Walking and Hiking GardeningYoga and breathwork Gluten free baking Meditation Drawing and Painting Forest Bathing Traveling
Foresta L. Castañeda
Vergennes,VT
Summary
To work as a program director for a non-profit focused on housing and homelessness and committed to the values of social justice, human rights and dignity and housing first principles. In this role I would provide program management and oversight, supervise staff, develop opportunities for staff training and mentorship, participate in program development, evaluation and strategic planning for the organization, and work as part of a team to provide case management and support services to people accessing services.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Transitional Housing Coordinator
Atria Collective formerly WomenSafe
11.2014 - Current
- Coordinates all aspects of Atria Collective’s onsite and scattered site Transitional Housing Program, serving 2 families onsite and an average of 8-12 families a year in scattered site apartments with landlords in the community
- Provides voluntary services and housing case management participants to identify options for transitional and long term housing and vouchers
- First point of contact for facilities maintenance for our 2 program owned apartments
- Responsible for Financial management of the TH grant and writing bi-annual Transitional Housing grant progress report to the Office of Violence Against Women
- Participates in weekly Housing Solutions meetings and Monthly Housing Coalition meetings and Homelessness Taskforce meetings to advocate broadly for the housing needs of survivors and working to reduce systems barriers
- Facilitated the Housing Solutions meeting for about a year and participated in the Covid Response Team for Addison County during the Pandemic shutdown starting in 3/2020.
- Coordinated with Middlebury College, Charter House Coalition, John Graham Housing and Services to arrange for hot meals to be made and delivered to houseless individuals and families placed in area motels at the beginning of the shutdown. Provided advocacy, logistics, communications support.
- Facilitates quarterly meetings and regular check-ins with Memorandum of Understanding grant partners to meet grant goals and objectives
- Serves as Domestic Violence Assessment Partner for Addison County Coordinated Entry
- Member of the Housing Advocates Taskforce through the Vermont Network and participates in regular meetings and advocacy efforts to advocate on statewide issues impacting survivors and their access to housing. Testified at the State house in support of bill H. 132 An Act Relating to adopting protections against housing discrimination for victims of domestic and sexual violence which became law in 7/2019
- Provides limited general direct services in the office and on our hotline as needed and provides after hours backup 5-6 shifts a month
- Participated in development of organizational policy including recently developed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies and Value Statements and Participates in providing training and mentorship to our volunteers and conduct outreach and presentations to community groups about Atria Collective's work
- Served on the Labor Trafficking Subcommittee of the Human Trafficking Taskforce representing Victim Service Providers (2018-2022)
Field Instructor
University of Vermont Department of Social Work
08.2010 - Current
- Supervises BSW, MSW 1st and 2nd year students completing their field practicum at Atria Collective during the academic year
- Orients students to the work of the organization and social work profession
- Provides weekly supervision, assigns tasks and evaluates student assignments
Field Instructor
Case Western Reserve University
01.2023 - 05.2024
- Supervised Master of Social Work student for academic year and provided orientation to social work profession and Atria Collective’s work; and provided weekly supervision and ongoing day to day mentorship, assigned field tasks and reviewed and gave feedback on written assignments.
Outreach Advocate
WomenSafe, Inc.
01.2008 - 11.2014
- Provides direct service, crisis intervention, emotional support, legal and systems advocacy to survivors experiencing domestic, sexual violence and stalking
- Develops and facilitates support groups for survivors of dv/sv, and provides education and training about dv/sv and WomenSafe’s services to volunteers and community members
- Conducts outreach to isolated towns and populations in Addison County (including migrant farm workers and other immigrants) to address barriers and make services more accessible
- Member of Addison County Farm Worker Coalition
- 2006-2016
- Served on Vermont Crime Victim Services New Neighbors Victim Outreach Advisory Committee 01/10-12/11
- Served on Vermont Human Trafficking Taskforce: 06/12-07/14
2nd Year MSW Field Practicum Internship
Peace and Justice Center and Vermont Refugee Assistance
08.2007 - 05.2008
- Researched service delivery systems for responding to survivors of torture, and collaborated with community partners to develop evaluation, treatment and supportive services in Vermont
- Planned and coordinated a series of focus groups on multiculturalism and race in Vermont
- Conducted community outreach, advocacy and education about racial justice and immigrant issues
1st Year MSW Field Practicum Internship and Per Diem Advocate
WomenSafe, Inc.
08.2006 - 01.2008
- Provided direct service advocacy to survivors experiencing domestic, sexual and emotional violence including in person and over the phone emotional support, case management, court education and advocacy, and assistance in accessing community resources
- Member of education committee for the Addison County Council Against DV/SV
- Assisted with grant writing, community presentations, trainings, meetings and community outreach efforts
Americorp VISTA Family Literacy Coordinator
Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program
01.2004 - 01.2005
- Coordinator for In-Home Volunteer Tutor Program
- Increased number of volunteers by 100%
- Adapted and coordinated family literacy training programs for English Language Learners
- Created First Necessities ESL Handbook, and English In the Garden: Resource Guide
- Coordinated all aspects of the International Community Garden program
- Secured grant from Children’s Literacy Foundation to purchase 250 books for refugee families
Education
Master of Social Work (MSW) -
University of Vermont
08.2006 - 05.2008
22 Graduate Credits in Anthropology
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY 06.2002 - 08.2003
Bachelors of the Arts (BA) - Cultural Dance and Writing Studies
Alfred University
08.1998 - 05.2002
Skills
- Leadership
- Supervision and Mentorship
- Empathy
- Listening
- Patience
- Person Centered
- Strength Based Approach
- Housing Advocacy and Case Management
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Basic Spanish
- Knowledge of Affordable housing and tenant rights
- Experience providing services to refugee immigrants and asylum seekers, best practices, working with interpreters and providing training and technical assistance
Trainings And Certificates
- Vermont Crisis Worker Privilege Training, 20-hour training based on Vermont Confidentiality Statute. Part of 32 hour volunteer training on Foundations of Domestic, Sexual Violence and Stalking and Basic Advocacy Skills. 09/2006
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center training on SV in Rural Communities, 2009
- Women of Color Leadership Academy, 12/01/11-05/31/13, 18 month leadership training for BIPOC Advocates.
- Supporting Survivors with Substance Use issues from a voluntary services model, Summer 2016
- SAFETY Net Tech Safety Summit, Summer 2018
- Ongoing training, webinars through the National Network Against Domestic Violence, SAFETY-Net, Praxis International, National Sexual Violence Resource Center, CalCasa, Network La Red, HUD and other technical assistance providers on a variety of best practice topics relating to survivors, housing and homelessness, working with diverse populations, people with substance use and mental health issues, working with immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and LGBTQ2+ folks. (8/2006- Present)
- Motivational Interviewing training, Middlebury, VT, 9/2023
- Ongoing continuing education training and webinars offered to field instructors by University of Vermont (2010-present) and Case Western Reserve University (1/2023-present)
- Basic and Advanced Voluntary Services Trainings, (2016, 2020, 9//2024
- Heartsaver First Aid/ CPR AED Certification, 06/01/24
- National Immigrant Lawyers Project Training for Non-Profits on Defending Against Ice, 02/2025
Interests
Timeline
Field Instructor
Case Western Reserve University
01.2023 - 05.2024
Transitional Housing Coordinator
Atria Collective formerly WomenSafe
11.2014 - Current
Field Instructor
University of Vermont Department of Social Work
08.2010 - Current
Outreach Advocate
WomenSafe, Inc.
01.2008 - 11.2014
2nd Year MSW Field Practicum Internship
Peace and Justice Center and Vermont Refugee Assistance
08.2007 - 05.2008
Master of Social Work (MSW) -
University of Vermont
08.2006 - 05.2008
1st Year MSW Field Practicum Internship and Per Diem Advocate
WomenSafe, Inc.
08.2006 - 01.2008
Americorp VISTA Family Literacy Coordinator
Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program
01.2004 - 01.2005
22 Graduate Credits in Anthropology
Syracuse University
06.2002 - 08.2003
Bachelors of the Arts (BA) - Cultural Dance and Writing Studies
Alfred University
08.1998 - 05.2002
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