Jamyl Barnes
Virginia Beach,VA
Summary
Dedicated community advocate and organizer with over 3 years of experience in mobilizing families, stakeholders, and community partners to drive positive outcomes in child welfare and education. Proven expertise in building relationships, managing engagement pipelines from recruitment to sustained participation, conducting outreach and assessments, facilitating trainings and events, and leveraging data for strategic follow-through. Committed to advancing economic mobility and equity through strengths-based, collaborative approaches that empower parents, residents, and leaders-aligning with goals to improve public school systems and community impact. Skilled in CRM systems, data visualization, and multidisciplinary coordination to support advocacy and permanency initiatives.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Family Services Specialist - Foster Care/Permanency Unit
Suffolk Department of Social Services
Suffolk, VA
08.2025 - Current
- Mobilized parents, families, and community stakeholders to advance permanency goals through reunification, kinship care, or adoption, managing caseloads and overseeing engagement from initial assessments to sustained outcomes.
- Developed and executed individualized service plans, translating organizational priorities into accessible action steps; coordinated multidisciplinary referrals for counseling, education, and support services to build family capacity and economic stability.
- Conducted outreach via home visits and assessments in diverse community settings; evaluated suitability of participants and built trust through relationship-based recruitment and follow-up.
- Facilitated family engagements and trainings, ensuring compliance with goals and providing crisis intervention to strengthen participation and prevent disruptions.
- Prepared data-driven reports and documentation for court and stakeholders, tracking participation patterns and refining tactics to enhance community impact and long-term success.
Therapeutic Mentor (Part-time)
Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board
Hampton, VA
07.2025 - 01.2026
- Designed and led structured onboarding and participation pathways for youth and families, including behavioral trainings, crisis management, and goal-setting sessions to promote sustained engagement and emotional growth.
- Conducted outreach and linked participants to community resources, monitoring progress through data-informed follow-ups and clear communication tools.
- Collaborated with therapists, case managers, and families to align priorities, facilitating one-on-one and group interactions that built self-confidence and problem-solving skills in educational and social contexts.
- Maintained clean records in CRM-like systems, producing summaries and reports to track trends and ensure timely interventions for diverse community needs.
Adoption Case Manager
Shineforth (Formerly United Methodist Family Services)
Virginia Beach, VA
01.2024 - 08.2025
- Led community-based advocacy and support for adoptive families and youth, delivering assessments, group facilitations, and crisis interventions to promote family stability and permanency.
- Built and expanded relationships with partner organizations and parent groups, translating complex needs into actionable entry points for engagement and resource access.
- Managed engagement pipelines, from recruitment through post-placement supervision, using data visualization and spreadsheets to monitor outcomes and refine strategies.
Family Services Specialist I - Adoption Unit
City of Chesapeake Department of Human Services
Chesapeake, VA
09.2022 - 11.2023
- Collaborated with families and community leaders to address educational and behavioral needs, assessing functioning to inform tailored plans that drove positive permanency and equity outcomes.
- Provided direct facilitation and counseling in complex situations, strengthening multidisciplinary services and preventing disruptions through targeted follow-up and accountability practices.
- Coordinated events and orientations to onboard participants, leveraging feedback to refine processes and ensure clear, culturally responsive communication.
Student Intern
United Methodist Family Services
Virginia Beach, VA
05.2022 - 08.2022
- Supported foster care and adoption initiatives through 500+ hours of supervised work, assisting in recruitment, placements, and community outreach to build engagement pathways.
Financial Aid Office - Student Associate
Longwood University
Farmville, VA
02.2020 - 05.2022
- Managed outreach and support for students, creating welcoming environments and ensuring operational efficiency through data management and problem-solving.
Student Intern
Prince Edward Department of Social Services
Farmville, VA
05.2021 - 07.2021
- Conducted community home visits and assessments for 225+ hours, mobilizing families to access resources and maintain well-being; tracked participation data to enhance organizational impact.
Cashier/Server/Warehouse Shopper
Various Roles (Harris Teeter, Diversified Building Services, Amazon)
Virginia Beach/Chesapeake, VA
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Developed strong communication and adaptability skills in fast-paced settings, building trust with diverse customers and teams.
Education
Master of Public Administration - Government Management
DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management
02.2026 - 02.2026
Bachelor of Science - Social Work, Minor in Business Administration
Longwood University
Farmville, VAHigh School Diploma -
Tallwood High School
Virginia Beach, VASkills
- Community Organizing & Engagement
- Pipeline Management
- Relationship-Based Recruitment
- List-Building
- Outreach
- Events
- Follow-Up Systems
- CRM Platforms
- Data Visualization
- OASIS
- Spreadsheets
- Facilitation of Trainings
- Orientations
- Group Sessions
- Crisis Intervention
- Trauma-Informed Advocacy
- Strategic Planning
- Priority Alignment
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Stakeholder Mobilization
- Clear Written Communication
- Clear Verbal Communication
- Plain-Language Outreach
- Data-Driven Decision-Making
- Record Maintenance
- Organized
- Responsive
- Adaptable to Diverse Communities
Certification
Qualified Mental Health Professional-Adult/Child, Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health Professions, 0734010429
Awards
- Community Service Silver Award (+144 hours)
- CLASP Perseverance in the Midst of Adversity Award (2021)
- CLASP Most Improved GPA Award (2022)
- Longwood Chi Commendation Award (2021)
- Connie Priscilla Scholarship Recipient (2018)
- Walmart Dependent Scholarship Recipient (2018)
- Accepted into Global Studies and World Languages Academy
References
- Erica Brown Meredith, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Longwood University, brownmeredithed@longwood.edu, 757-572-9426
- Quentin R. Alexander, Ph.D., Senior Director of Academic Advising, George Mason University, qalexand@gmu.edu, 919-201-5184
- Gisele V. Falls, World Languages Department Chair & Spanish Teacher, Tallwood High School, Gisele.Falls@VBSchools.com, 757-409-3181
Community Service Volunteer Experience
- Head Football Coach, Recreational Flag Football, 2022-2023, Mobilized youth and families through structured programs, building skills and community ties.
- Served on Interview Panels, Chesapeake DHS, 2023, Contributed to recruitment and selection processes.
- Thrive Youth Leader, New Life Church, 2021, Facilitated youth engagement and advocacy.
- Farmers to Families, New Life Church, 2020-2021, Coordinated community outreach and resource distribution.
- Volunteering with FACES, 2019, Supported local community initiatives.
- Cubs to Lions Mentorship, Tallwood High School, 2018, Mentored youth for lasting impact.
- Spain-American Exchange Program, 2017, Hosted participants and volunteered at food banks.
- "Dia de los Muertos" & Care by Community Events, Spanish Honor Society, Organized cultural and service activities.
- African American Male Summit & Virginia Inclusive Committee Camp, 2016, Participated in leadership and inclusion programs.
Leadership Experience
- President, Longwood Club Football, 2018-2022, Organized fundraisers, events, practices, and collaborations; facilitated recruitment and sustained participation.
- Bible Small Group Leader, Chi Alpha, 2019-2022, Built community through organized events and relationship-building.
- Leader, CLASP (Collaborating with Lancers for Academic Success Program), 2018-2022, Led meetings, taught advocacy to 20+ students, mentored participants, and coordinated service events.
- Manager, AFROH (All For Respecting Our Hair), 2020-2022, Managed communications and events educating minority groups on relevant topics.
- Member, Chesapeake/Virginia Beach Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
Timeline
Master of Public Administration - Government Management
DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management
02.2026 - 02.2026
Family Services Specialist - Foster Care/Permanency Unit
Suffolk Department of Social Services
08.2025 - Current
Therapeutic Mentor (Part-time)
Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board
07.2025 - 01.2026
Adoption Case Manager
Shineforth (Formerly United Methodist Family Services)
01.2024 - 08.2025
Family Services Specialist I - Adoption Unit
City of Chesapeake Department of Human Services
09.2022 - 11.2023
Student Intern
United Methodist Family Services
05.2022 - 08.2022
Student Intern
Prince Edward Department of Social Services
05.2021 - 07.2021
Financial Aid Office - Student Associate
Longwood University
02.2020 - 05.2022
Cashier/Server/Warehouse Shopper
Various Roles (Harris Teeter, Diversified Building Services, Amazon)
01.2018 - 01.2020
Bachelor of Science - Social Work, Minor in Business Administration
Longwood University
High School Diploma -
Tallwood High School