners and professional community
  • Currently obtaining Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification from American Heart Association

Certification

BLS Certified through American Heart Association

March 21, 2023

Timeline

Targeted Assessment Specialist

University Of Kentucky
03.2008 - Current

Child Protective Services Clinician

Cabinet For Health And Family Services
02.1997 - 03.2008

Master of Social Work -

University of Kentucky

Bachelor of Science - Major Police Admin, Minors in Corr And Psychology

Eastern Kentucky University
Benita C. Asher