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