Dawn Gavasci

Provided Child Welfare consultation to 13 counties in Region 6. Provided Intensive Technical Assistance to counties that were at-risk of State take-over. Provided assistance in Child Welfare Coding and funding. Reviewed child fatalities and provided feedback and consultation to counties. Reviewed and pulled data as it pertains to Child Welfare issues in Region 6 of North Carolina.

Provide guidance to supervisory staff of the Foster Care, Adoptions, Licensing and LINKS department. Prepare budget worksheets for the agency to support the $4 million dollar cost of Foster Care in Robeson County. Give guidance in regards to IV-E and State reimbursement eligibility to children coming into the Foster Care system. Assist in managing the Adoption Promotional Funds that the county has received. Write and Develop policy in regards to Child Welfare issues as they occur. Give guidance to staff and supervisors regarding child welfare issues that arise in regards to Foster Care, Adoptions, Licensing and LINKS program as well as personnel issues. Worked with licensing staff on recruitment and retention of Foster and Adoptive Families. Worked with DHHS and THe Lumbee Tribe to develop a MOA to best serve the children and families that are members of the Lumbee Tribe. Participate in Children Services Committee meetings as a voting member on policy as it relates to Child Welfare issues that are being developed and passed at the State Level. Serve on the JCPC committee.

Served as Emergency Operations Center DSS Lead during Disasters-

• Prepared regular reports detailing the status of shelter operations, occupancy rates.
• Managed a team of operations staff and provided guidance on daily tasks and projects.
• Developed and implemented policies, procedures, and protocols for shelter operations.

Directly supervised 6 CPS Inv/ Assessment and Intake Supervisors and ws responsible for 40 employees. Collected data and prepared reports for both local and state agencies. Monitor the day to day activities of Child Protective Services including reading records to ensure both county and state compliance. Make critical decisions regarding Child Abuse/Neglect reports received by the agency. Provided guidance to supervisors and social work staff on high risk cases. Provided guidance and oversight o supervisors in regards to management of staff and personnel issues. Completed yearly evaluations on supervisors and review monthly evaluations of probationary staff within the department. Conduct regular staff meetings and attend management team meetings. Monitor percentage of time reports that effect the agencies reimbursements of state and federal funding. Prepare yearly staffing survey that includes a needs assessment report to the Division of Social Services. Develop policy within Child Protective Services as well as participate in developing agency policy when needed. Serve as board member on Community Child Protection Team, Child Advocacy Center and Community Child Collaborative. Assist with budget issues when needed

Supervised 6 foster care social workers that included LINKS and ICPC caseloads and provided daily guidance with regards to reunifying families and finding permanence for foster children. Collected monthly data to ensure standards are met on all cases. Conducted yearly county evaluations on staff. Participated and facilitated inter-agency meetings as well as meetings with other community stakeholders to ensure best social work practice possible for clients being served. Provided supervision to on-call social workers monthly. Assist in ensuring “At Risk’ youth are appropriately placed in licensed homes that meet their individual needs. Attended court proceedings on weekly basis to provide guidance and assistance when needed on children whose case was being reviewed by the courts. Participated in interagency policy making regarding child welfare issues. Monitor day sheets to ensure proper coding for both LINKS money as well as federal, state and county funding.

• Responsible for developing and refining the scope and nature of Children Services Program which included Families for Kids(FFK) goals established by the state. Involved in recruitment efforts for foster and adoptive parents. Developed creative methods of reducing the number of children in custody. Developed and implemented policy for Community Assessment Team Meetings as well as Petition Review and Backlog Meetings. Conducted training for both child welfare staff as well as staff within the agency. Managed $100,000 yearly state allocation in which 50 % of expenditures were appropriated for program development. Worked with media and advertising to sell Families for Kids to community leaders and stakeholders. Worked closely with marketing agency to develop campaign ads to recruit foster and adoptive families. Worked with state personnel to ensure compliance with standards set forth for FFK grant.

• Provided child protective services to families whose children were identified as meeting the N.C.G.S 7B as it relates to children who have been abused, neglected or for dependent by their caretakers. Connected families to services to help alleviate the need for protective services and prevent removal from the home. Connected families with services needed to mitigate the future risk of abuse and neglect. Investigated CPS reports of abuse, neglect and dependency for families in my caseload as well as investigated high risk reports that were received after-hours by DSS.