Deborah Dirzo
Norwalk,CA
Summary
Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience providing psychiatric and medical social work services to veterans and medically complex populations. Skilled in crisis intervention, psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, interdisciplinary care coordination, and evidence-based treatment planning. Experienced working in inpatient psychiatric settings, community mental health, hospice care, and housing stabilization programs for veterans. Strong knowledge of VA systems, community resources, and veteran-centered care. Fluent in Spanish.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Psychiatric Social Worker
Department of Veteran Affairs
Long Beach, CA
09.2023 - Current
- Conduct assessments of Veteran in collaboration with other interdisciplinary treatment teams
- Coordinate discharge planning for veterans who have serious mental illness, comorbid medical problems, and complex psychosocial issues
- Develop treatment plans while veteran is in AIP and sets achievable goals with the veteran/family
- Conducting rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient units
- Subject matter expert on VA and community resources and provides education and encouragement to the Veteran/family
Hospice Social Worker
Nurse Plus Hospice
Artesia, CA
07.2025 - Current
- Provide psychosocial support for terminally ill patients in their place of residence (private residence, skilled nursing facility, or RCFE)
- Conduct psychosocial and bereavement assessments.
- Make regularly visits, often once a week, each time evaluating condition, facilitate resource needs, and peace at end of life.
- Help the patient and family make end-of-life plans such as funeral arrangements or establishing an advanced directive.
- Provide support emotional, information referral, brokering and bereavement support.
Social Worker, HUD VASH project-based team
Department of Veteran Affairs
Orange County, CA
04.2023 - 08.2023
- Determine psychosocial factors impacting the problem, and determine obstacles to treatment and/or follow through with recommended treatments
- Acts as a liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for Veterans
- Evaluate and assess lethality, perform Mental Status Exams (MSE), identify manifestations of various medical conditions.
- Responsible for conducting in-home, community, and in-office visits to provide on-going re-assessments with the Veteran
Psychiatric Social Worker
College Medical Center
Long Beach, CA
05.2021 - 04.2023
- Complete psychosocial assessment & formulated treatment/service plan
- Interact with family, significant others, community agencies & other staff
- Assist with transferring the patient to an inpatient setting (IMD placement)
- Assist client & family members to meet their needs in a community-based outpatient clinic setting
- Social work case management coordination with members of the treatment team
Mental Health Clinician
Barbour & Floyd Medical Associates
Lynwood, CA
07.2018 - 04.2021
- Complete bio-psychosocial assessments & develop treatment plans to help facilitate client’s growth
- Provide intensive, short- or long-term individual therapy both on site & in the field
- Assessing & monitoring client’s condition to ensure successful transitions
- Maintain timely & detailed clinician records of all client interactions, & other required documentation
- Responsible for conducting in-home, community, and in-office visits to provide on-going re-assessments with clients
- Work in multidisciplinary team to provide quality care to clients
Hospice Social Worker Intern
Haven Health Hospice
Long Beach, CA
06.2017 - 05.2018
- Provide psychosocial support for terminally ill patients in their place of residence (private residence, skilled nursing facility, or RCFE)
- Conduct psychosocial and bereavement assessments.
- Make regularly visits, often once a week, each time evaluating condition, facilitate resource needs, and peace at end of life.
- Help the patient and family make end-of-life plans such as funeral arrangements or establishing an advanced directive.
- Provide support emotional, information referral, brokering and bereavement support.
Housing and Benefits Specialist
Mental Health of Americas, Los Angeles
Long Beach, CA
09.2016 - 05.2017
- Interface with government, community, and private agencies to obtain rental subsidized loans or other available resources for transitional and permanent housing for veterans and their families.
- Actively assist and coach members in all steps of completing the application process.
- Follow-up during the application process, and act as a housing counselor.
- Provided regular home visits, support and community-based referrals to assist members in staying successful housed.
- Advocate for veterans and their families with landlords.
- Network with other veteran and mainstream services agencies to share ideas and resources.
Medical Logistics Specialist
United States Army
Fort Hood, TX
08.2005 - 12.2012
- Managed a $300,000 government credit card with 100% accuracy reconciliation at the end of each month.
- As a medical logistics specialist received all imported medical supply and checked product condition and counts.
- Supervised while conducting security for my subordinate, and I, while picking up and delivering supplies.
- Managed shipments to maximize productivity and cut cost.
- Awards/Honors
- Army Commendation Medal (2)
- Army Achievement Meal (2)
- Good Conduct Medal (2)
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
- Army Service Ribbon
Education
Masters - Social Work
California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach, CA05-2018
Skills
- Psychiatric & Psychosocial Assessments
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Risk Assessment
Discharge Planning & Care Coordination
Treatment Planning & Case Management
Veteran Housing Stabilization (HUD-VASH)
Mental Status Examinations (MSE)
End-of-Life & Hospice Counseling
Community Resource Navigation
Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration
Evidence-Based Interventions (CBT, Seeking Safety)
Trauma-Informed Care
* Family Education & Support
Certification
- Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression, anxiety, and trauma
- Seeking Safety (SS)
- Crisis Oriented Recovery Services (CORS) Training
Languages
Spanish
Timeline
Hospice Social Worker
Nurse Plus Hospice
07.2025 - Current
Psychiatric Social Worker
Department of Veteran Affairs
09.2023 - Current
Social Worker, HUD VASH project-based team
Department of Veteran Affairs
04.2023 - 08.2023
Psychiatric Social Worker
College Medical Center
05.2021 - 04.2023
Mental Health Clinician
Barbour & Floyd Medical Associates
07.2018 - 04.2021
Hospice Social Worker Intern
Haven Health Hospice
06.2017 - 05.2018
Housing and Benefits Specialist
Mental Health of Americas, Los Angeles
09.2016 - 05.2017
Medical Logistics Specialist
United States Army
08.2005 - 12.2012
Masters - Social Work
California State University, Long Beach
Personal Information
- License: LCSW #119185
- Title: Psychiatric Social Worker
- ID Type: License
- ID Number: 119185
Va Committees
Long Beach VA ECT/LPS committee
Awards
- Army Commendation Medal (2)
- Army Achievement Medal (2)
- Good Conduct Medal (2)
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
- Army Service Ribbon
Army Commendation Medal (2)Army Achievement Medal (2)Good Conduct Medal (2)National Defense Service
Army Commendation Medal (2)
Army Achievement Medal (2)
Good Conduct Medal (2)
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon