Diane KEREKANICH
Edgefield,SC
Summary
Family-oriented Wife and Mother that relocated to the Augusta Area for my husband's job. Over 14 years of experience working with families and nonprofits providing support and parenting information with Parents as Teachers and as a Military Wife and volunteer, and most recently with Augusta Locally Grown. I have strong interpersonal organizational and computer skills. Able to build client rapport and assess needs to provide appropriate resources.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Development Director
Augusta Locally Grown
07.2022 - Current
- Works closely with the Executive Director and fundraising chair to oversee financial strategies
- Use sales and spending cycles to guide fundraising campaign decisions
- Find ideal donors from public and private investors
- Create a respectful reputation for ALG
- Construct graphs and reports to convey their strategies and needs
- Build new donor relationships while maintaining ongoing ones
- Write content to earn grants, new audiences, and better relationships with donors and other corporations
- Represent ALG in the community
- Coordinate volunteers
- Supervise interns
Parent Educator
Augusta Partnership For Children
09.2019 - 06.2020
- Provided support to parents and caregivers with children prenatal to 5yrs in Augusta, GA using the Parents as Teachers Curriculum
- Demonstrated strong knowledge of child development principles and shared parenting information to suit individual family needs
- Educated clients on parent roles with a focus on school readiness
- Conducted home visits to provide components of Parents Teachers Curriculum to include activities, screenings, child development, and family well-being
- Utilized knowledge of evidence-based programs to inform parents and assist in goal setting
- Collaborated with community members to provide helpful resources to suit family needs
- Engaged families in beneficial activities targeted at improving bonds and interactions
- Built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs
- Planned and offered group connections to families in the program
- Collaborated as part of the Harrisburg Literacy Initiative
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
DEHEC
03.2018 - 08.2019
- Established contact and met with WIC's prenatal and breastfeeding mothers to educate and support breastfeeding
- Planned and conducted breastfeeding training and submitted weekly reports
- Collaborated with other Peer Counselors and was available in the clinic to support WIC staff by assisting Breastfeeding Mothers
- Available after hours to speak or text with Breastfeeding Mothers
Foster Parent
Kaw Valley Children's Services
08.2014 - 06.2017
- Cared for 1-2 foster children
- Participated in all required training and meetings with social workers
- Participated in transporting and supporting children attending family visits and relationships with biological parents
- Hosted biological siblings regularly and developed relationships with biological parents in anticipation of the reintegration of children back into their biological families
- Participated in court and counseling sessions as needed with the foster child
- Advocated for foster children and participated in IEP meetings, school and teacher meetings, and attended school and church events with foster children
Parent Educator
Keystone Parents As Teachers
10.2006 - 05.2017
- Partnered with parents and caregivers with children prenatal to 5yrs in Atchison, KS using the Parents as Teachers Curriculum
- Visited each family in their home or alternate location every 2 - 4 weeks depending on the needs of the family
- During home visits share activities to encourage families to work on skills or child development goals
- During visits shared child development information, early literacy concepts, and community resources, and discuss family goals
- Every six months every child participated in developmental screenings and annually received health, hearing, and vision screenings
- Refer children as needed to early intervention programs. Goal of Parents as Teachers is that every child would be preschool and kindergarten-ready
- As a Parent Educator, build trust and relationships with families
- Available between visits or in crises as needed
- Counsel families on setting goals to address lifestyle issues
- Attended monthly staff meetings participating in required training hours
- Attended conferences and training opportunities regionally
- Coordinated with other Parent Educators to plan and offer monthly playgroups or group connection events
- Present to local school boards, school liaison, and other program partners
- Applied for grants and worked with a team to apply and comply with larger grants offered by the State of Kansas
- Participated in community collaboration meetings and organizations
- Participated in interviewing and selecting new employees
Nursery Coordinator
Church or the Open Door
04.2011 - 12.2016
- Coordinated all operations of the church nursery including training and scheduling volunteers and maintaining the appearance and safety of nursery facilities
- Assisted church in choosing, ordering, and maintaining playground and nursery equipment and supplies
- Conducted regular safety training and education for volunteers to include appropriate discipline, first aid, and nursery operations
- Managed over 50 volunteers to ensure policies were being followed and the nursery was properly staffed at all church functions following church, insurance, and State of Kansas guidelines
- Worked with parents and volunteers to address any concerns or issues
Education
Master of Science - Nonprofit Management and Leadership
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA12.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, Social Sciences and Services
Lander University
Greenwood, SC06.1996
Skills
- Parenting knowledge
- Organization and Time Management
- Effective in working remotely
- Breastfeeding Education
- Grant Writing
- Fundraising
- Networking
Accomplishments
Leadership Augusta Class 2024
Certificate in Pastoral Counseling
Timeline
Development Director
Augusta Locally Grown
07.2022 - Current
Parent Educator
Augusta Partnership For Children
09.2019 - 06.2020
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
DEHEC
03.2018 - 08.2019
Foster Parent
Kaw Valley Children's Services
08.2014 - 06.2017
Nursery Coordinator
Church or the Open Door
04.2011 - 12.2016
Parent Educator
Keystone Parents As Teachers
10.2006 - 05.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, Social Sciences and Services
Lander University
Master of Science - Nonprofit Management and Leadership
Liberty University
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