Grissel Velez
La Plata,Maryland
Summary
Passionate and mission-driven leader with an extensive background in transforming communities through refugee and asylum seeker support. Over 10 years of experience in refugee resettlement, family unification for unaccompanied children, and comprehensive case management services. Proven expertise in grant writing, advocacy, and in-depth knowledge of U.S. refugee and asylum law. Experienced in post-release and home study processes, with a strong track record of working with the Unaccompanied Children (UC) program under the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Certified by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, with a robust background in nonprofit organizations, including managing outpatient programs and collaborating with the Department of Health and Human Services. Committed to protect their rights and address the needs of each individual forced or voluntary migration, support their transition by providing safety and opportunities for newcomers, and foster their journey towards the American dream.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Program Supervisor- Case Management
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
01.2022 - Current
- Secure and manage grants from city, state, and federal sources, ensuring compliance with funding requirements in collaboration with finance staff.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the Enterprises, Education, and Employment program.
- Oversee staff recruitment, training, and performance evaluations, ensuring team members were well-equipped to deliver effective services.
- Utilize Knowledge in immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees mental health, social work, employment, housing support and prison outreach to provide comprehensive support to clients.
- Manage and supervise bilingual case managers to facilitate service consolidation, hubs, and parishes and connect participants with county services and resources tailored to their needs and available to them.
- Train and supervise case managers on how they can be essential in helping the community and their relationship with the case manager, using wraparound resources in a holistic-driven process, a workforce or vocational program, and other community resources to ensure the individual's needs are met.
- Recruits, hires, conducts performance evaluations, and provides for staff professional development.
- Oversees and Manage Federal and State Grants: Family Support, Integrated Care and SNAP Benefits to prevent food insecurity and homelessness, Human Trafficking (TVAP), DC and MD Employment services (immigrant service).
- Collaborate in seeking grant opportunities to expand assigned program.
- Implement quality assurance measures to maintain high standards in service delivery across all programs under supervision, including Council On Accreditation (COA).
- Actively establish and nurture partnerships with other organizations providing case management and related social services in DC and the state of Maryland.
- Developed personalized service plans for clients, fostering ongoing case management support and driving positive outcomes for vulnerable populations, especially veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.
- Collaborate professionally with external agencies and stakeholders such as mobile crisis and adult protective services.
- Provide supervision and mentorship to case managers, empowering them as advocates for victims within the legal and healthcare systems, thus safeguarding clients' rights and ensuring the fulfillment of their needs.
- Demonstrate extensive experience in nonprofit program program management, specializing in referring clients to permanent supportive housing.
- Attend bi-weekly and monthly partnerships and board members meeting.
Program Director
Life Line Counseling
02.2015 - 04.2022
- Oversaw a diverse team of clinical and non-clinical staff, guided by the founder and CEO, to deliver effective services
- Assist the CEO in creating and implementing a new human service program for the diverse population and Spanish-speaking only
- Oversee Intensive Outpatient Center (IOP) daily program's operations and ensure safety and proper functioning of clinical and administrative programming
- Cultivated strong partnerships with community organizations for referrals from physician, hospitals, insurance-based case manager, developed and maintained
Program Director
Kemet Health LLC
07.2019 - 09.2021
- Assisted the CEO with the launch of a startup non-profit program in both English and Spanish
- Responsible for the day-to-day planning, development, management, monitoring, and coordination of clients individually and in group sessions
- Lead the hiring, on-boarding, and orientation of new staffs, interns, and volunteers
- Completed and maintained accurate records and reports regarding client histories and progress, services provided, and other required information
- Completed American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) assessments, and Anger Management assessments
- Prepared and presented curriculums for the Early Intervention and Level 1 programs, led Anger Management classes and individual counseling
- Provided monthly updates to CEO leadership on the clinical, operational, and financial health of the site
- Provided individual and group supervision, lead weekly team meetings, and perform case reviews
- Maintained monthly reports for court mandated
- Interviewed clients, reviewed records, and conferred with other professionals to evaluate clients' mental and physical conditions, and to determine their suitability for participation in a specific program
- Intervened as an advocate for clients to resolve crisis situations
- Liaised between organizations, partners, stakeholders, and members to promote and improve services and communication
- Created and implemented a strategic plan that achieves the community's long-term goals and objectives while also ensuring program sustainability
- Built and maintained relationships with local partners and stakeholders in collaboration with other programs staff.
Outreach Coordinator
TASC-Bronx
09.2009 - 07.2010
- Interacted with the offender reentry program (ORP) to assist offenders with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD)
- Initiated training and education programs for supporting healthcare staff
- Managed operations in accordance with budget Grant requirements
- Fulfilled document requests by citizens, parties to cases, judges, and attorneys, keeping records of documents provided
- Examined legal documents and assured adherence to laws and court procedures
- Provide alternative to incarceration opportunities to individuals dealing with substance use disorders
- Advocated for clients' best interest in school settings, at juvenile court and in other systems that interfaced with client and family
- Utilized motivational interviewing (MI) and trauma-informed case management in keeping clients engaged in treatment and graduated sanctions are implemented for clients who fail to comply with their treatment recommendation and/or violate the conditions of their plea.
Case Manager
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
07.2000 - 08.2009
- Referred clients to dependable outside resources and programs when necessary and appropriate
- Counseled and mentored at-risk clients of all age levels, from teenagers through to senior citizens
- Develops a therapeutic relationship with clients, provides supportive counseling, psychoeducation, and health teaching for both individuals and group
- Monitors and assesses clients to identify contributing or co-occurring mental health issues
- Implement critical thinking in assessing and resolving complex client-related crises
- Refer clients to other services as needed and work collaboratively with other community providers
- Participate in outreach efforts and develop effective working relationships with other community partners and service providers; establish and maintain a
Education
Doctoral Candidate of Human Services -
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN08.2025
Master of Science in Criminal Justice -
Colorado Technical University
Colorado Springs, CO05.2009
Skills
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team to achieve established outcomes and guide the Vision for Startups programs
- Skilled in managing external relationships with funders and partners, fostering strong collaborations and securing vital resources
- Extensive knowledge of fundraising principles and ethical requirements
- Proficient computer skills and comfortable with utilizing technology in daily work
- Successfully scaled management operations in the human services field and health care over the course of eight years
- Proficient in court reports (Pre-trial, Attorney, Department of Social Services, Juvenile Correction, Department of Parole and Probation)
- Case Manager/Court Liaison/Alcohol & Substance Abuse and Anger Management Assessments
- Meet with clients to compile case information and review and explain case details
- Serves as a liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
- Relevance of non-clinical professional experience to anticipate outreach for clinical programming
- ASAM Criteria Certification
- Certified Anger Management Specialist-1 NAMA
- Certified Case Management (CCM)
- Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC)
- Co-facilitated Juvenile and Adult's IOP, Early Intervention groups both mandated and voluntary individuals
- Work in collaboration with VASAP and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court since 2015
- Extensive experience in providing SUD case management, creating ISP treatment planning, and utilizing evidenced-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed interventions
- Familiar with Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
- Specialized in investigations, cybersecurity, law enforcement, forensics, and criminal justice
- Office of Refugee Resettlement Trained on Human Trafficking, Labor Trafficking, Sex Trafficking and Cyber Security
- Proficient computer skills and comfortable with utilizing technology (Tele-therapy,Teams, ZOOM) in daily work
- Fluent Bilingual English and Spanish
- Case Management/Crisis Intervention
- Team leadership and direction
Certification
- Certified Anger Management Specialist-1 (NAMA)
- ASAM Criteria Certified-(American Society of Addiction Medicine).
- Code of Professional Conduct for Case Manager by the Commission of Case Manager (CCCM).
- Support Coordination/Case Management Certified by Virginia Commonwealth University (CCM)
Accomplishments
- I was able to increase the programs' revenue by providing more services to the program, including the Spanish-speaking population.
- I developed two successful new programs focused on substance abuse and anger management.
- I facilitate Anger Management classes and individual counseling for voluntary and mandated individuals.
Timeline
Program Supervisor- Case Management
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
01.2022 - Current
Program Director
Kemet Health LLC
07.2019 - 09.2021
Program Director
Life Line Counseling
02.2015 - 04.2022
Outreach Coordinator
TASC-Bronx
09.2009 - 07.2010
Case Manager
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
07.2000 - 08.2009
Doctoral Candidate of Human Services -
Capella University
Master of Science in Criminal Justice -
Colorado Technical University
- Certified Anger Management Specialist-1 (NAMA)
- ASAM Criteria Certified-(American Society of Addiction Medicine).
- Code of Professional Conduct for Case Manager by the Commission of Case Manager (CCCM).
- Support Coordination/Case Management Certified by Virginia Commonwealth University (CCM)
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