Jessica Whitham
Rising Sun,IN
Summary
Highly organized and self-motivated professional experienced in project management, team development and process improvement. Skilled in developing and implementing strategies to increase efficiency and performance. Passionate about driving business growth and creating positive work environment.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director
Children's Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana
2022.04 - 2024.08
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Oversaw annual budget planning processes, ensuring financial goals were met while maintaining optimal resource allocation across departments.
- Assisted senior leadership in managing all aspects of operations.
- Led teams of up to 5 personnel, supervising daily performance as well as training and improvement plans.
Child & Family Advocate
Children's Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana
2018.11 - 2024.08
- Developed strong partnerships with local organizations while actively identifying gaps in services, thereby bridging the resources to meet family needs.
- Trained new Family Advocates in best practices to ensure consistent service delivery across the organization.
- Assisted families in navigating the social services system, including applying for benefits, accessing resources and connecting with other family support services.
- Built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs.
- Conducted outreach to families and other community partners to identify ways to address social, emotional and behavioral needs.
- Documented data and completed accurate updates to case records.
- Coordinated referrals from other agencies, streamlining access to supportive services for clients in need.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address complex issues impacting families'' lives.
Family Case Manager
Indiana Department of Child Services
2008.10 - 2018.11
- Assisted families in navigating complex legal processes related to custody disputes or domestic violence situations.
- Developed trusting relationships with clients through empathetic listening, non-judgmental support, and consistent follow-up on their progress.
- Evaluate child welfare concerns by conducting thorough home visits.
- Utilized excellent time management skills to effectively juggle multiple cases concurrently while consistently meeting deadlines.
- Improved child safety by closely monitoring at-risk families and providing timely interventions when necessary.
- Advocated for clients'' rights and needs within the agency and broader social service system, ensuring fair treatment and access to essential resources.
- Ensured accurate documentation of case progress by maintaining detailed records and submitting timely reports to supervisors.
- Trained new Family Case Managers on agency protocols, best practices, and client engagement techniques to improve overall team performance.
- Coordinated with other professionals, such as therapists, medical providers, and school personnel, to holistically address the unique needs of each family.
Education
Bachelor of Science - General Studies
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN12.2006
Skills
- Project Management
- Strategic leadership
- Team Collaboration and Leadership
- Operations Management
- Event Planning
- Crisis Management
- Onboarding and training
- Organizational Development
- Budget Management
- Administrative Support
- Data Collection
Strengths
- Positive Mindset: Keeping a positive attitude in challenging situations
- Time Management: Making plans, lists and staying focused helps me ensure that I am meeting goals timely
- Team Player: Prioritizes the success of the team over own
Timeline
Associate Director
Children's Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana
2022.04 - 2024.08
Child & Family Advocate
Children's Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana
2018.11 - 2024.08
Family Case Manager
Indiana Department of Child Services
2008.10 - 2018.11
Bachelor of Science - General Studies
University of Indianapolis
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