Essence Bowens
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Conscientious professional with extensive experience advocating for social and economic well-being of individuals and families. Skilled at providing guidance, support and assistance. Strong communication and management skills and committed to inspiring community service.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Supervisor of Social Services
Lutheran Of New York
02.2023 - Current
- Referred clients to appropriate team members, community agencies and organizations to meet treatment needs.
- Recruited, interviewed, and hired staff members offering exceptional talent and brought great skills to team.
- Developed and created programs and monitored effectiveness against individual participant needs.
- Oversaw staff development through in-depth trainings, workshops, seminars, and other learning opportunities.
Family Social Worker
Educational Alliance-Family Resource Center
01.2021 - 02.2023
- Conducted outreach to local referral sources to build strong partnerships for supportive services.
- Performed client screenings and accurately recorded data in case files to facilitate clinical case coordination services and case management duties.
- Built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs.
- Offered employment counseling and provided referrals to community outreach programs to help clients gain independence.
- Attended over 25 hours of meetings, conferences and training courses to advance professional knowledge of social work.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
Program Director
Educational Alliance
11.2017 - 06.2022
- Partner with Community Schools Director and Principal to streamline school-day and after school learning experience
- Lead communication with students that connect them to range of social services, programs and referrals inside and outside school that address their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development
- Maintain payroll, compliance and human resources related task with over 20 staff - including, hiring and termination of employees in non-profit organization
- Creatively cultivate robust and varied range of after-school activities that students want to attend infused with fun and engaging rituals to keep students engaged
- Supervise assistant program director, group leaders, assistant group leaders, activity specialist, consultants, administrative staff and volunteers, complete timely performance evaluations
- Scheduled and supervised staff meetings to discuss new ideas and update participants on program details and milestones.
Program Coordinator
Educational Alliance
07.2016 - 11.2017
- Maintain contract data systems (i.e AWARDS, BGCA, DYCD, etc.) that are required for programming (including reporting requirements, agency policy compliance, and operational needs)
- Ensure safety and security of program participants physical and mental health
- Gathered and organized printed materials required for program participation (class rosters; student files, staff attendance records and programmatic spreadsheets)
- Orchestrated smooth and efficient program development by collaborating cross-functionally across departments
- Scheduled and supervised staff meetings to discuss new ideas and update participants on program details and milestones
Education
Master's - Social Work
Yeshiva University
New York, NY2022
Certification - Entrepreneurial Women Studies
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY2019
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
St Francis College
Brooklyn, NY2013
Skills
- Program Optimization
- Interdepartmental Coordination
- Eligibility Evaluations
- Hiring and Onboarding
- Policy Development and Enforcement
- Program Scheduling
- Staff Hiring and Evaluations
- Payroll Oversight
- Technical Presentations
- Individual and Group Counseling
- Therapeutic Services
- Conflict Resolution
Timeline
Supervisor of Social Services
Lutheran Of New York
02.2023 - Current
Family Social Worker
Educational Alliance-Family Resource Center
01.2021 - 02.2023
Program Director
Educational Alliance
11.2017 - 06.2022
Program Coordinator
Educational Alliance
07.2016 - 11.2017
Master's - Social Work
Yeshiva University
Certification - Entrepreneurial Women Studies
Cornell University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
St Francis College
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