Holly Carstensen
Fallbrook,CA
Summary
Seasoned Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with a proven track record at the Department of Veteran Affairs, adept at developing compliance practices for Veterans' rehabilitation plans and ensuring educational benefits. Excelled in interpreting regulations and managing complex case files, demonstrating strong analytical skills and empathetic client counseling. Achieved successful rehabilitation closures, showcasing exceptional case management and interpersonal communication abilities.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Department of Veteran Affairs
San Diego, CA
10.2018 - Current
- Develop practices to ensure 206 Veterans remain in compliance with Ch 31 regulations.
- Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies in assigned case management, in entitlement determinations, and when approving/denying services.
- Experience in documenting and assessing the academic progress of Veterans, including initial evaluations and routinely provide case management to track progress of rehabilitation plan objectives.
- Ability to appropriately apply procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies when relating the Veterans' Benefits Administration
- Experience developing comprehensive written reports that summarize the entitlement determination, feasibility, transferable work skills analysis, and vocational assessment.
- Knowledge regarding advising issues and advising models for collegiate students.
- Knowledgeable in psychological, rehabilitation, and counseling theory and principles. Special knowledge in rehabilitation counseling skills, techniques, and resources needed to work with Veterans with serious acute or chronic mental disabilities and those with problems in adjusting to social and occupational requirements.
- Knowledge of student development theory and familiarity with current research regarding advising issues and advising models.
- Ability to understand the agency’s mission while practicing data integrity by completing assigned case management actions and counseling sessions while maintaining compliance.
- Recognizes the importance of sharing ideas and communicating while demonstrating respect for other's viewpoints. In-depth understanding of problem-solving strategies when collaborating within higher education Disability Services office, Veteran Affairs office on campus, and Student Success.
- Ability to conduct Orientations, Evaluations, and individualized counseling sessions with Veterans' in-person, through phone contact, or tele counseling sessions.
- Experience providing services to Veterans' if requiring tutorial outside of the university and referral to academic development support programs such as the Disability Services Office on campus.
- Correspond with multiple certifying officials within higher education to keep abreast of student attendance and compliance that impact student success.
- Knowledge of retention and graduation issues in higher education.
- Develop and implement Veterans' rehabilitation plans for the Chapter 31 program that impact successful rehabilitation closures through employment.
- Ability to perform assessments within psychological and vocational testing, in addition to knowledge of testing and research statistics. This includes mean, standard deviation, percentile, and standard error of measurement as used in assessment of veteran's interests, aptitude, and abilities and personality characteristics. Understanding of the meaning of the instruments used in assessment to include the strengths and limitations of the measurements that are appropriately used within cultural sensitivity.
Immigration Services Officer
Department of Homeland Security
Laguna Niguel, CA
01.2018 - 09.2018
- Interpreted and explained laws and regulations to petitioners.
- Adjudicated by granting or denying H1-B employment applications of petitions. Validated official documents in state or local government offices, or foreign documents from the country/culture involved.
- Reviewed, evaluated, and facilitated complex problem resolution. Facilitated requests for additional information, provided information to petitioners (attorneys), evaluated all avenues to determine, or correct problems. Made corrective actions required, updated information in systems, requested information, and created documents.
- Researched, drafted, edited, and finalized various standard communication vehicles, including, informational documents and reports, standard statements and paragraphs which address specific criteria or specific applications and petitions and other letter templates that cover a broad range of national and local circumstances. over essential issues and are clear, consistent with adjudicative standards and legislation are applicable to the facts of the case or communicate USCIS policies and procedures.
Contact Service Representative
Social Security Administration, SSA
Oceanside, CA
07.2014 - 01.2018
- Interviewed 25-30 beneficiaries daily from culturally diverse backgrounds ensuring their treatment was with dignity and respect.
- Provided information about eligibility and benefits paid under all programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
- Identified language barriers when conducted interviews where interpretation service deemed necessary by utilizing tele-interpreter services to assist foreign language beneficiaries.
- Adjudicated abbreviated applications for Welfare benefits and made determinations of ineligibility requirements including all possible exclusions to income and resources before denial of the claim. Documented the reasoning for denial and issued appropriate notices if ineligible.
Education
Master of Science - Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling
University of North Texas
Denton, TX08.2011
Graduate Certificate - Academic Advising
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS08.2009
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice Administration
Park University
Parksville, MO07.2007
Skills
- Provide Ch 31 services to Veterans’ through a variety of communication tools through scheduled phone apt, tele counseling, and in-person
- Review transcripts and educational plans from training facilities to allocate Veterans Chapter 31 entitlement required for degree completion
- Request, update, and maintain Veteran's information in multiple VBA databases
- Work collaboratively with certifying officials to ensure receipt of purchase orders that are sent via IPPS to Tungsten for tuition and fees, books, and supplies That allows for a seamless transition
- Process and authorize payments to ensure all Veterans receive the proper subsistence allowance rates
- Coordinate Veterans’ amendments for withdrawals to avoid unnecessary overpayments
- Process and approve invoices within a 7-day timeframe of receipt
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Department of Veteran Affairs
10.2018 - Current
Immigration Services Officer
Department of Homeland Security
01.2018 - 09.2018
Contact Service Representative
Social Security Administration, SSA
07.2014 - 01.2018
Master of Science - Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling
University of North Texas
Graduate Certificate - Academic Advising
Kansas State University
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice Administration
Park University
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