Catherine Ratuszny
Mastic,New York
Summary
Dedicated Social Worker provides exceptional professional care and implements appropriate interventions. Utilizes variety of resources to identify unique needs and assist vulnerable populations. Adept at establishing strong rapport with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Social Worker
Developmental Disabilities Institute, Adult Day Program
01.2018 - Current
- Facilitates Self-Advocacy Program
- Supervises intake of new adults entering program
- Facilitates group and individual counseling for adults with developmental disabilities, utilizing Person-Centered Therapy
- Works with individuals to cope with and solve everyday problems
- Facilitates formal and informal groups on Socially Acceptable Behaviors
- Advocates for and develops plans to improve clients’ well-being
- Interviews clients and their families to coordinate programs and activities that meet their social and emotional needs
- Provides crisis intervention and assists families in understanding the implications and complexities of their life situation and its impact on their current lifestyle
- Provides employee in-services on Dignity and Respect of Individuals
- Provides employee in-service on staff development
- Participates in high school transition fairs to talk to parents/guardians about alternatives for their child’s next phase in life
- Organizes appropriate trips for adults with developmental disability
- Sexuality Committee member.
- Helped clients develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to drive behavior modification.
- Interviewed clients, families, or groups to assess situations, limitations and issues and implement services to address needs.
- Performed short-term therapy, provided education and responded to crisis situations.
Research Professional
Developmental Disabilities Institute, Young Autism Program
03.2017 - 12.2017
- Responsible for the implementation of child’s IEP/ ISFP and progress towards goals
- Implement outlined behavior treatment plans
- Assist and supervise children in all daily classroom activities
- Work collaboratively with classroom teachers and Interdisciplinary Team.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioral, and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
- Interacted physically and verbally with students throughout each day.
Social Work Intern
South Country High School
10.2015 - 06.2016
- Provided school-based individual counseling for students, specifically focused on anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and body image issues
- Provided at home counseling for medically fragile student
- Co-facilitated group counseling sessions for distinct high school groups
- Contact with outside counselors, Child Protective Services and School Resource Officers
- Attended home visits
- Advocated and researched for student requiring an organ transplant
- Attended Manifestation Hearings
- Experience with suicide assessments
- Assisted in training of peer mentors
- Observed and managed peer mediations
- Developed Needs Assessment Survey for community members
- Assisted in researching and writing Drug Free Communities Grant
- Experience with initial social history interviews and social history update reports
- Attended parent meetings
- Experience with CSE Annual Review meetings
- Observed and provided crisis intervention services
- Provided phone coordination for holiday food basket distribution
- Participated at Response to Intervention (RTI) meetings
- Assisted to resolve conflicts between and among students, as well as between students and teachers
- Experience in phone conversations with parents regarding excessive school absences
- Accessed State Education Database to search for and confirm STAC information (System to Track and Account for Children)
- Interviewed clients to assess needs and determine most suitable needs and services.
- Offered community resource guidance to clients to meet family needs for assistance.
Social Worker Intern
Lighthouse Mission
03.2015 - 08.2015
- Provided resources on housing assistance, emergency shelters, heating and utility assistance, health insurance, and employment opportunities to community members
- Assisted in providing food through Lighthouse Mission’s mobile food pantry
- Assisted in the in-house emergency food pantry
- Assisted with after-school program for students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.
- Interviewed clients to assess needs and determine most suitable needs and services.
ParaProfessional
Moriches Elementary School
09.2008 - 06.2011
- Responsible for the supervision of elementary children in the Cafeteria and on the playground
- Responsible for training new employees
- I was then promoted to Classroom ParaProfessional where I was responsible for the implementation of the classroom curriculum to students in small group settings.
One-on-One Aide
Kramer Learning Center
09.2001 - 06.2003
- Responsible for instructing and accompanying pre-school age children with developmental disabilities in school setting
- Responsible for the implementation of student's IEP services, including the construction of Positive Behavior Plans
- Involved in weekly curriculum design
- Implemented daily curriculum for the Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist and Psychologist.
Education
Master of Social Work (MSW) -
Walden University
Master of Adult Education and Training -
University of Phoenix
Bachelor’s in Health Administration and Long-Term Care -
University of Phoenix
Provisional School Social Work Certification -
03.2018
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Certification -
02.2018
Trained in SCIP-R Techniques -
01.2018
Trained in Positive Behavior Supports -
01.2018
First Aid Certification -
01.2018
Pyramid Model Tier 2: Social/Emotional Literacy Certification -
11.2017
Pyramid Model Tier 2: Friendship Skills Certification -
11.2017
Licensed Master Social Worker -
10.2017
Pyramid Model Tier 1: Promoting Children’s Success: Classroom Design/Schedules/Routines Certification -
05.2017
Pyramid Model Tier 1: Promoting Children’s Success: Transitions/Rules/Expectations Certification -
05.2017
Pyramid Model Tier 1: Promoting Children’s Success: Building Relationships Certification -
05.2017
CPR and AED Certification -
03.2017
Skills
- Treatment Planning
- Clinical Supervision
- Client Advocacy
- Resource Coordination
- Conflict Resolution
Qualifications Summary
Dedicated social worker with a strong commitment to serving disadvantaged youth and adults, including homeless, emancipated youth and developmentally disabled populations
Volunteer Experience
- Camp Wabenaki: Non-Profit Camp for Disadvantaged Youth, Grant Writer and Board Member, 2016-2018
- COMPASS Unity: Drug Abuse School/Community Collaborative Coalition, Secretary, 2015- 2017
- Lighthouse Mission: Mobile Food Pantry, Volunteer, 2013- Present
- Oregon Middle School, Medford NY, PTA President, 2013- 2015
- Eagle Elementary School, Medford NY, PTA President, 2012- 2015
- Special Olympics, Commack NY, Volunteer, 2011- 2012
- Arthritis Walk, Holtsville NY, Volunteer, 2010- 2012
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Great Strides Walk, Holtsville NY, Volunteer, 2008- 2013
- Littlest Lutherans: St. Johns Lutheran Church, Lindenhurst NY, Youth Group Director, 2008- 2010
- Long Island Walk for Breast Cancer, Volunteer, 2007
- St. Johns Lutheran Church, Lindenhurst NY, Sunday School Teacher, 2002- 2005
Certification
- LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Timeline
Social Worker
Developmental Disabilities Institute, Adult Day Program
01.2018 - Current
Research Professional
Developmental Disabilities Institute, Young Autism Program
03.2017 - 12.2017
Social Work Intern
South Country High School
10.2015 - 06.2016
Social Worker Intern
Lighthouse Mission
03.2015 - 08.2015
ParaProfessional
Moriches Elementary School
09.2008 - 06.2011
One-on-One Aide
Kramer Learning Center
09.2001 - 06.2003
Master of Social Work (MSW) -
Walden University
Master of Adult Education and Training -
University of Phoenix
Bachelor’s in Health Administration and Long-Term Care -
University of Phoenix
Provisional School Social Work Certification -
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Certification -
Trained in SCIP-R Techniques -
Trained in Positive Behavior Supports -
First Aid Certification -
Pyramid Model Tier 2: Social/Emotional Literacy Certification -
Pyramid Model Tier 2: Friendship Skills Certification -
Licensed Master Social Worker -
Pyramid Model Tier 1: Promoting Children’s Success: Classroom Design/Schedules/Routines Certification -
Pyramid Model Tier 1: Promoting Children’s Success: Transitions/Rules/Expectations Certification -
Pyramid Model Tier 1: Promoting Children’s Success: Building Relationships Certification -
CPR and AED Certification -
- LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
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