Cassandra Sanders
Pittsburg,California
Summary
Human services professional with over 7 years experience with Sacramento County. Also have experience with Louisiana State Department of Children and Family Services, and the Children’s Coalition. A cumulative of 14 years in general office, and over 10 years of experience with caregiving. Verified history of engaging customers, clients, and coworkers and infusing the work environment with positivity and a can-do, go-to energy. Ability to deescalate difficult situations with staff, customers and coworkers utilizing diplomatic conflict resolution techniques. Level-headed and calm in emergency situations. Ability to work in a team and as an individual with little to no supervision. Has supervised up to seven staff and worked with one on one with customers, families, community partners,and with other diverse groups effectively. Compose routine business communications, reports, and other written materials in a clear, concise, organized, and accurate manner. Interpret public social services programs to clients as well as the general public.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Substance Abuse Intake Coordinator
People United
Monroe, LA
10.2023 - 05.2024
- Triage new clients based on presenting mental health and/or substance use disorder symptoms
- Conduct appropriate behavioral health screenings, including suicide, homicide (when indicated) and adapted ASAM
- Conduct crisis work and ensure safety
- Provided drug screenings
- Document all interaction in a succinct, clinical manner in the designated database
- Created treatment plans
- Request medicaid coverage from health care insurance providers for IOP
- Provided certified parenting education
- Problem solves technical issues
- Effectively communicated with upper-level management when needed.
- Provided education about available services, benefits, rights, responsibilities, risks and benefits of treatment options.
- Answered incoming calls and provided highest level of professionalism and knowledgeable service to every customer.
Program Director
Children’s Coalition of NELA
Monroe, LA
08.2022 - 10.2023
- Oversee the day-to-day of the Family Resource Center operations focused on the health and wellbeing of children and families in northeast Louisiana
- Provides and support the Family Resource Center staff in provision of information/referral services and follow-up primarily to families with children aged 0 – 19
- Supports case management for families in need including long-term goal setting and monitoring of those goals
- Provides parent support and education classes on topics such as parenting, school expectations, literacy, health, and the five protective and promotive factors
- Evaluates home visitation, advocacy, and language interpretation support as warranted
- Supervise maintenance of accurate and confidential client files and data tracking using required systems while complying with contractual expectations, ethical and legal standards of practice and confidentiality, and HIPAA and FERPA requirements as appropriate
- Oversee the implementation of the program-adopted screening tools for parents and children
- Maintain effective communication with families and staff; develop and issue communications
- Ensure contractual expectations and program targets are met
- Oversee quality controls for program including monitoring program outcomes, evaluating program effectiveness, and staying current with research in the field
- Work closely with the Department of Children and Family Services to be knowledgeable about the social services, health, and parent education opportunities available to our community and how to access and coordinate them
- Assist with budget development and management
- Oversee contract compliance and report program data and outcomes to funders as appropriate
- Train staff as appropriate and evaluate employees
- Maintain confidentiality and ensure privacy in communications about children, families, and staff and colleagues
- Contribute to team effort and meet regularly with community partners to plan and monitor implementation of initiatives and ensure integration of program operations
- Provided in-service’s to the community agencies and community partners.
- Communicated effectively with clients via phone, email or face-to-face meetings.
Child Welfare Specialist 2 – FosterCare
State of Louisiana, Department of Children and Family Services
Monroe, LA
04.2020 - 08.2022
- Participates in developing case plans and objectives in family team conferences and agency staffings, and prepares cases for presentation to the multi-disciplinary team for consultation
- Interviews clients and families and composes correspondence to compile social histories and psychosocial assessments
- Develop and maintain accurate client records
- Perform quarterly staffing with supervisor and upper level management
- Attend monthly and weekly trainings to stay up to date on policy and procedures
- Maintain professionalism in line with agency and program policies and procedures
- Maintain high level of confidentiality as it relates to clients, personnel, the agency & all records/documents
- Provides supportive counseling and other supportive services for clients and arranges for the provision of services from community resources based on the case plan
- Prepares and submits appropriate reports to the court and the district attorney on cases in compliance with state laws and agency policy, prepares and submits necessary affidavits, and testifies in court proceedings
- Provide feedback and updates to parents during and after family visits
- Conducts regular home visits to assess safety factors and works with the family toward reunification or some other permanent placement for the child
- Searches for relatives and locates, selects, and oversees the most appropriate placement or change of placement for a child.
Human Services Specialist – Specialized Continuing, Intake, and Welfare to Work
County of Sacramento Department of Human Assistance
Sacramento, CA
03.2013 - 04.2020
- Interview customers in emergency situations and gather all pertinent documentation
- Contact multiple agencies in and out of state in regards to eligibility
- Present expectations and guidelines clearly and effectively to families with potential eligibility
- Determine eligibility for multiple programs and program combinations with Sacramento County
- Utilize judgment and decision-making skills in regard to making agency referrals to new applicants
- Schedule appointments, relay complicated regulations to the public in a professional manner and accept emergency drop-in customers on a daily basis
- Provide public social services to customers and facilitate self-sufficiency and employment
- Refer customers to community resources for services such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance
- Work effectively with many lifestyles and different attitudes
- Work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing
- Identify barriers, issues, and make the appropriate referrals and/or complete case actions
- Complete case management activities in a timely manner such as renewals, semi-annual reports (SARs), add a person/baby, update information, process SMART alerts, case alerts, overpayments, and time on aid assessments
- Answer phones in high-volume call environment; return any messages well within prescribed timeframes.
Human Services Specialist – Black Child Legacy Campaign
County of Sacramento Department of Human Assistance
Sacramento, CA
01.2018 - 07.2019
- Provide CalWORKs case management for families including those identified by the inter-agency team as needing work as part of the Multidisciplinary team in an effort to reduce the amount of African American Child Deaths within a small timeframe
- Participate in Multidisciplinary (MDT) meetings as needed to assist families with their housing, food, and other benefits DHA can provide
- Coordinate with the inter-agency team members to provide services to families
- Assist partners with understanding CalWORKs rules, regulations/eligibility information to the inter-agency team, community partners, and the public
- Facilitate crisis intervention services and psychosocial assessments to address the needs of African Americans aged 0-18 years
- Effectively utilize community resources and served in weekly community meetings and bimonthly partners meetings
- Delivered strategic measures to aid at-risk youth and their families and the development of individuals experiencing a crisis and provide solutions for management and intervention
- Evaluates the needs of clients and helps them determine immediate and long-term goals
- Consoled grieving families
- Administered home visitations to better assist customers and their needs
- Supported clients in their adjustment to life changes such as illness and unemployment
- Connected clients with services provided by community partners and also services offered by the Department of Human Assistance.
Education
Masters in Adult Education and Training -
University of Phoenix
01.2022
Human Service Management, Bachelor of Arts -
University of Phoenix
03.2012
Social Work, Associate of Science -
Fresno City College
05.2009
Skills
- Supervision
- Presentation
- Needs Assessment
- Active Listening
- Effective Communication
- Data Entry
- Interviewing
- Eligibility
- Records & Reporting
- Rapport Building
- Community Resources
- Networking
- Training
- Customer Service
- Organizational Skills
- Case Management
- Crisis Intervention
- CPR and First Aid
- Documentation
- Microsoft Word
- Excel
- Outlook
- Triage
- Decision-Making
- Interpersonal Skills
- Adaptability
- Time Management
- Conflict Resolution
- Cooperation
- Mentorship
- Positivity
- Willingness to Learn
- Multi-line phone operations
- Appointment Scheduling
- Charting and clinical documentation
Professional Highlights
- Held a Treasurer (volunteer) position with a local Sacramento, California club that networks with other clubs and resources to build up the community by combating homelessness and hunger.
- Liaison for Black Child Legacy Campaign and Birth and Beyond.
- Receive a steady stream of compliments from customers and co-workers for professionalism, empathetic and timely communication, and through casework.
- A member of the Family Resource Center of Louisiana which aids in the reduction of Child Abuse and Neglect.
Personal Information
Title: Human service specialist
Timeline
Substance Abuse Intake Coordinator
People United
10.2023 - 05.2024
Program Director
Children’s Coalition of NELA
08.2022 - 10.2023
Child Welfare Specialist 2 – FosterCare
State of Louisiana, Department of Children and Family Services
04.2020 - 08.2022
Human Services Specialist – Black Child Legacy Campaign
County of Sacramento Department of Human Assistance
01.2018 - 07.2019
Human Services Specialist – Specialized Continuing, Intake, and Welfare to Work
County of Sacramento Department of Human Assistance
03.2013 - 04.2020
Masters in Adult Education and Training -
University of Phoenix
Human Service Management, Bachelor of Arts -
University of Phoenix
Social Work, Associate of Science -
Fresno City College
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