Grace Kwasnik
West Islip
Summary
Personable and empathetic, well-suited for fostering supportive environments for students' well-being and development. Understanding of child development and behavioral management, coupled with strong communication and problem-solving skills. Dedicated to making meaningful impact on students' lives and fostering positive school community.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Hospital Social Work Intern
Trinity Medical Center
01.2008 - 05.2008
- Maintained detailed case notes and documentation, ensuring accurate representation of patient progress.
- Developed trusting relationships with local service providers, streamlining the referral process and ensuring continuity of care for patients.
- Advocated for patients to secure necessary resources and services during hospitalization and postdischarge.
- Safeguarded patient rights, maintaining strict confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
- Assisted patients in coping with acute or chronic illnesses by offering emotional support and appropriate referrals when needed.
- Navigated complex healthcare systems to coordinate optimal care for patients with multiple comorbidities.
- Established strong rapport with patients and families through empathy, active listening, and clear communication skills.
- Educated patients and families on available community resources, promoting self-sufficiency and autonomy.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams for improved patient care and outcomes.
Office Assistant
Franciscan Athletic Department
10.2004 - 05.2008
- Enhanced office efficiency by managing schedules, organizing files, and maintaining a clean workspace.
- Facilitated smooth operations by efficiently handling incoming mail, phone calls, and visitor inquiries.
- Increased customer satisfaction by providing professional and courteous front desk support.
- Assisted in financial tasks such as invoicing, expense tracking, and budget preparation to ensure accuracy.
Class Facilitator
Caritas Co-Op
08.2022 - Current
- Established clear learning objectives for each lesson, ensuring consistent progress toward achieving educational goals.
- Successfully managed classroom behavior by enforcing established rules consistently, creating a respectful learning atmosphere for all students involved.
- Promoted a positive learning environment by creating an organized and stimulating classroom space.
- Guided students through hands-on projects, fostering teamwork and problem-solving abilities.
- Developed creative lesson plans to spark curiosity and encourage students to engage with challenging topics.
School Social Worker
St. Mary Elementary School
08.2015 - 08.2017
- Collaborated with teachers and administrators to develop intervention strategies for students in need of additional support.
- Created a safe space for students experiencing crises by providing immediate support and appropriate referrals.
- Implemented evidence-based programs aimed at improving school climate and promoting positive behavior among students.
- Maintained compliance with standards relating to child protection, client confidentiality, risk assessment and reporting.
- Observed student behavior and developed behavioral interventions.
- Enhanced student well-being by providing individual and group counseling sessions addressing various social, emotional, and behavioral issues.
- Provided crisis intervention services and collaborated with school staff to create safety plans for students at risk of self-harm or violence.
- Established supportive relationships with at-risk youth through regular check-ins, goal-setting activities, and consistent followup.
- Served as a liaison between the school, family, and community agencies to ensure effective communication and collaboration around student needs.
- Collaborated with students, teachers, administrators, parents and outside agencies.
- Assisted parents in navigating the special education process, ensuring proper identification and provision of services for their children.
Youth Service Case Worker
Department of Health and Human Resources
08.2008 - 08.2009
- Improved client outcomes by developing comprehensive case plans and coordinating services with community partners.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop coordinated care plans that addressed clients'' complex needs holistically.
- Developed strong relationships with community organizations in order to better serve clients'' needs within their local area.
- Increased access to resources by connecting clients to appropriate financial, housing, medical, and educational services.
- Managed high-risk cases to ensure safety and well-being of children through timely assessments and appropriate interventions.
- Interviewed clients, families, or groups to assess situations, limitations and issues and implement services to address needs.
- Enhanced family stability by providing counseling, crisis intervention, and ongoing support for a diverse caseload.
- Conducted thorough assessments of client strengths and needs in order to provide tailored recommendations for individualized treatment plans.
- Advocated for clients at court hearings or meetings with other agencies ensuring that their rights were upheld throughout the process.
- Maintained accurate records, adhering to strict documentation guidelines and confidentiality requirements for compliance purposes.
- Coordinated with mental health professionals or medical providers to address any concerns related to clients'' psychological or physical wellbeing.
- Mentored new social workers entering the field by sharing knowledge of best practices in case management and service coordination.
- Recommended long-term residential treatment, short-term residential treatment and individualized and group drug counseling for clients with substance abuse issues.
- Offered therapeutic services and crises intervention to emotionally disturbed children and adolescents.
School Social Work Intern
Jefferson County School District
08.2007 - 12.2007
- Developed strong rapport with students through empathetic listening and open communication, fostering trusting relationships conducive to growth.
- Enhanced student well-being by implementing effective social-emotional learning strategies in group sessions.
- Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings, contributing valuable insights to inform student-centered interventions.
- Participated in ongoing professional development to stay informed of current trends and best practices in school social work.
- Collaborated with teachers and administrators to create a supportive and inclusive school environment for all students.
- Maintained confidentiality and ethical standards in all interactions with students, families, and colleagues.
- Supported the development of social skills and conflict resolution techniques among students through targeted group activities and discussions.
- Provided crisis intervention support for students experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges, ensuring timely assistance and appropriate referrals.
- Facilitated regular communication between school staff, parents, and community agencies to optimize support systems for at-risk students.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Social Work
Franciscan University
Steubenville, OH05-2008
Skills
- Emotional support
- Student advocacy
- Family support
- Academic support
- Crisis intervention
- Verbal and written communication
Timeline
Class Facilitator
Caritas Co-Op
08.2022 - Current
School Social Worker
St. Mary Elementary School
08.2015 - 08.2017
Youth Service Case Worker
Department of Health and Human Resources
08.2008 - 08.2009
Hospital Social Work Intern
Trinity Medical Center
01.2008 - 05.2008
School Social Work Intern
Jefferson County School District
08.2007 - 12.2007
Office Assistant
Franciscan Athletic Department
10.2004 - 05.2008
Bachelor of Science - Social Work
Franciscan University
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