Carla DeLara
Plainfield,USA
Summary
Criminal Justice and Sociology informed professional who is seeking a role in social services.
Experienced advocate skilled in supporting families and fostering positive outcomes. Strong focus on collaboration, adaptability, and achieving results. Expertise in conflict resolution, resource coordination, and empathetic communication. Reliable and flexible, consistently meeting evolving needs of clients and team members.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Family Advocate
Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet
Joliet, IL
07.2025 - Current
- Developed and implemented family support programs to enhance client engagement and satisfaction.
- Provided crisis intervention services, ensuring families received immediate assistance and resources.
- Conducted needs assessments to identify barriers faced by families, leading to tailored support strategies.
- Analyzed program outcomes, driving improvements based on feedback from families and service providers.
- Empowered families by providing them with tools and resources needed to make informed decisions about their futures.
- Identified available community resources and programs for families of disabled children.
- Built trusting relationships with clients through active listening, empathy, and cultural sensitivity during interactions at work or home visits.
- Maintained timely documentation of case progress, ensuring clear communication among all involved parties.
Police Officer
Joliet Police Department
07.2024 - 05.2025
- Protects life and property through the enforcement of laws & regulations; Proactively patrols assigned areas
- Responds to calls for police service
- Conducts preliminary & follow-up criminal and traffic investigations
- Conducts interviews
- Prepares written reports and field notes of investigations and patrol activities
- Arrest and processes criminals
- Testifies in court
- Emergency duties required during adverse weather conditions
- Ability to exercise judgment in determining when to use force and to what degree
- Operate a law enforcement vehicle under emergency conditions day or night
- Comprehending legal documents including citations, affidavits, warrants and other documents.
- Commanding emergency personnel at accident emergencies and disasters
- Takes an active role in community-oriented policing on campus
- Self initiate traffic and/or criminal investigations.
Family Support Specialist
Family Focus
01.2022 - 07.2024
- Complete initial contact to referred families.
- Engage with the family in an effort to develop appropriate / necessary recommendations for future success.
- Provide necessary community resources and support system development.
- Present parenting instruction as required.
- Provide coaching, skill application and mentoring.
- Participate in case conferences, school conferences and court appearances with the family as requested.
- Provide family advocacy as needed.
- Provide case management and coordination with the Case Manager.
- Participate in ongoing assessment and evaluation of the family’s goals.
Cashier
Central DuPage Hospital
08.2019 - 01.2022
- Handle cash, credit, or check transactions with customers
- Scan goods and collect payments
- Ensure pricing is correct
- Issue change, receipts, refunds, or tickets
- Redeem stamps and coupons
- Count money in cash drawers at the beginning and end of shifts to ensure that amounts are correct and that there is adequate change
- Make sales referrals, cross-sell products, and introduce new ones
- Resolve customer complaints, guide them, and provide relevant information
- Bag items carefully
- Greet customers when entering or leaving establishment
- Maintain clean and tidy checkout areas
- Keep reports of transactions
- Process returns and check to see if items are damaged
- Answer customers' questions and get a manager if answer doesn't solve the issue
- Bag, box, or wrap packages
- Provide excellent customer service to ensure satisfaction
Line Server
Qdoba Mexican Eats
12.2016 - 08.2019
- Taking orders and serving food: Accurately and efficiently fulfilling customer orders.
- Providing positive customer interactions: Creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.
- Resolving customer issues: Cooperating with management to address any customer concerns.
- Preparing food according to recipes: Following standardized procedures and instructions to ensure consistent food quality.
- Maintaining food safety: Adhering to food safety protocols and guidelines.
- Ensuring accurate portion sizes: Following portion control guidelines to minimize waste and ensure customer satisfaction.
- Keeping workstations clean: Maintaining a clean and organized workspace throughout the shift.
- Assisting with cleaning and restocking: Participating in daily and weekly cleaning tasks and restocking supplies.
- Following inventory procedures: Helping to manage inventory and ensure proper food storage and rotation.
- Cash handling: Accurately handling cash transactions and providing change.
- Assisting with training: Helping train new team members on basic duties and procedures.
- Balancing short ticket times with cleaning tasks: Ensuring a clean and safe working environment while serving customers efficiently.
Education
Associate of Arts -
College of DuPage
12-2019
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice, Sociology
Benedictine University
05-2022
Skills
- Community resources
- Multicultural sensitivity
- Effective communication
- Case management
- Family advocacy
- Child development
- Crisis intervention strategies
- Case tracking and follow up
- Relationships and rapport
- Relationship building
- Family needs assessments
- Family services
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Family Advocate
Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet
07.2025 - Current
Police Officer
Joliet Police Department
07.2024 - 05.2025
Family Support Specialist
Family Focus
01.2022 - 07.2024
Cashier
Central DuPage Hospital
08.2019 - 01.2022
Line Server
Qdoba Mexican Eats
12.2016 - 08.2019
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice, Sociology
Benedictine University
Associate of Arts -
College of DuPage