JOHN K.A. FRANCE
Clayton,USA
Summary
Results-driven professional with extensive experience in optimizing operations, programs, and employee processes to drive organizational growth. Skilled in developing and executing strategies to enhance service processes and foster business growth. Adept at leading, coaching, and managing high-performing teams to achieve organizational goals. Proven track record of providing leadership direction and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. Experienced [Desired Position] with a background in psychotherapy, delivering empathetic care and implementing evidence-based interventions to enhance mental health and resilience through active listening and cognitive-behavioral techniques.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Psychotherapist
LifeStance Health, Newark, DE
01.2024 - Current
- I assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. I help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interview with patients, and theory.
- Utilized mindfulness techniques during sessions to help clients develop greater self-awareness and coping skills for managing stressors.
- Developed personalized treatment plans to address each client''s specific needs, leading to improved mental health outcomes.
- Evaluated client progress regularly, adjusting treatment plans as necessary based on changing needs or circumstances.
- Collaborated with healthcare professionals in coordinating care for clients with co-occurring mental health and physical health concerns, ensuring a holistic approach to treatment.
- Led therapeutic process groups focused on topics such as grief, self-esteem, and anger management, facilitating peer support and personal growth among participants.
- Provided crisis intervention services when needed, effectively addressing acute emotional distress and preventing harm to self or others.
- Addressed issues related to addiction recovery using motivational interviewing techniques, supporting individuals throughout the process of change.
- Conducted psychoeducational assessments for children and adolescents, identifying learning difficulties and providing recommendations for targeted interventions.
Inpatient Social Worker
Dove Behavior Health System, Dover, DE
10.2023 - Current
- As an LMSW, I provide quality case management and psychotherapy care services to acute adolescent and adult patients. Services include advising and educating family caregivers, providing patient education and counseling, and making referrals for other services. Services include case and management interventions designed to promote health and address barriers to access to healthcare.
- Developed supportive professional relationships with patients to enhance quality of life and achieve self-sufficiency.
- Coordinated with external agencies such as housing authorities or disability services providers for seamless service delivery during the transition process.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction with empathetic listening and clear communication during difficult times.
- Implemented evidence-based interventions for addressing issues such as substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders.
- Established trusting relationships with patients through active listening, empathy, and understanding of diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members for coordinated care and effective treatment strategies.
- Offered regular and quality contact with clients to maintain trust, assist in crisis prevention and meet individual needs.
- Participated in case conferences with colleagues to discuss patient progress and develop cohesive treatment plans.
- Assisted families in navigating complex healthcare systems, ensuring access to necessary resources and support services.
- Conducted psychosocial assessments to identify patient strengths, needs, and potential barriers to recovery.
Ordained Minister
Wesley Methodist Church, Newark, DE
07.2021 - Current
- Responsible for being a spiritual leader of the Christian faith. Duties include preaching sermons to the congregation, organizing charitable activities and church events, and meeting with members of the congregation to help them strengthen their faith or overcome significant life changes.
- Preparing sermons by researching and writing about how to present Bible lessons to the congregation to meet their spiritual needs.
- Officiating special occasions in the lives of the congregation, such as confirmations, weddings, baptisms, and funerals.
- Facilitated thought-provoking Bible study sessions that deepened participants'' understanding of scripture and its relevance to everyday life.
- Cultivated a spirit of generosity through stewardship campaigns that emphasized responsible financial giving and sharing of personal talents for the betterment of the church community.
- Strengthened connections between families by organizing social events that fostered fellowship among congregants of all ages.
- Implemented new ministry programs tailored to address specific needs within the congregation such as marriage counseling or grief support groups.
- Organized and led engaging worship services, enhancing the overall experience for attendees.
- Encouraged spiritual growth in congregation members by leading retreats focused on deepening faith and understanding of religious principles.
Academic Program Director (Trio Programs)
University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
08.2016 - Current
- I am responsible for overseeing curriculum development and recruiting, training, and supervising staff within the Trio Program. This position requires working with staff, faculty, and students across multiple disciplines while engaging with a broad range of stakeholders.
- Plan, organize, and direct initiatives related to the program components, including curriculum, academic support, and monitoring.
- Supervise all efforts related to the recruitment, identification, selection, assessment, and placement of program participants. Work directly with the target school's leadership to facilitate workshops and school initiatives that allow for student workshops, meetings, and storage.
- Establish, approve, and evaluate department programs and staff and provide personal direction for the department.
- Represent the department at professional conferences and meetings, serve on university committees, and serve as liaison with the U.S. Department of Education, participating in school districts and other community partners.
- Participate actively in community, university, and directly related and reserved demographics, such as community meetings, organizational boards, and committees.
- Prepare administrative reports on program initiatives, plan and implement professional development and strategic planning for full-time staff.
- Led change management initiatives, fostering a positive organizational culture during periods of transition.
- Managed cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional program outcomes within budget and time constraints.
- Communicated regularly with stakeholders, updating on progress to build support for program.
- Directed strategic planning process, aligning program objectives with organizational goals.
Admissions Specialist
Meadowwood Behavior Health, New Castle, DE
10.2018 - 08.2023
- Facilitated admissions and assessment processes for incoming patients.
- Collaborate with other medical and psychiatric personnel at different facilities to ensure appropriate recommendations and admissions.
- Provide service to a variety of customer groups, including but not limited to: physicians, allied health professionals, hospital emergency departments, convenience care centers, other healthcare providers, schools, social service and mental health agencies, police courts, employers, and the public at large.
- Coordinate admissions and transfers between levels of care within the facility.
- Communicate projected admissions to designated internal representatives promptly.
- Perform insurance benefit verification and disseminate information gathered to patients, their families, and the appropriate facility staff.
- Ensure all medical admissions documentation was gathered from external sources before patient admissions and secure third-party authorization for treatment and admission.
- Assisted individual therapists with concurrent reviews with insurance companies to secure continued treatment.
- Assisted applicants with admissions packet and served as point of contact throughout admissions process.
- Provided exceptional customer service by promptly addressing applicant inquiries and concerns via phone, email, or in-person visits.
- Contributed to increased enrollment numbers through proactive outreach, attending recruitment events, and maintaining relationships with prospective students.
Behavioral Health Associate
Meadowwood Behavior Health, New Castle, DE
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Responsibilities include monitoring mental health patients in psychiatric units and other mental health settings. Worked directly with patients most of the time, assisted therapy, monitored the patient's progress, and carried out vital health checks such as blood pressure and heart rate.
- Responsible for conducting safety checks and ensuring supervision at 15-minute intervals, as noted in special precautions, by individualized supervision guidelines as needed.
- Documented timely, accurate, and appropriate clinical information in patient's medical records.
- Assisted in providing a safe, secure, and comfortable environment for patients, significant others, and staff.
- Interacted routinely with patients, observed behaviors, and communicated significant observations to nursing staff.
- Oversaw assisted patients with activities of daily living, including toileting, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, meals, snacks, hydration, and changing linens.
- Facilitated patient education and rehabilitation groups, which covered various topics, including social skills, coping skills, anger management, and independent living skills.
- Engaged patients in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.
Senior Counselor (Education Opportunity Fund/EOF Program)
Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey
05.2012 - 08.2016
- As an EOF Counselor, I provided holistic, comprehensive academic, mental health, career, student life, and personal counseling. Developed intervention strategies for college success and made referrals to appropriate university offices and departments for assigned caseload of students admitted to the University through the EOF Program. My responsibilities focused on retention initiatives, including serving university-wide committees, performing academic and student development-related tasks, teaching sections of the First-Year Seminar, and developing goal-setting leadership and programming activities promoting educational achievement.
- Worked collaboratively with various departments to align their programs, mission, and purpose with their recruitment, admissions, and financial aid process to advocate for inclusion of targeted underrepresented students.
- Assisted in developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the EOF enrichment activities, community service, and service-learning projects to engage and empower students to achieve their leadership, educational, and personal goals.
- Developed education and retention strategies to ensure participants maintain target for graduation, college enrollment, and graduate school enrollment by providing ongoing academic advising, mentoring/coaching sessions with students and by assisting them with completing admissions and financial aid applications.
- Researched and stayed abreast of best practices, student-centered trends, and policy initiatives related to EOF and underrepresented student population and presented workshops on continuing and incoming EOF students.
- Prepared and provided the EOF director with information, including recruitment reports for EOF and student progress reports to complete state EOF assessments and annual report.
- Utilized student learning outcomes and assessment tools to place students in appropriate resources.
- Coordinated outreach efforts aimed at raising awareness about available mental health services among target populations.
- Evaluated program outcomes using data-driven approaches informed by client feedback, staff input, and industry best practices to ensure continuous improvement of counseling services.
- Increased client satisfaction with timely intervention and follow-up on progress.
- Educated clients about available resources, both within the organization and externally, to support their journey towards wellness.
Social Worker/Rehabilitation Counselor
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Reading, PA
01.2005 - 01.2011
- I provided individual and group counseling to help clients adjust to their disability. Evaluated clients' abilities, interests, experiences, skills, and health education. Developed a treatment plan for clients in consultation with other professionals, such as doctors, therapists, and psychologists.
- Determined eligibility for vocational rehabilitation programs by reviewing complex statutory and regulatory standards.
- Developed and approved individualized plans for employment, which identify services and performance measures to achieve an employment goal consistent with the client's abilities, capabilities, and priorities and consistent with the individual's informed choices.
- Determined the availability of comparable services and benefits without cost from other public and private organizations and utilized such services and benefits, where appropriate, according to complex statutory standards.
- Coordinated and integrated service provision by other agencies, medical providers, educational institutions, and community resources to achieve vocational rehabilitation goals identified in the individualized plan for employment to locate, develop, and maintain referrals or sources for individuals with disabilities.
- Implemented approved individualized plans for employment by procuring identified goods and services, authorizing and encumbering funds, and monitoring clients' progress in achieving identified performance measures.
- Periodically review the individualized plan for employment to clients' progress in achieving goals, targets, timelines, and performance measures, and amend the individualized plan for employment when necessary.
- Provided job development and placement services, including developing relationships with employers and follow-up to ensure a satisfactory adjustment to the job.
- Provided expertise in monitoring legal proceedings.
- Participated in extended employment reviews of rehabilitation facilities.
- Administered preliminary and comprehensive vocational assessments.
- Assisted individuals with addressing disabilities and developing career plans.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure appropriate care coordination and resource allocation for clients.
- Coordinated community resources and secured referrals.
- Educated families on available community resources, connecting them with essential services such as housing assistance, financial aid, or healthcare providers.
- Promoted development of interviewing, resume writing, and etiquette skills.
- Built and maintained strong referral networks with local agencies to connect clients with appropriate services for their unique needs.
- Conducted comprehensive patient assessments and evaluated patient care plans.
- Enhanced clients'' quality of life with comprehensive counseling services addressing their unique mental, emotional, and physical needs.
- Advocated for appropriate accommodations on behalf of clients in educational or workplace settings, ensuring equal opportunity participation in daily activities.
- Improved client rehabilitation outcomes by developing and implementing customized treatment plans.
- Facilitated group therapy sessions that fostered a supportive environment for clients working towards common goals.
- Promoted client self-advocacy by teaching necessary skills for navigating various systems such as healthcare, employment, and housing assistance programs.
Program Director
Community Service Group, Maryland Line, MD
10.2000 - 08.2003
- Monitored and directed the staff and activities associated with one or more residential programs for mental and/or physically disabled individuals. Work was performed under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, from which the Program Director receives guidance and supervision.
- Managed program budget and supervised staff to ensure that immunization and strategic activities are successful.
- Directed ongoing supervision of the Program Supervisor(s) and residential staff.
- Planned, organized, and oversaw all activities for individual and designated residential entities.
- Attended and charting appropriate in-house and out-of-house meetings with relevant service professionals to coordinate individual programming, planning, and activities and relay necessary information to staff (i.e., IPPs, IWPPs, OT, PT, Speech Therapy, etc.).
- Provided leadership and oversight of residential living/learning experience, including curriculum design, budget management, and staff training.
- Provided oversight and supervision to dining and catering operations.
- Coordinated all residential and recreational activities to implement and consistently develop and participate in evening recreation, DA, and educational activities.
- Coordinated completion of individual assessments.
- Coordinated development and review of individual program plans.
- Ensured the implementation of IPPs and program activities.
- Met regularly with Chief Executive Officer to review programmatic and budgetary matters.
- Participated in staff training sessions to continually enhance knowledge and skills in resident care practices.
- Mentored team members for professional development, resulting in increased productivity and job satisfaction.
- Provided ongoing direction and leadership for program operations.
- Designed customized training programs to enhance staff knowledge and skills in key areas of responsibility.
- Evaluated program performance through comprehensive data analysis, driving continuous improvement efforts.
- Maintained and updated project related documents.
- Established program policies and procedures to comply with regulatory requirements.
- Promoted an inclusive environment by actively engaging diverse populations in all aspects of programming.
- Developed and implemented program evaluation systems to assess program impact.
- Consistently exceeded key performance indicators by adapting quickly to changes in program needs.
- Implemented best practices in project management to optimize workflow efficiencies across the organization.
- Led cross-functional teams to achieve project milestones, ensuring timely and within-budget delivery.
Education
Doctor of Education (Ed.D) - Behavioral Psychology, Pastoral Community Counseling
Argosy University
08-2011
Master of Arts (MA) - Rehabilitation Counseling
South Carolina State University
12-2004
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Sociology
Clariflin University
05-2000
Skills
- Case documentation
- Substance abuse counseling
- Group therapy facilitation
- Treatment Planning
- Client relationship management
- Conflict management
- Building rapport
- Anxiety management
- Motivational interviewing
- Psychosocial assessment
- Depression treatment
Certification
- Licensed Master Social Worker (DE)
- Licensed Ordained Minister (Methodist Theological Educational Extension)
References
Available upon request
Accomplishments
- Experience supervising and leading teams, including the ability to give clear and actionable feedback to each team member's development and support individual goals settings for supervisees.
- Outstanding communication skills (written, verbal, presentation, etc.).
- Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and tight deadlines.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, detail-orientation and capacity to multitask.
- Analytical thinker and team-builder.
Affiliations
- National Academic Advising Association (NACADA)
- Education Opportunity Fund Professional Association of New Jersey
- National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC) 2011-Present
- National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE) 2010-Present
- Pennsylvania Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concern (PAMRC) 2005-2011 Vice President 2006-2011
- Chi Sigma Iota, Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International (CSI)
- South Carolina Counseling Association
- National Rehabilitation Association
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- Pi Gamma Mu International Professional Honor Society (PGM)
- College Advisement Employment Placement Guide Right Program
- Member of Continuum of Care (COC-Delaware)
- Member of AmeriCorps
Additional Experience
- Support Coordinator, Advantage Support 2017-2018
- ABA Specialist, PBI, Epic Development Services 2012-2019
- Program Coordinator, Benchmark Human Services 2014-2016
- Admissions Specialist, MTH Friends Hospital 2011-2014
- Adjunct Instructor, Eagle Village 2013-2014
- Dau Diagnostician, Signal Program, Counsel on Vision Human Services 2010-2012
- Substitute Teacher, New Life 2011-2012
- Child Care Counselor, Kids Peace 2009-2010
Timeline
Psychotherapist
LifeStance Health, Newark, DE
01.2024 - Current
Inpatient Social Worker
Dove Behavior Health System, Dover, DE
10.2023 - Current
Ordained Minister
Wesley Methodist Church, Newark, DE
07.2021 - Current
Admissions Specialist
Meadowwood Behavior Health, New Castle, DE
10.2018 - 08.2023
Behavioral Health Associate
Meadowwood Behavior Health, New Castle, DE
01.2018 - 01.2020
Academic Program Director (Trio Programs)
University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
08.2016 - Current
Senior Counselor (Education Opportunity Fund/EOF Program)
Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey
05.2012 - 08.2016
Social Worker/Rehabilitation Counselor
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Reading, PA
01.2005 - 01.2011
Program Director
Community Service Group, Maryland Line, MD
10.2000 - 08.2003
Doctor of Education (Ed.D) - Behavioral Psychology, Pastoral Community Counseling
Argosy University
Master of Arts (MA) - Rehabilitation Counseling
South Carolina State University
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Sociology
Clariflin University
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