Jon Pemberton

I currently serve as a Case Manager at Eastern Washington University in our Student Accommodations and Support Services (SASS) office.

My primary job duties consist of assisting students as they navigate significant life circumstances that are impacting their academics. This includes meeting with students, listening to their stories, making collateral contacts, sending out notices to professors/faculty, referring to appropriate resources both inside and outside of the institution, assisting with course withdrawals, helping students as they navigate other offices such as Financial Aid, Records and Registration, and Admissions, and empowering students to make decisions they feel most comfortable with.

Additionally, I work with students who are eligible for the Passport Program, which provides assistance for students who have come to college having previously experienced foster care, adoption, or have been identified as Unaccompanied Homeless Youth.

Chartered and served as pastor for a Cheney "branch" of a larger Spokane based church. Job duties were numerous but included recruiting volunteers, organizing teams, directing the leadership team (board), managing finances/budget, organizing community service opportunities, creating monthly reports, monitoring adherence to various policies, working collaboratively with a larger church organization, writing and delivering weekly messages, providing guidance to church members (including many college students), assisting members with crisis situations, and more.

In this role I served as the supervisor for the foster home licensing unit for DCYF Region 1 where I had oversight/responsibility for over 700 state licensed foster homes in Eastern Washington. I supervised a staff of 7 workers who licensed and maintained all of the foster homes in our area.

My job duties were extensive but included: monthly supervisory staffings with my direct staff as well as superiors; reading, editing, and approving foster license home studies which included assessments for safety and suitability; ensuring compliance with state WACs and RCWs; attending shared planning meetings with multiple agencies and personnel; participating/leading meetings directly relating to the safety of vulnerable children; conducting foster parent trainings; pursuing/engaging in legal action as appropriate; creating action/safety plans with clients and staff; conducting annual audits; implementation of new policies and procedures, etc.

In this role I was responsible for licensing, maintaining, and providing support services for a case load of approximately 80 foster homes in Eastern Washington. My job duties were many but the primary role was working directly with prospective foster parents to help them in their licensing journey. This was accomplished by gathering and synthesizing all of the information necessary to assess the safety and suitability of prospective foster parents; conducting in depth personal interviews with applicants and collateral contacts; reviewing criminal history and background checks; and producing a written home study (usually about 15-20 pages) required for licensure.

Additionally, I was responsible to provide support for foster parents, connect them to resources, ensure adherence to RCWs and WACs, and provide general guidance.

From 2008-2012 I worked as a Children and Family Services (CFWS) social worker/case manager at DCYF specifically serving the Native American population in our community in the Indian Child Welfare (ICW) unit. From 2012-2013 I worked the same position but specifically served adolescents in the foster care system including those in extended foster care (over the age of 18).

In these roles I provided case management for children and their families which included making referrals to service providers, evaluating the effectiveness of services, attending and facilitating staffings, preparing court reports, testifying in court, collaborating with a variety of community partners (drug/alcohol, mental health, hospitals, medical providers, law enforcement, etc.), attending monthly health and safety visits, and finding appropriate placements for children.

I was employed as a Child Protective Services investigator in the Spokane DCYF office. Responsibilities included investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect among Native American children, providing services to families, case management, testifying in court, working with service providers, following guidelines as specified in the Indian Child Welfare Act and Manual, maintaining positive relationships with Native American tribes, and finding appropriate placements for children. Assessing risk and interpreting data in a timely manner was an essential component to this position.

Worked with severe behaviorally challenged children ages 7-18 in 1:1 and 1:2 ratios in the foster care system. Helped children improve a wide range of life skills including social interactions, peer relations, and school work. Other work components included writing progress reports about clients and collaborating with therapists to develop and implement behavior plans.

Worked with at-risk youth as a shelter staff member. Duties included client intakes, helping with schoolwork, janitorial work, and various other interactions with clients aged 13-21.