Contessa Mendoza
Bend
Summary
To provide a vital, professional, and effective service to the community.
As an experienced social services professional with strong commitment to improving individual and community well-being, I have acquired strong skills with direct client support, crisis intervention, advocacy, and case management. I utilize effective communication and empathy to build trust and provide guidance. I have a track record of positive outcomes in family strengthening and child safety.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Founder CEO
A Family’s Heart
03.2024 - Current
- Founder CEO of professional supervised visitation for parents court ordered to have monitored visits with their children.
Property Inspector
Hummingbird Property Management
12.2023 - Current
- Conducted thorough inspections of residential properties to assess condition and compliance with regulations.
- Identified areas requiring maintenance or repair, providing actionable recommendations to property management teams.
- Developed inspection reports, documenting findings and suggesting improvements for property management efficiency.
Advisor
Latinos United For America
06.2020 - Current
- I serve as an advisor to the organization involved in event planning, recruiting and coordinating speakers, public speaking, media interviews, education and information planning, and oversight of community events.
Associate Pastor
Dayspring Church
04.2016 - 01.2021
- I served the ministerial needs of a diverse congregation including director in charge of coordinating mid-week services, planning and conducting prayer and worship services, church administration, preaching and teaching, pastoral counseling, event planning and coordination, volunteer recruitment, coordination, and supervision, public promotion and marketing, written and verbal communication.
Social Worker, Investigator
Children's Law Center
05.2002 - 01.2021
- Advocacy and representation of clients who are children in the foster care system. The focus of my work as an SWI is assessing the needs and development of children ages 0-18+ along with the families that care for them for the purpose of effective representation in the court process. Investigators focus on field work – visiting and/or communication with clients, caregivers, and other involved parties in order to assist the attorney in advocating on the case. Duties include the documentation of field/visit notes, which may involve the observation of the child’s current living situation, evaluation for needed services, identification of services available in the community, assisting attorneys with client interviews, attendance at Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings, placement staffings, hospital screenings, hospital discharge teleconferences, Regional Center conferences, delinquency court proceedings and conferences, treatment team meetings, and a variety of other client related meetings and conferences. In addition, we are also called upon to provide witness testimony in dependency court proceedings on our client's behalf and act as a liaison on the client's behalf in the acquisition of resources and services for children and families. This position affords the ability for client/attorney privilege, on which a positive successful relationship is the result of rapport building and effective advocacy skills. We are faced with varying circumstances with every client/family contact which calls for a vast repertoire of relationship building skills, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, and interpersonal skills.
- I also served as a member of the CSEC team which specializes in commercially and sexually exploited minors and the PPT team- pregnant and parenting teens.
Education
Ministry Certification -
Ministry Training Institute
Bend, OrMinistry Certification - Theology
Angelus Bible Institute
Los Angeles, CaBachelor of Arts - Psychology
California State University
Northridge, CA06.1999
Skills
- Advocacy
- Documentation and report writing
- observation and assessment
- interview and advisement
- crisis intervention and conflict resolution
- multi team planning and collaboration
- bilingual Spanish
- excellent written and verbal communication
- community outreach/engagement
- event organization
- public speaking
- mediation
Certification
- Supervised Visitation Provider and Employer Training April 2024
- Peer Support Specialist Certification November 2023
Languages
I am also bilingual- Spanish/English.
Timeline
Founder CEO
A Family’s Heart
03.2024 - Current
Property Inspector
Hummingbird Property Management
12.2023 - Current
Advisor
Latinos United For America
06.2020 - Current
Associate Pastor
Dayspring Church
04.2016 - 01.2021
Social Worker, Investigator
Children's Law Center
05.2002 - 01.2021
Ministry Certification - Theology
Angelus Bible Institute
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
California State University
Ministry Certification -
Ministry Training Institute