Heather Wallace
Rusk County Children and Family Services
Ladysmith,WI
9
years of professional experience
Director leading early childhood programs with oversight of staff hiring and training, family communication, and daily classroom operations. Coordinates budgets, program funds, and compliance with DCF requirements while keeping facilities maintained to state standards. Builds stable routines for children, staff, and parents through clear policies and consistent supervision.
Work History
Social Worker / Social Services Case Manager
1 Year 6 Months- Provides community services per Wisconsin statutes, court policies, and/or requirements of program, state, or federal guidelines.
- Facilitated access to additional agency services for consumers to enhance their support network.
- In collaboration with the consumer and his/her supports, conducts comprehensive, strength-based assessments through interviews, home visits and collecting of collateral information.
- In collaboration with the consumer and his/her supports, determines the range and type of services needed for preventative or rehabilitative services.
- Clarified scope of services and outlined consumer rights and responsibilities to empower informed decision-making.
- Arranges or provides for appropriate services for consumers based on their assessed needs.
- In collaboration with the consumer, his/her supports, and other providers, assess ongoing consumer needs while developing and updating service plans to address needs.
- Maintains documentation that meets professional practice, billing expectations, and program standards.
- Prepared correspondence, reports, and records to support program needs.
- Coordinates and participates in recovery teams with the goal of bringing people together to collaboratively work with and for consumers.
- Coordinated and monitored delivery of services, ensuring alignment with consumer needs and program standards.
- Participated in committees and task forces to contribute to program goals.
- Testified in court to present case-related information.
- Provides and complies with all crisis program service requirements. Participates as a team member of Rusk County’s mobile crisis unit, requiring on call services before, during, and after core work hours. Must be able to respond in-person and/or telephonically when required to mitigate crisis situations. Training provided for such duties.
- Performed various job duties to meet organizational needs.
- Worked overtime hours or shifts to meet operational demands.
- Remains current with licensure/certification and new evidenced-based practices by attending continuing education courses and seminars or through other sources of information.
- Adheres to approved evidenced-based practice principles, methods and practices, confidentiality and code of ethics.
- Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and needs, to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
- Counsel individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding issues including mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, physical abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment, child care, and/or medical care.
- Counsel students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical impairment indicate a need for assistance, diagnosing students' problems and arranging for needed services.
- Consult with parents, teachers, and other school personnel to determine causes of problems such as truancy and misbehavior, and to implement solutions.
- Counsel parents with child rearing problems, interviewing the child and family to determine whether further action is required.
- Collect supplementary information needed to assist client, such as employment records, medical records, or school reports.
- Provide, find, or arrange for support services, such as child care, homemaker service, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, job training, counseling, or parenting classes, to prevent more serious problems from developing.
- Refer clients to community resources for services such as job placement, debt counseling, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and how to apply.
- Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures.
- Evaluate personal characteristics and home conditions of foster home or adoption applicants.
- Place children in foster or adoptive homes, institutions, or medical treatment centers.
Comprehensive Community Services Case Worker
4 Months- Position fulfills requirements of Service Facilitator as outlined in Wisconsin Administrative Code DHS 36.
- Provides services in support of recovery concepts and practices for children and adults.
- Provides community services per Wisconsin statutes, court policies, and/or requirements of program, state, or federal guidelines.
- In collaboration with the consumer and his/her supports, conducts comprehensive, strength-based assessments through interviews, home visits and collecting of collateral information. This may include children’s long-term functional screening and case management for dually-enrolled comprehensive community services consumers.
- Collaborated with consumers and supports to conduct comprehensive, strength-based assessments through interviews, home visits, and collateral information collection, including children’s long-term functional screening and case management for dually-enrolled comprehensive community services consumers.
- Collaborated with consumers and supports to determine necessary range and type of preventative or rehabilitative services.
- Arranges or provides for appropriate services for consumers based on their assessed needs.
- In collaboration with the consumer, his/her supports, and other providers, assess ongoing consumer needs while developing and updating service plans to address needs.
- Coordinates and monitors ongoing delivery of services to consumers.
- Coordinates and participates in recovery teams with the goal of bringing people together to collaboratively work with and for consumers.
- Prepares correspondence, reports, and records as necessary and appropriate.
- Coordinated and monitored ongoing service delivery to consumers, ensuring alignment with their assessed needs.
- Participated in committees and task forces to enhance program development.
- Under direction of Supervisor this position may at times be required to work overtime hours or shifts.
- Adheres to approved evidenced-based practice principles, methods and practices, confidentiality and code of ethics.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- This job description is not intended to encompass every job duty or responsibility and is only illustrative. This position is required to perform other duties as may be assigned or required.
- Maintains a productivity level of 60 percent.
Director
1 Year- Supervised childcare workers, ensuring adherence to safety and educational standards
- Hire and train new staff members
- Provide professional development for all staff
- Establish policies and communicate them to staff and parents
- Meet with parents and staff to discuss students’ progress
- Prepared budgets and allocated program funds to support effective resource management
- Ensure that the facilities are maintained and cleaned according to state regulations
- Follow DCF requirements for the staff, children and the facility.
In home childcare
10 Months- Maintained clean, organized, and well-stocked areas while sanitizing surfaces and toys to ensure a safe environment for children.
- Cared for children in a nurturing and age-appropriate way.
- Helped children develop motor skills in preparation for preschool and kindergarten.
- Used positive reinforcement techniques to promote patience and other good behaviors in children.
- Maintained group discipline through positive reinforcement, behavior modeling and collaboration with parents.
- Consulted with families to discuss activities and behaviors of each child.
- Collaborated with families to share insights on children's activities and behaviors, fostering a supportive and informed care approach.
Lead Teacher
8 Months- Selected curriculum for each class and created daily lesson plans tailored to diverse learner needs.
- Developed and optimized rich learning environment by capitalizing on diverse engagement strategies and enriching teaching techniques.
- Increased student involvement in program offerings through strategic redesign of program processes and methods.
- Guided student teachers and teaching aids in classroom management, leading by example and thoroughly answering questions.
- Communicated with parents about student growth and progress.
- Arranged classroom environments according to contemporary educational practices to enhance learning opportunities.
- Maintained patience and level-headedness in diverse situations to support student development and personal growth.
Owner/teacher
1 Year- Increased student involvement in program offerings through strategic redesign of program processes and methods.
- Guided student teachers and teaching aids in classroom management, exemplifying effective practices and addressing inquiries.
- Redesigned program processes to enhance student involvement in offerings, fostering a more engaging learning environment.
- Guided student teachers and teaching aids in classroom management, leading by example and thoroughly answering questions.
- Communicated regularly with parents regarding student growth, suggesting at-home reinforcement strategies for struggling learners.
- Organized rooms in line with current educational thinking to maximize educational opportunities for students.
- Maintained patience and level-headedness in diverse situations to support student development and personal growth.
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Human Services
- Awards and honours: Summa Cum laude
- GPA: 3.9
Associates of Applied Science - Early Childhood Education
- Awards and honours: High honours
- GPA: 3.9
Skills
Childcare regulations
Microsoft Office
Time management
Attention to detail
Conflict resolution
Staff supervision
Staff training
Budget management
Parent communication
Curriculum planning
Timeline
Social Worker / Social Services Case Manager
Rusk County Children and Family Services
02.2025 - CurrentRead More
Comprehensive Community Services Case Worker
Rusk County Department of Health and Human Services
09.2024 - 01.2025Read More
Director
La Petite Academy
01.2021 - 01.2022Read More
In home childcare
Self-employed
03.2020 - 01.2021Read More
Lead Teacher
Two Grandmas and a Bunch of Kids
07.2019 - 03.2020Read More
Owner/teacher
Self Employed, (In home Day care)
06.2017 - 06.2018Read More
Rasmussen College
Associates of Applied Science from Early Childhood Education
Read More
Rasmussen College
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from Human Services
Read More
EDUCATION
Awards and honours: Summa Cum laude, Awards and honours: High honours