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
Shawnee Mission, KS
08.2017 - 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
Overland Park, KS
08.2015 - 07.2017
- 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
Grandview, MO
10.2014 - 08.2015
- 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
Grandview, MO
10.2006 - 05.2012
- 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
Kansas City, KS
08.2005 - 10.2006
- 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
Kenya
01.2004 - 04.2005
- 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
Omaha, NE
09.2002 - 09.2003
- 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
Kansas City, MO
10.2001 - 07.2002
- 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
Omaha, NE
08.2000 - 08.2001
- 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, NE2001
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
08.2017 - Current
Residential Therapist
Marillac
08.2015 - 07.2017
Family Resource Specialist
Spofford Home
10.2014 - 08.2015
Primary Therapist
Spofford Home
10.2006 - 05.2012
Aftercare Therapist
KVC Behavioral Healthcare
08.2005 - 10.2006
Missionary Social Worker
Kids Alive International, Kids Alive Kenya
01.2004 - 04.2005
Residential & Home-based Therapist
Camelot Care Centers Inc
09.2002 - 09.2003
Therapist
Gillis
10.2001 - 07.2002
Residential Rehabilitation Specialist
Community Alliance
08.2000 - 08.2001
Master of Social Work - Social Work
Univ. of Nebraska at Omaha
BS - Psychology
John Brown University