Diedra Pennington
Beckley,WV
Summary
Dedicated Child Protective Service Worker with 12 years of experience supporting families involved in CPS. Provided essential education, visitation, and services to families for 2 years and 8 months, following 9 years and 4 months as an Administrative Services Only employee. Skilled in communication, establishing strong relationships with judges, attorneys, parents, and children. Compassionate and versatile, working effectively with diverse socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, and disabilities. Committed to professional growth, actively participating in ongoing training to stay current on case work procedures. Known for teamwork and ability to make sound decisions in challenging situations involving workers and clients.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Child Protective Services Worker
WV Department of Human Services
10.2022 - Current
- Respond to the initial safety call and investigation of the abuse allegations as needed.
- Arranged medical and psychiatric tests to identify difficulties and indicate potential remedial approaches.
- Assisted families in navigating the social services system, including applying for benefits, accessing resources and connecting with other family support services.
- Documented data and completed accurate updates to case records.
- Completed comprehensive assessments of families to identify needs and develop treatment plans.
- Complete Family Functioning Assessments to determine when families are in the need of services.
- Complete petitions to the courts requesting removal of children.
- Communicate with the family, attorneys, service providers, police officer and health care professionals to aid in the process leading to family success
- Ongoing case management, family support, crisis intervention and confidentiality play a large role in my everyday activities.
- Assist other co-workers in need of assistance.
ASO Professional
Generation Family Services
07.2022 - 10.2022
- Offered Restorative Parenting classes and Adult Life Skills for the clients involved in Child Protective Services cases.
- Assisted the clients in finding suitable housing and filling out necessary forms for financial assistance, fixing up the one they had if needed, and obtaining employment by helping fill out job applications.
- Assisted the clients with substance use disorders in locating appropriate substance use facilities for treatment.
- Transported clients to court ordered services.
- In-Home Safety Checks to ensure that the children that continued to live in the home are safe, and being appropriately cared for and supervised.
- Kept detailed records of the services provide to present to the Child Protective Service worker and the courts.
- Attended all client Multidisciplinary Team Meetings and court when needed to testify.
ASP Para-professional
Uplifting Families
10.2016 - 07.2022
- Transported parents/children for supervised visitations with the families.
- Transported clients to the drug testing center for random drug screens.
- In-Home Safety Checks to ensure that the children that are living there are safe, and they are being appropriately cared for and supervised.
- Kept detailed records of the visitation and drug screens to present to the Child Protective Service worker and the courts.
- Attended the client Multidisciplinary Team Meetings and court when needed to testify.
- I assist my clients in other services when needed such as finding appropriate housing, helping fill out necessary forms for financial assistance, and filling out job applications.
- Transported clients when needed for interviews and court ordered services such as counseling.
- Trained new employees with proper methods and ethics of being an ASO provider.
ASO Para-professional
Empowering Families
09.2013 - 10.2016
- Transported parents/children for supervised visitations.
- Transported clients for drug screens and other court ordered services.
- Provided safety checks on children living at home with parents to ensure they were being appropriately cared for and safe.
- Kept detailed documentation that was turned into CPS worker and the courts.
- Attended Multidisciplinary Team Meetings and court for the clients.
- Transport clients if needed when finding housing, job interviews and any other service deemed necessary by the worker and courts.
Dental Hygienist
Andrada and Rose, Pediatric Dentistry
09.2006 - 10.2013
- Carried out advanced dental cleaning services.
- Captured patients' dental radiographs and provided to dentist for interpretation and diagnosis.
- Assisted in preparing fillings, applying cavity-prevention treatments
- Educated patients on importance of oral hygiene and demonstrated techniques for flossing, brushing and Orthodontic care.
- Maintained accurate medical and dental records by documenting important patient data in Dentrix.
- Provided services for all socio-economic backgrounds and children with various disabilities.
Dental Hygienist
Mount Olive Correctional Complex
12.1999 - 09.2006
- Educated patients on importance of oral hygiene and demonstrated techniques for flossing, brushing and overall health.
- Maintained accurate medical and dental records by documenting important patient data.
- Screened patients for signs of oral cancer, lesions, or disease by visually and manually inspecting mouth and gums.
- Improved and developed knowledge through continuing education courses and seminars.
- Administered topical anesthetics to patients' gums to prepare areas being worked on.
- Polished patients' teeth to remove surface stains.
- Took and interpreted X-rays to identify cavities, impacted teeth and other dental issues.
- Made and confirmed appointments to promote necessary follow-up care to maintain dental health.
- Educated patients on importance of oral hygiene and demonstrated techniques for flossing and brushing.
- Cleaned patient's teeth to remove plaque and tartar buildup and prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
- Educated patients on oral hygiene and care to prevent future dental issues.
- Worked with dentists in developing and implementing personalized care plans for dental patients.
- Conducted patient interviews and gathered patient medical and dental histories, adding to dental charts.
- Completed daily tool counts before and after the shift and secured contraband at the end of the work day.
- Competed incident reports as needed and filed to the proper Department of Corrections employee.
- Trained dental assistants in chair side assisting to help dentist complete restorative dentistry effectively.
- Trained dental assistant in proper tool counting and completing necessary paperwork for the Department of Corrections.
- Trained in Conflict Resolution and De-escalation, Defense Tactics, and Sexual Harassment in the workplace.
Education
Bachelor’s degree - concentration in child and adolescent development
Southern New Hampshire University
07.2022
Associates degree - in Dental Hygiene
West Virginia Institute of Technology
05.1990
Skills
- Teaching
- Training
- Mentoring
- Community service
- Excellent communication skills
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Flexible work schedule
- Documenting findings
- Listening skills
- Adaptability
- Willingness to help
- Eagerness to learn
- Rapport building
- Objectivity
- Seeking help
- Legal compliance
- Court testimony
- Multidisciplinary collaboration
- Goal setting and achievement
- Social media monitoring
- Family support
- Teamwork and cooperation
- Safety planning
- Emergency intervention
- Service planning
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Problem-solving
- Client documentation
- Interpersonal communication
- Multitasking
- Case management
- Dedicated support
- Client interviewing
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Professionalism
- Community outreach
- Reliability
- Problem-solving abilities
- Decision-making
- Attention to detail
- Team collaboration
- Active listening
- Maintain case files
Hobbies and Interests
- Family
- Gardening
- Traveling
Activities
- Volunteer for AWAY (formerly Women’s Resource Center)
- West Virginia Dental Hygiene President, 01/01/04, 12/31/06
- Youth Basketball League President, 01/01/04, 12/31/06
Timeline
Child Protective Services Worker
WV Department of Human Services
10.2022 - Current
ASO Professional
Generation Family Services
07.2022 - 10.2022
ASP Para-professional
Uplifting Families
10.2016 - 07.2022
ASO Para-professional
Empowering Families
09.2013 - 10.2016
Dental Hygienist
Andrada and Rose, Pediatric Dentistry
09.2006 - 10.2013
Dental Hygienist
Mount Olive Correctional Complex
12.1999 - 09.2006
Associates degree - in Dental Hygiene
West Virginia Institute of Technology
Bachelor’s degree - concentration in child and adolescent development
Southern New Hampshire University
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