Jay E. Dennis
Virginia Beach
Summary
Dynamic Behavioral Health Technician with proven expertise in crisis intervention and individualized support planning at Avenues Recovery Center. Skilled in medication administration and fostering strong client relationships, I excel in creating safe environments and implementing effective behavioral assessments, ensuring optimal care and support for individuals with diverse needs.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Behavioral Health Technician
Avenues Recovery Center at Norfolk
Norfolk
09.2025 - Current
- Monitored residents, building rapport, encouraging engagement in therapeutic activities, and ensuring their well-being. This includes supporting residence with daily living activities (ADLs) as needed.
- Managed the day-to-day residential operations, which can involve intake procedures, assisting with food services, or coordinating client transportation with medical personnel.
- Enforced all Avenues Recovery rules, policies, and procedures to ensure a safe environment for both residence and staff. This also includes conducting regular safety and room checks.
- Fulfilled administrative duties such as shift documentation, recording observations of residence behavior and condition and reporting any incidents or changes in client health to the medical staff.
- Evaluate and respond to behavioral and emotional needs of clients, including escalating concerns or crises to the Lead Behavioral Health Technician.
- Supporting and training other BHT team members and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, including Nurses, Therapists, Case Manager’s, and Clinicians.
- Consistently emphasize soft skills like empathy, active listening, and strong people skills to foster a caring and supportive environment for individuals dealing with substance abuse and related mental health problems.
Customer Service Agent
Geico Auto Insurance Agency
Virginia Beach
04.2025 - 08.2025
- Answering Customer Inquiries: Responding to a high volume of calls and emails related to billing, policy changes, coverage questions, and other policy-related matters.
- Providing Policy Information: Explaining policy details, coverage options, and helping customers understand their insurance plans.
- Processing Policy Changes: Assisting customers with making changes to their policies, such as adding or removing vehicles, updating addresses, or changing coverage levels.
- Resolving Issues: Addressing customer concerns, investigating complaints, and finding solutions to problems related to billing, payments, or coverage.
- Documenting Interactions: Maintaining accurate records of customer interactions and updating customer information in the company's systems.
- Providing Recommendations: Suggesting appropriate insurance products or coverage options to meet customer needs.
- Delivering Excellent Service: Ensuring customer satisfaction by providing friendly, helpful, and efficient service.
- Utilizing Technology: Effectively using computer systems, including customer relationship management (CRM) software, to manage interactions and access information.
- Adapting to Change: Staying up to date on company policies, procedures, and new product offerings.
- Working in a Challenging Environment: Managing a high volume of calls and tasks while maintaining an elevated level of accuracy and customer focus.
- Collaborating with Team Members: Communicating with supervisors and other team members to resolve complex issues and ensure consistent service delivery.
Clinical/Residential Coordinator
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
Virginia Beach
12.2024 - 03.2025
- Identify any environmental risk issues and work to ensure all environments are Healthy, Safe, and free from hazards.
- Serve as a mentor/role model to staff and individuals receiving services.
- Collect and review all necessary information, assessments, and reports to support development of annual person-centered plans. Ensure all clinical documentation and other information is gathered and is in place within designated time limits.
- Coordinate entire clinical component of services.
- Ensure Person Centered Plans meet the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and capabilities of the supported individual and focuses on individualized outcome achievements.
- Audit medication administration record (MAR) weekly for accuracy and proper documentation. Complete medication error reports, as necessary.
- Inform and maintain communication with service coordinators, families, on issues related to general medical concerns, illnesses, injuries, and incidents.
- Work to develop healthy, person-centered menus and provide daily options for exercise and movement.
- Responsible for the development of monthly activity calendars that are person centered.
- Responsible for Monthly employee work schedule.
- Establish effective communication efforts to individuals, families, staff through conversations and routine meetings.
- Ensures benefit/entitlement programs are maximized and remain intact Medicaid, Medicare, etc.
- Support individuals in learning how to budget their finances.
- Ensure all staff observe confidentiality and HIPAA standards.
- Support the development of individualized behavioral support services.
- Ensure data collection is reviewed and interpreted monthly and submitted to the Behavior Specialist.
- Understands that behavior is communication and work to improve individual communication efforts.
- Assist in training staff on proper behavioral interventions and documentation where necessary.
- Participating as needed in providing documents for Human Rights Committees serves as the primary contact to the Incident Management Coordinator/Incident Review Committee and provides all relevant clinical information.
- Ensure rights are protected and maximized, and rights restrictions are minimized.
- Ensure accurate and timely incident reporting and cooperation with all investigations both internal and external.
- Reviews and completes all incident reports and follows internal and external incident reporting policies.
- Consistently monitors environments for abuse and neglect indicators.
- Provides day-to-day supervision of DSPs to ensure their duties and responsibilities are completed.
- Run appointments and day program drops, as needed.
- Completes payroll of assigned staff and completes payroll adjustments (Paycom).
- Maintains a safe, secure, and healthy work environment for all people to serve staff, volunteers, and visitors.
- Reports and documents in unsafe conditions.
- Provide direct support to people served, as needed, to meet ratio needs.
- Delegate and ensure the replenishment of program supplies.
- Ensures the ongoing maintenance of program van. Submit work orders, as needed.
- Facilitate monthly staff meetings.
- Performs crisis intervention; provides emergency counseling assistance.
- Plans, coordinates, and participates with individuals in social activities.
- Inspects the home and reports and resolves repairs and maintenance as needed. Ensure fire and other safety procedures are conducted as directed.
- Monitor activities or visitors in the home. Transport individuals and/or provides mobility training to assist individuals to go to appointments, community rehabilitation programs, grocery shopping, etc.
- Ensure program compliance with Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s policies and procedures. Maintain and improve public image for the program in the community.
- Participates in an on-call rotation to manage after-hour crises and urgent situations. Carries a cell phone 24/7 to respond to emergencies.
BH/DS Assistant II
City of Virginia Beach Human Services Department
Virginia Beach
01.2024 - 12.2024
- Ensure and implement that all aspects of the Individuals Services Plans (ISPs) executed promptly and consistently for ten individuals.
- Assess the accuracy of collected data and communicate the need for revisions in programming.
- Assist the Shift Leader and team in assessing all client needs, recreational activities, outings, and shift assignments for the day at the beginning of the shift.
- Complete tasks required for primary clients, including maintaining fund ledgers, personal inventories, and room cleaning. Complete documentation for assigned responsibilities.
- Maintain good knowledge of the medication process, including reviewing the MAR, passing medications without errors, verification, and counts.
- Attend assigned medical appointments and complete medical/dental consults after appointments.
- Communicate respectfully with the direct care team(s), nursing staff, Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professionals (QIDPs), day program staff, Legal Guardians/families/Authorized Representatives (ARs); and the public, including medical professionals.
- Participate in mentoring inexperienced staff under the direction of the immediate supervisor.
- Ensure safety within the physical environment as well as food safety.
- Identify and defuse crisis situations and contact necessary program staff for reporting purposes.
- Maintain general Human Rights knowledge and identify situations that are reportable and to whom.
- Drive company vehicles, including wheelchair vans while applying the appropriate wheelchair tie down for client transport and safety.
Dump Truck Driver (Class B with Air Brake Endorsement)
The Anderson Company LLC
Manassas
05.2021 - 08.2023
- Safely Operate Quad Axle Dump Truck (T880 Kenilworth - Automatic Transmission).
- Properly track and document activity log. Conduct pre-trip/post trip inspections reporting mechanical issues or incidents.
- Haul plant materials to designated locations.
Dump Truck Driver (Class B)
Virginia Land Improvement, Corporation
Manassas
11.2020 - 04.2021
- Operated dump truck for transporting materials to various job sites safely.
- Conducted routine vehicle inspections to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
- Managed loading and unloading of construction materials at multiple locations efficiently.
- Communicated with site managers regarding material delivery and project requirements effectively.
- Adhered to traffic regulations, promoting safe driving practices on public roads.
- Maintained accurate logs of trips, fuel usage, and maintenance activities for accountability.
- Loaded dump truck with materials while ensuring proper weight distribution.
- Checked vehicle systems regularly, including brakes and lights, to guarantee safe operation.
Direct Support Professional
Service Source Inc
Manassas
09.2017 - 11.2020
- Provide active engagement and support for all adults with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD) which to include community integration/inclusion, training, leisure, communication, mobility, behavior, personal care, transportation, safety, and risk management within a Day Support Program.
- Implement Individual Services Plans (ISPs) and Individual Program Plans (IPPs) as written, assisting clients with meeting their intended personal goals.
- Create, develop, and implement group activities coinciding with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s).
- Provide input during the implementation process of assigned Person-Centered Planning (PCP) outcomes.
- Utilize problem-solving strategies to make proper decisions and report issues that cannot be resolved to the immediate supervisor.
- Support activities, and protocols as written within each client’s Individual Services Planning (ISP) to ensure a safe and healthy environment for each client and document progress.
- Provide and maintain accurate information and documentation for the Primary Care Physician PCP while providing monthly and quarterly reports and daily notes and enter as electronic record.
- Complete quarterly reviews for assigned clients according to data collected while provided input to treatment team of additional supports recommended for client’s success.
- Communicate with family members, guardians, authorized representatives, residential providers and Support Coordinators regarding participant’s illness, incidents at the direction of the Program Manager or designee.
- Keep team members apprised of any concerns as needed.
- Orchestrate group day activities for adults with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and creating an environment for independent growth in areas of mobility, healthcare, personal care. life skills, socialization, and community integration.
- Drive company vehicles, including wheelchair vans while applying the appropriate wheelchair tie down for client transport and safety.
Behavior Support Clinician
Compass Counseling Services of Virginia
Charlottesville
09.2016 - 09.2017
- Provide behavioral interventions as listed within client’s Individual Service Plan as directed by License Behavioral Analysis (LBA).
- Build rapport with Family while collaborating directly with clients to decrease behaviors.
- Provide Case Coordination and Management, Resource development, direct skills training with Client, Parents/Guardians, and Aids to enhance services rendered.
- Maintain regular sessions with Client and their families as scheduled while applying Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) strategies.
- Provide Intensive In-Home services for Medicaid Client’s under Compass Counseling Services Connections Program.
- Attending meetings pertaining to client’s services (i.e., Individual Education Planning (IEPs, Individual Services Planning (ISPs).
- Enter as an electronic record of daily, weekly session notes and data Documenting behavioral strategies used according to Client’s Individual Service Plans (ISPs).
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles (i.e., discrete trial training, forward/backwards chaining, shaping, discrete trial training and differential reinforcement under direct supervision of LBA.
- Attending required training, weekly supervision meetings.
Behavior Specialist
Paragon Autism Services
Fredericksburg
03.2016 - 09.2016
- Build report within clients’ residential setting.
- Conduct Individual assessments to determine client’s interests, strengths, needs, improvements while maintain records and treatment reports relevant to client’s treatment plan.
- Collectively under the direction of treatment team assist in the development and the implementation of treatment plans to address challenging behaviors.
- Supporting client throughout the treatment process.
- Communicating effective training techniques with clients’ teachers, caregivers, and families to implement treatment plans to decrease clients’ behaviors.
- Monitoring and recording treatment progress.
- Collaborating with other healthcare specialists and supportive organizations.
- Provide quarterly graphs of clients Individual Support Planning (ISP) indicating goals mastered versus goals continuing for supportive roles by Behavior Specialist.
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles (i.e., discrete trial training, forward/backwards chaining, shaping, discrete trial training and differential reinforcement under direct supervision of LBA.
- Attending required training, weekly supervision meetings.
Assistant Site Manager
MVLE, Inc.
Springfield
03.2014 - 03.2016
- Provide appropriate training, modeling, coaching, mentoring, support, and counseling to Direct Support Professionals (DSP’s) regarding appropriate work attitudes, work skills, specific individual serving delivery, and other duties in assigned program area/enclave.
- Provide face-to-face systematic training to clients at their jobsite.
- Monitor individuals’ progress and develop effective natural support through role modeling.
- Determine the need for adaptive tools through initial assessments and develop strategies to promote skill acquisition.
- Report any abuse, neglect, and Human Rights violations to Management.
- In conjunction with Rehab Specialist, ensure compliance with requirements from program servicing documentation (data support logs, reports, information, and individual files).
- Attend all Individual Services Planning meetings and coordinate schedules with other members of the program services team.
- Communicated with Personal Centered Programing (PCP) team members and others to coordinate individual planning and support.
- Substitute as needed covering the various sites/enclaves employed by Direct Support Professionals (DSP) and Individuals contracted by MVLE, Inc.
- Complete required reporting documents i.e., Daily Timesheets, Daily Attendance Records, Incident Reports, Monthly Progress Report, Daily Support Logs and Job Coaching Weekly Reports.
Education
Certified Substance Abuse Counselor-Assistant -
Ther Center For Addiction Studies and Research
Stamford, CT06.2024
Bachelor of Science - Organizational Security and Management
University of Phoenix
Tempe, AZ09.2012
Associates of Art - Criminal Justice
University of Phoenix
Tempe, AZ06.2010
Skills
- Crisis intervention
- Medication administration
- Individualized support planning
- Behavioral assessment
- Health and safety compliance
- Client relationship management
Training
- City Orientation, 01/25/24
- Department Orientation, 01/26/24
- Bloodborne Pathogens, 01/29/24
- Person Centered Skills Training/Behavior Support Plan Orientation, 01/29/24
- Direct Support Professional Orientation, 01/29/24
- CPR/AED/First Aid, 04/16/24
- Food Safety/Nutrition, 02/08/24
- Mandate Reporter Training, 02/18/24
- Defensive Driving, 02/28/24
- Medical Management Training, 03/25/24 - 03/29/24
- American With Disability Act Training (ADA), 04/09/24
- HIPPA, 04/21/24
- Defensive Strategies – TOVA, 05/09/24
- Certified Substance Abuse Counselor-Assistant (CSAC-A), 06/21/24
References
Available upon request
Timeline
Behavioral Health Technician
Avenues Recovery Center at Norfolk
09.2025 - Current
Customer Service Agent
Geico Auto Insurance Agency
04.2025 - 08.2025
Clinical/Residential Coordinator
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
12.2024 - 03.2025
BH/DS Assistant II
City of Virginia Beach Human Services Department
01.2024 - 12.2024
Dump Truck Driver (Class B with Air Brake Endorsement)
The Anderson Company LLC
05.2021 - 08.2023
Dump Truck Driver (Class B)
Virginia Land Improvement, Corporation
11.2020 - 04.2021
Direct Support Professional
Service Source Inc
09.2017 - 11.2020
Behavior Support Clinician
Compass Counseling Services of Virginia
09.2016 - 09.2017
Behavior Specialist
Paragon Autism Services
03.2016 - 09.2016
Assistant Site Manager
MVLE, Inc.
03.2014 - 03.2016
Certified Substance Abuse Counselor-Assistant -
Ther Center For Addiction Studies and Research
Bachelor of Science - Organizational Security and Management
University of Phoenix
Associates of Art - Criminal Justice
University of Phoenix