Brandon P. Chojnacki

Services Specialist's utilize child welfare practice skills to ensure children are protected from abuse and neglect. When child abuse or neglect is indicated, specialists work closely with families and the legal system toward a goal of reunification, independent living, or other permanent living situation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assess allegations of child abuse or neglect and taking necessary steps to protect children. (This could mean removing a child from a family.)
• Complete investigative tasks such as background checks and interviews.
• Develope working relationships with people who strongly dislike DHHS because of their personal history or the reputation of child protective agencies in general.
• Learn about cultures, traditions, and lifestyles different from your own and developing cultural competencies to understand how to determine child safety and well-being within that context.
• Comprehend the impact of historical trauma, and observing protocols of differing cultures.
• Maintain objectivity and empathy for families living in stressful situations.
• Prepare comprehensive and accurate court report and documents. Testifying in court, including defending your actions which will be questioned by defense attorneys and other parties to the case.
• Work under deadlines that require prioritizing efforts with constant pressure created by the nature and volume of the cases, documentation and working flexible hours.
• Recommend long-term residential treatment, short-term residential treatment and individualized and group drug counseling for clients with substance abuse issues.
• Deliver comprehensive therapeutic services to children, adolescents and adults to support child welfare and prevention services.
• 40+ hrs/week

• Working 12 hour shifts along with the deputies, experiencing everything they would in their shift such as: community policing, traffic stops and patrol, inmate transfers, jail booking, domestic assault calls, shoplifting calls, car accidents, and etc.
• Sorted and organized files, spreadsheets and reports.
• Completed my own police reports to meet internship requirements.
• 40-50 hrs/week

• Landscaper; Custom Landscaping: Tree Planting, Tree Removal, Boulder Walls, Paver Patios, Demolition, Beaches, Top Soil, Grass Seed, and Snow Removal.
• 45-60 hrs/week.

• Worked the sales floor in many different departments; helped lead a team of associates (4-8 people) in stock room for truck unloading, and completed stock room organization and item based maintenance.
• 30-40 hrs/week.