Cynthia Gonzalez
Union City
Summary
To obtain a position in the social service field that will allow me to utilize my education, knowledge, and past experience to better serve the community as well as grow and develop within that agency.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
2000
2000
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Bi-lingual Family Service Specialist I
Division of Child Protection & Permanency
Hackensack
12.2017 - Current
- Perform field and office work to conduct various types of investigations including abuse and/or neglect referrals, problematic family situations, in home supervision, residential placement, and placement supervision; collects, records and analyzes significant facts, draws conclusions, and determines appropriate action; provides treatment counseling services to children in their own home or placement, and to their families; does other related duties.
- Serve as a senior worker/mentor to FSSII workers within the unit and/or office.
Bi-lingual Family Service Specialist II
Division of Child Protection & Permanency
Jersey City
04.2007 - 12.2017
- Perform field and office work to conduct various types of investigations including abuse and/or neglect referrals, problematic family situations, in home supervision, residential placement, and placement supervision; collects, records and analyzes significant facts, draws conclusions, and determines appropriate action; provides treatment counseling services to children in their own home or placement, and to their families; does other related duties.
Addictions Counselor Assistant
Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center
Secaucus
01.2001 - 06.2007
- Work with Patients admitted to the Detoxification unit who are seeking treatment for Alcohol or Heroin dependency.
- Duties include conducting Patient screenings, assist in admission of Patient to unit, conduct ASI (Addiction Severity Index), document all of Pt's symptoms in medical chart as well as provide individual and group counseling.
Case Manager
The Lester Drenk Behavioral Health Center
East Orange
08.2006 - 03.2007
- Schedule medical appointments for all children enrolled in Drenk's Therapeutic Foster Care Program.
- Assist staff with conducting Home Inspections for caregiver applicant homes.
- Assist staff with Interviews and Intakes of children referred to the TFC program.
- Identify community resources.
Home Finding Specialist
Independence: A Family of Services
Irvington
01.2006 - 08.2006
- Recruit Resource Parents, Process Applications and Distribute the NJ State Dep. of Licensing, review all referrals for service, Assist the Division of Youth and Family Services Foster Care Unit place children in IFS Resource homes, Complete contracts of placement in IFS resource homes, Verify funds distributed to IFS from DYFS for payment of resource home service, conduct home inspections, conduct training for resource parents, verify bills and authorize payment to resource families and serve as a direct liaison between IFS, DYFS and the surrounding community.
Family Worker
Independence: A Family of Services
Irvington
05.2005 - 01.2006
- Provide case management to children who are involved with DYFS and the foster care system.
- Complete individual service plans, intakes and Strength and Needs Assessments on all the children in program.
- Complete referrals for services and ensure that caregivers complete all required documentation such as billings and progress notes in compliance with DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services of NJ) regulations.
Care Manager
Hudson Partnership CMO
Secaucus
01.2004 - 05.2005
- Provide care management services to youth that are multi-systems such as DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services of NJ), Juvenile Justice and/or mental health.
- Work with these families to identify natural supports as well as assist them in finding formal supports.
- These supports will be put in place in order to maintain the youth and/or youths in the community as opposed to residential or group home placement.
- Care managers must complete Individual service plans, Strengths and Needs Assessments as well as ensure that all providers receive payment for services via flex funds or Medicaid.
Senior Counselor
Community Education Centers
Newark
08.2002 - 01.2004
- Provide case management and counseling to NJ State prisoners in a TC/Halfway House setting.
- Duties include facilitate lectures, individual and group counseling.
- All senior counselors must complete monthly behavioral evaluations on each client, create treatment plans, and document all interaction.
- All client charts must meet ACA criteria standards.
Health Educator
Horizon Health Center
Jersey City
04.2001 - 07.2002
- Provide Health Education and other related services to urban high school students.
- Duties included individual counseling and case management.
- Facilitate health-related groups such as Pregnancy Prevention, Nutrition etc.
- Conduct HCG (pregnancy) testing; make direct referrals for OB/GYN services and/or TOP services as well as Mental Health counseling and HIV testing.
Family Preservation Specialist
Youth Consultation Services
Union City
01.2001 - 04.2001
- Provide services to families referred to program by DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services of New Jersey).
- Duties included in community visits to teach skills such as parenting, anger management, coping skills, etc.
- Make direct referrals to counseling services, mentor programs and any other services deemed necessary to assist that family.
- Document all encounters and maintain client charts to JACHO standards.
Education
Bachelor's of Science - Psychology
St. Peter's College
Jersey City, NJSkills
- Bilingual (Spanish & English)
- Microsoft Office
- Excel
- Proficient in NJ Spirit
Certification
- Trained as a FTM Coach
- Completed Train the Trainer Pride Resource Parent
- Training Facilitator in 2006
- Completed all mandated DCPP yearly trainings
Timeline
Bi-lingual Family Service Specialist I
Division of Child Protection & Permanency
12.2017 - Current
Bi-lingual Family Service Specialist II
Division of Child Protection & Permanency
04.2007 - 12.2017
Case Manager
The Lester Drenk Behavioral Health Center
08.2006 - 03.2007
Home Finding Specialist
Independence: A Family of Services
01.2006 - 08.2006
Family Worker
Independence: A Family of Services
05.2005 - 01.2006
Care Manager
Hudson Partnership CMO
01.2004 - 05.2005
Senior Counselor
Community Education Centers
08.2002 - 01.2004
Health Educator
Horizon Health Center
04.2001 - 07.2002
Addictions Counselor Assistant
Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center
01.2001 - 06.2007
Family Preservation Specialist
Youth Consultation Services
01.2001 - 04.2001
Bachelor's of Science - Psychology
St. Peter's College