Jody Christensen
Portland,OR
Summary
Twenty-four years of social work experience with an emphasis on working with families to increase capacity for the safety and wellbeing of children. Experience with non-profit and public sector work, with a focus of shared goals including community health and safety. Seeking opportunities to work and commune with others to promote equity through the values of social justice.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Social Services Specialist I
Oregon Department Of Human Services
11.2019 - Current
- Receive and respond to information from the public and ODHS staff regarding the abuse, neglect, and wellbeing of children. Gather sufficient information to determine departmental response, and communicate what ODHS will do with information provided.
- Refer callers to community resources and supports.
- Manage flow and processing of information in a timely manner
- Maintain work performance through trainings and awareness of current procedures, protocols, rules, and laws.
- Represent the State of Oregon with professional customer service with curiosity and empathy.
Child Welfare Worker II
Children and Family Services
06.2009 - 07.2019
- Family Maintenance and Dependency Investigations Program experience
- Both programs involved ongoing safety and risk assessment of children and families for abuse and neglect, intensive case management, timely court recommendations and reports, engaging children, caregivers and networks of support, collaborative work with Agency and community partners, behaviorally based case planning, in-home and face to face contact with children and caregivers
- Participated in Team Decision Meetings, Child and Family Team Meetings, and utilized Structured Decision Making tools and Safety Organized Practice models of engagement
- In the Family Maintenance Program the work focused on supporting families whose children remained living at home or were returned after successful reunification
- The Dependency Investigation Program focused on assessing the need for ongoing Dependency Court intervention and making appropriate recommendations to the Court about child safety and permanency.
Social Casework Specialist I
Children and Family Services
01.2008 - 12.2008
- Responsibilities included emergency response to allegations of child abuse and/or neglect and case management of children and families engaged in Family Reunification, Family Maintenance, and Long-term Foster Care services
- Completed timely recommendations and reports to the Court, case planning to address issues of abuse and/or neglect, collaborative work with outside agencies, assessment and referral.
Child Assault Prevention, Intern
East Bay Agency for Children
08.2005 - 06.2006
- Responsibilities included co-facilitation of psycho-educational workshops within elementary school setting, individual counseling of students post program, referrals to collaborating agencies, mental health counseling of children and families, assessment and treatment planning and implementation.
Community Resource Specialist, Theraputic Behavioral Specialist/Care Coordinator
Fred Finch Youth Center
08.2001 - 06.2005
- Mental Health counseling and collaborative work with treating therapist and support team, developing and implementing behavioral interventions with children and families within school, home and community settings.
Mental Health Counselor
East Bay Agency for Children
08.1997 - 08.2001
- Mental health counseling and collaborative work with treating therapist and support team, developing and implementing behavioral interventions with children and families within school setting
- Individual and group therapeutic intentions with children.
Education
Master's Degree in Social Work -
San Jose State University
01.2007
Bachelor's Degree in Sociology -
Lake Superior State University
01.1995
Skills
- Client engagement and team building
- Child abuse and neglect safety and risk assessment
- Focus on disproportionality and equity as it relates to race, class, sex and gender identity, and ability
- Capacity to work in group settings and independently
- Honoring individual and family agency as essential for change and growth
Timeline
Social Services Specialist I
Oregon Department Of Human Services
11.2019 - Current
Child Welfare Worker II
Children and Family Services
06.2009 - 07.2019
Social Casework Specialist I
Children and Family Services
01.2008 - 12.2008
Child Assault Prevention, Intern
East Bay Agency for Children
08.2005 - 06.2006
Community Resource Specialist, Theraputic Behavioral Specialist/Care Coordinator
Fred Finch Youth Center
08.2001 - 06.2005
Mental Health Counselor
East Bay Agency for Children
08.1997 - 08.2001
Master's Degree in Social Work -
San Jose State University
Bachelor's Degree in Sociology -
Lake Superior State University