Denise Lozano-Coakley
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Summary
Skilled with over 15-years experience working with the IDD and MI populations. Professional with hands-on experience in managing transitions and ensuring seamless processes. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results, adaptable to changing needs, and reliable in delivering outcomes. Skilled in project coordination, strategic planning, and stakeholder communication. Known for problem-solving abilities, leadership, and fostering cohesive team environment.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
IDD MFP Emergency Transition Coordinator
Texas Health and Human Services
05.2023 - Current
- Provide extensive support to LIDDAs by collaborating and connecting them to the TST, SSLC, and state hospital teams and lead meetings to discuss barriers to transitions and make recommendations to help overcome barriers.
- Collaborated with service members to provide effective transition planning.
- Lead during a provider emergency decertification and assist PES, when needed, with other provider voluntary and involuntary closures.
- Lead the Cross Unit Closure workgroup and revise internal process as needed
- Act as the Liaison between IDD MFP and MFPD during contractor form season.
- Streamlined the potential threat process by producing an internal policy and procedure guide and a quick reference guide planning, assisted with development of the outgoing notification email, and and improved the internal process for tracking data and maintaining documentation.
- Presented on the newly added information to the potential threat requirement at a LIDDA webinar.
- Prepare MFPD quarterly travel log report.
- Provide feedback and technical assistance to LIDDAs.
- Participate and provide updates and assistance during the COC and ICW workgroups.
Enhanced Community Coordination (ECC)/QIDP
Hill Country MHDD Centers
10.2022 - 05.2023
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Works well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Provides crisis prevention and management, monitoring, assessment, and service planning and coordination through enhanced community coordination to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities transitioning or diverting from an institution to a Medicaid waiver program.
- Manged time efficiently to in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Works with the Habilitation Coordinator to assess the identified barriers and needs of a person with ID/DD or dually diagnosed with MI and discusses processes, services, and programs available that can benefit individual wanting services.
- Working with IDD Ombudsman as necessary to ensure persons are receiving services as agreed upon by the SPT or assisting persons with filing complaints.
- Assists persons in services with Medicaid Application or with ensuring the person had the correct Medicaid for their community program of choice.
- Works with MCO’s to ensure person in services is receiving their DME equipment, medication, or other services requested by the person.
- Facilitates Transition or Diversion Planning meetings and completes the Transition or Diversion Plan with the SPT.
- Provides one-year of continued enhanced community coordination for persons who transitioned or diverted from an institutional setting into the community.
- Shadowed PL1 and PE being completed with people Diverting from admissions to a nursing facility.
- Completes permanency planning activities and ensured they were included in the Person Directed Plan.
- Links people to community services and supports as needed or requested.
- Participates in PASRR Quarterly SPT meetings in the nursing facility.
- Makes referrals and utilizes services of Transition Support Team (TST).
- Understands the Money Follows the Person Medicaid Program.
- Facilitated ECC Community Quarterly SPT meetings.
- Conducted Pre and Post Move Monitoring visits.
- Completes HCS enrollment activities, as needed.
- Completes permanency planning activities.
- Completes intake screenings as assigned.
Education Coach
Community Council Of South Central Texas Inc.
07.2022 - 10.2022
- Improved student performance by providing targeted feedback and individualized support based on unique learning needs.
- Coordinates with Education & Disabilities Manager on the creation and implementation of staff annual Individual Development Plans
- Implements a practice-based coaching model with teachers in the classroom to support their use of effective teaching practices.
- Provides in-classroom guidance for teachers utilizing research-based techniques, approaches and interactions.
- Develops curriculum independently or with the team for professional development and training of the teaching staff.
- Engages in role modeling, coaching and theoretical instruction of teaching staff.
- Provides coaching to teaching staff based on evaluation and observations.
- Monitors the implementation within the classroom curriculum and practices.
- Creates curriculum for Professional development for teaching staff.
- Facilitation or teaching of adults in a classroom setting.
- Trains teaching staff to enhance their abilities.
Enhanced Community Coordination (ECC)/QIDP
Hill Country MHDD Centers
12.2019 - 07.2022
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Works well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Provides crisis prevention and management, monitoring, assessment, and service planning and coordination through enhanced community coordination to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities transitioning or diverting from an institution to a Medicaid waiver program.
- Manged time efficiently to in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Works with the Habilitation Coordinator to assess the identified barriers and needs of a person with ID/DD or dually diagnosed with MI and discusses processes, services, and programs available that can benefit individual wanting services.
- Working with IDD Ombudsman as necessary to ensure persons are receiving services as agreed upon by the SPT or assisting persons with filing complaints.
- Assists persons in services with Medicaid Application or with ensuring the person had the correct Medicaid for their community program of choice.
- Works with MCO’s to ensure person in services is receiving their DME equipment, medication, or other services requested by the person.
- Facilitates Transition or Diversion Planning meetings and completes the Transition or Diversion Plan with the SPT.
- Provides one-year of continued enhanced community coordination for persons who transitioned or diverted from an institutional setting into the community.
- Shadowed PL1 and PE being completed with people Diverting from admissions to a nursing facility.
- Completes permanency planning activities and ensured they were included in the Person Directed Plan.
- Links people to community services and supports as needed or requested.
- Participates in PASRR Quarterly SPT meetings in the nursing facility.
- Makes referrals and utilizes services of Transition Support Team (TST).
- Understands the Money Follows the Person Medicaid Program.
- Facilitated ECC Community Quarterly SPT meetings.
- Conducted Pre and Post Move Monitoring visits.
- Completes HCS enrollment activities, as needed.
- Completes permanency planning activities.
- Completes intake screenings as assigned.
Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional
Caregiver, Inc. (Daybreak, River Gardens, UCG)
01.2018 - 07.2020
- Assists with team member training directly related to individual care and treatment of the people with ID/DD or dually diagnosed with MI served by facility
- Responsible for training, interviewing, hiring, disciplining, rewarding, evaluating, and terminating of employees
- Maintain confidentiality and open communication with the Area Director
- Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws
- Maintain sensitive data to adhere to strict compliance standards
- Advocated on behalf of clients within the broader community, promoting awareness of their rights, needs, and abilities to facilitate inclusion efforts.
- Promoted independence for individuals with intellectual disabilities through skill-building activities and goal-setting processes.
- Optimized resource allocation by actively participating in interdisciplinary team meetings to review progress and adjust care plans as needed.
- Elevated program effectiveness by closely monitoring performance metrics related to client outcomes, making adjustments as necessary.
- Demonstrated commitment to professional development by staying current on industry trends, research findings, and legislative changes impacting service provision for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
- Established trust and rapport with clients, providing a safe and supportive environment for growth and development.
CBE Companies
Fraud Investigator
07.2017 - 01.2018
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
- Maintain sensitive data to adhere to strict compliance standards
- Work independently to find the root of an issue and resolve it
- Investigate fraud and make confident decisions
- Maintain accurate documentation
- Customer driven satisfaction
- First call resolution
- Dispute resolution
Special Education Paraprofessional
Comal Independent School District
08.2015 - 09.2016
- Managed challenging behaviors using de-escalation techniques to maintain a safe and productive learning environment for all students involved.
- Developed strong rapport with students by demonstrating empathy, patience, and understanding during daily interactions both inside and outside the classroom setting.
- Assisted in the implementation of effective behavior management techniques, resulting in a more focused and positive classroom environment.
- Collaborated with teacher to create customized classroom environment integral to students' needs.
- Monitored student classroom and outdoors activities to promote student safety.
- Interacted physically and verbally with students throughout each day.
- Offered student support through special accommodations, extra assistance, and assessments.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioral, and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in special education instruction and support services.
- Oversaw class of students in absence of instructor.
- Documented student behaviors, interventions, and outcomes to enable lead teacher to address pertinent issues.
Special Education Substitute Teacher
San Bernardino County Superintendent Of Schools
10.2012 - 07.2015
- Ensured a safe and inclusive learning environment by promoting respect, empathy, and understanding among all students.
- Managed caseloads effectively, ensuring timely completion of all required documentation and reporting related to special education services.
- Increased collaboration between general and special education teachers by organizing regular meetings and sharing resources.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in the field of special education.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop effective intervention strategies for struggling learners.
- Improved student behavior management by implementing consistent classroom routines and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Strengthened parent-teacher communication by providing frequent updates on student progress and collaborating to create individualized support plans.
- Implemented evidence-based interventions that targeted specific skill deficits while monitoring progress towards IEP goals.
- Evaluated student progress regularly using both formal assessments and informal observations to adjust instructional strategies as needed.
- Adapted lesson content to accommodate various learning styles within the classroom while maintaining alignment with curriculum standards.
- Assisted students in achieving academic growth by providing targeted instruction based on their unique learning needs.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Human Services Management
University of Phoenix
Ontario09-2010
Associate of Arts - Liberal Studies
Mount San Antonio College
Walnut, CA12-1998
Skills
- Using appropriate judgment to act in the best interest of the organization
- Knowledge and use of procedures for maintaining confidentiality
- Excellent written, oral, interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to clearly understand and follow directions
- Strong conflict/dispute resolution skills
- Detail oriented, multitasks, and pivots
- Strong organizational skills
- Professional demeanor
- Supervisor experience
- Team collaboration
Certification
- QIDP - Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (2018, current continuing education units)
- Person Centered Thinking Training (2020)
- Obtained Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit in CA (2011)
Timeline
IDD MFP Emergency Transition Coordinator
Texas Health and Human Services
05.2023 - Current
Enhanced Community Coordination (ECC)/QIDP
Hill Country MHDD Centers
10.2022 - 05.2023
Education Coach
Community Council Of South Central Texas Inc.
07.2022 - 10.2022
Enhanced Community Coordination (ECC)/QIDP
Hill Country MHDD Centers
12.2019 - 07.2022
Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional
Caregiver, Inc. (Daybreak, River Gardens, UCG)
01.2018 - 07.2020
CBE Companies
Fraud Investigator
07.2017 - 01.2018
Special Education Paraprofessional
Comal Independent School District
08.2015 - 09.2016
Special Education Substitute Teacher
San Bernardino County Superintendent Of Schools
10.2012 - 07.2015
Bachelor of Science - Human Services Management
University of Phoenix
Associate of Arts - Liberal Studies
Mount San Antonio College
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