Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Bobette Sawka

Shawnee,KS

Summary

People-oriented and calm under stress as skilled Social Worker focused on helping students, staff, and families. Implements successful behavior and crisis plans based on evidence-based practices and strong relationship building skills. Flexible clinician comfortable administering individual and group therapy sessions.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Therapist

Arrowhead Therapeutic Day School
2017.08 - Current
  • Provide case management services, counseling, education and life-skills training to diverse, at-risk student population in a K-12 therapeutic day school where all students are identified as SPED.
  • Support students, teachers and families during crisis situations as well as developing proactive plans to reduce crisis.
  • Collaborate with students, teachers, administrators, parents and outside agencies attending IEP meetings as well as assuring families are able to access needed resources.
  • Implemented research-based interventions and strategies to support positive behavior and social-emotional development.
  • Lead weekly individualized and group counseling sessions with students to teach coping, resilience, and life skills as well as documenting sessions, some billed to Medicaid.
  • Provided ongoing Professional Development on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as trauma, neuroscience and related topics. District Equity Practitioner

Residential Therapist

Marillac
2015.08 - 2017.07
  • Residential therapist for adolescents and their families
  • Provided individual and family therapy as well as case management
  • Coordinated with a multidisciplinary team to develop and provide effective treatment
  • Completed assessments, developd treatment plans and completed all documentation including progress notes
  • Completed reviews of treatment as well as frequent reviews with insurance companies and managed care companies to communicate need and plan for services.

Family Resource Specialist

Spofford Home
2014.10 - 2015.08
  • Developed and implemented behavior interventions for students grade 1-6
  • Coordinated student assistance team to develop academic and behavioral strategies for students along with parents and interdisciplinary team
  • Lead psychoeducational groups for students
  • Helped provide or access resources for students and parents
  • Encouraged attendance through parent involvement.

Primary Therapist

Spofford Home
2006.10 - 2012.05
  • Provided individual and family therapy, group therapy, as well as case management in a residential treatment facility for children ages 4-12 and their families
  • Coordinated with a team of family members, residential staff, consulting psychiatrists, community resources, state professionals, and educational resources for the holistic treatment needs of residents and their families
  • Developed treatment plans and completed progress notes and other paperwork as requested from case workers, psychiatrists, and community resources
  • Trained staff, children and volunteers on a variety of topics
  • Assist in training and developing new therapists as well as masters level interns
  • Utilized TFCBT as well as play therapy techniques often with children and families

Aftercare Therapist

KVC Behavioral Healthcare
2005.08 - 2006.10
  • Provided Aftercare Services for children and families as they transitioned home from foster care and provided support for a year after reintegration
  • Taught parenting, coping, and behavior management skills
  • Coordinated services and facilitated communication between families and local mental health centers, schools, court, and SRS
  • Taught families how to connect with community resources.

Missionary Social Worker

Kids Alive International, Kids Alive Kenya
2004.01 - 2005.04
  • Oversaw the community care and social work team in a large community development project including HIV/AIDS awareness, home based care for people living with AIDS, fostering of children, Income Generating Activities (IGAs) to help families support themselves, small-scale agriculture, and developing life skills clubs in community schools
  • Organized and taught various trainings for the child care staff, home managers, teachers, youth, pastors, social workers, and community members
  • Developed a training program and curriculum for the childcare staff at the children's home where I lived
  • Counseled children and staff of the children's home, especially surrounding grief and loss as well as HIV/AIDS
  • Responsible for reporting back to the funding source of the grant and writing proposals for future funding of the program
  • Learned a new culture including language, importance of relationships, gender roles, poverty, corruption, and the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Residential & Home-based Therapist

Camelot Care Centers Inc
2002.09 - 2003.09
  • Intensive in-home therapy with a variety of families, youth, and children in their homes, either keeping them out of or transitioning from residential care
  • Taught families parenting and behavior management skills as well as how to develop natural supports and access community resources
  • Coordinated treatment with psychiatrists, the State of Nebraska, schools, youth programs, and the community, according to the needs of the child and family
  • Developed treatment plans and behavior modification strategies with youth and their families
  • Led therapy groups and training for a variety of ages of children and parents.

Therapist

Gillis
2001.10 - 2002.07
  • In a residential setting for boys ages 6-16 and transitioned them back to their homes or foster homes
  • Counseled parents and families in their homes teaching parenting and behavior management skills as well as how to develop natural supports and access community resources
  • Led psychosocial groups for varied ages of children and youth
  • Developed treatment and behavior plans with the boys and their families
  • Coordinated with psychiatrists, teachers, schools, and other agencies including the State of Missouri to provide continuity of care in all settings.

Residential Rehabilitation Specialist

Community Alliance
2000.08 - 2001.08
  • Supervised chronically mentally ill adults in a residential setting
  • Assisted and taught residents various activities of daily living
  • Assisted and taught residents about their medications and communicating with their psychiatrists
  • Completed daily monitoring reports and quarterly treatment plans and reviews.

Education

Master of Social Work - Social Work

Univ. of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE
2001

BS - Psychology

John Brown University
1996

Skills

  • Individual and Group Therapy
  • Crisis Evaluation and Intervention
  • Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
  • Behavioral Assistance
  • Solution-Based Interventions
  • Verbal and Written Communication
  • Resource Advocacy
  • Case Management
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Certification

  • Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW) in KS and working toward CA license.

Timeline

Therapist

Arrowhead Therapeutic Day School
2017.08 - Current

Residential Therapist

Marillac
2015.08 - 2017.07

Family Resource Specialist

Spofford Home
2014.10 - 2015.08

Primary Therapist

Spofford Home
2006.10 - 2012.05

Aftercare Therapist

KVC Behavioral Healthcare
2005.08 - 2006.10

Missionary Social Worker

Kids Alive International, Kids Alive Kenya
2004.01 - 2005.04

Residential & Home-based Therapist

Camelot Care Centers Inc
2002.09 - 2003.09

Therapist

Gillis
2001.10 - 2002.07

Residential Rehabilitation Specialist

Community Alliance
2000.08 - 2001.08

Master of Social Work - Social Work

Univ. of Nebraska at Omaha

BS - Psychology

John Brown University
  • Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW) in KS and working toward CA license.
Bobette Sawka