Kari Linton
Tigard,OR
Summary
Experienced MSW professional with a strong background in child protection, medical social work, program development, case management, community outpatient mental health, clinical supervision, school social work, addictions, and corrections. Skilled in assessing needs and developing effective treatment plans to deliver individual and group interventions to support clients in achieving their goals.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Behavioral Health Specialist-QMHP
Oregon Youth Authority; MacLaren Youth Correctiona
2018.09 - Current
- Work as a member of the living unit management team to develop, implement and support processes, guidelines and procedures to support OYA policy and ensure safety and security for unit staff and youth
- Lead Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings and ensure clear communication regarding treatment needs, report on progress of treatment
- Work collaboratively and creatively to ensure all treatment needs are met, and all members are in communication
- Assess mental health and behavioral health needs, including any offense specific, psychiatric or drug and alcohol needs during intake and on unit for up to 18 youth
- Ongoing suicide risk assessment
- Provide individualized and group therapy dealing with specific mental/behavioral health needs and criminogenic risk factors
- Maintain timely documentation on all assessments and treatment activities
- Provide immediate response to crisis situations to include assessment, intervention and direction of staff regarding programming modifications and safety precautions
- Direct supervision of master’s level interns.
- Created progress reports, assessments and documentation within required timeframes.
- Assisted clients in developing healthy coping mechanisms that contributed to sustained behavioral changes and improved overall wellbeing.
- Consulted regularly with psychiatrists regarding medication management recommendations for shared clients, ensuring optimal pharmacological interventions complementing therapy approaches.
- Identified appropriate treatment resources and recommended patients for these services.
- Maintained accurate documentation of client progress and treatment plans in compliance with organizational policies and legal requirements.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams for comprehensive care, resulting in improved treatment planning and coordination.
- Contributed to program development initiatives aimed at improving service delivery within the organization''s behavioral health division.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current with industry best practices and enhance clinical skills.
- Served as a mentor for new behavioral health specialists, sharing knowledge and expertise to support their professional growth.
- Implemented and established behavior strategies by setting rules, reiterating expectations, and rewarding good behavior.
- Developed personalized treatment plans focusing on each client''s unique situation and goals, leading to better therapeutic results.
- Evaluated program effectiveness using outcome measures data analysis, aiding continuous improvement efforts within the organization''s behavioral health department.
- Enhanced patient outcomes by utilizing evidence-based practices and tailoring interventions to individual needs.
- Conducted thorough assessments, identifying underlying issues contributing to clients'' behavioral health concerns.
- Adhered to ethical and legal standards for confidentiality, protecting clients' privacy.
- Observed and monitored client behavior and responses to treatment.
- Attended trainings to participate in regular supervision and continued education to maintain professional competence and ethical standards.
- Stayed current on mental health research to follow new developments and research in mental health field.
- Managed patients with substance dependence and co-occurring disorders.
- Supervised busy caseload, managing clients, balancing workload and prioritizing client needs.
- Worked collaboratively with other mental health professionals to provide consistent care and minimize diversion.
Outpatient Therapist
Sequoia Mental Health Services
2018.05 - 2018.09
- Outpatient Therapist
- Conduct comprehensive person-centered mental health assessment
- Develop individual treatment plans focusing on recovery goals and community integration
- Make appropriate referrals or collateral appointments based on level of care and need
- Work within the recovery and person-centered strengths model to support implementation of service plan
- Provide individual, family and group therapy, psychoeducation and case management using evidence based practices
- Use feedback informed treatment as means to evaluate practices
- Complete accurate and timely documentation using electronic health records.
Chemawa Indian Health Services
2017.10 - 2018.02
- Behavioral Health Care Consultant Intern
- Program development of integrated healthcare in primary care clinic
- Researched and built data base of screening tools
- Provide brief solution focused/skill building intervention for patients referred by primary care
- Support and education of primary care staff regarding mental and behavioral health.
Pioneer Special School; Portland Public Schools
2016.08 - 2017.06
- Clinical Social Work Intern
- Intake of new students to include: review of clinical documents and educational cumulative file, complete timely mental health assessment of student, parent engagement and assist students in understanding new learning environment
- Provide individual, group and family therapy
- Teach and use Collaborative Problem Solving and Zones of Regulation within the classroom
- Crisis management of students throughout the school day
- Case management and collaboration with community service providers
- Support educational staff in classroom to maintain a therapeutic milieu
- Assist families with resource acquisition
- Transition students back to less restrictive environment to include develop mindful transition plan observe new classroom environment, accompany student for school visits, participate in multidisciplinary transition meetings, prepare student and family for entry into a new school.
State of Montana DPHHS Child Protection Specialist; Intensive Service Unit
2014.12 - 2015.12
- Provide intensive and time limited interventions to adolescent youth in congregate care with no identified permanency plan, achieved 50% of youth stepped down in level of care
- Conduct thorough case and file review of every child
- Maintain intensive contact with child and service providers to ensure all medical, psychological and well-being needs are met
- Re-envision case plans through Safety, Permanency and Well-being round tables
- Conduct family finding efforts and engage any identified family members to assess appropriateness of potential placement or support and reconnect with the youth when in the best interest of the child
- Work creatively to problem solve any issues that may arise to ensure all needs continue to be met and placement is stable
- Keep detailed and accurate records of contact and services provided
- Maintain timely and accurate affidavits to the District Court
- Provide accurate and precise case transfer documentation when case transfers back to traditional CPS.
Child Protection Specialist
2011.02 - 2014.12
- Conduct assessments of reported child abuse and neglect in compliance with state and federal statutes and agency policy, using safety assessment tools and decision making-guides; all assessments completed within 60-day time frame
- Document and communicate safety threats to all involved, including preparation of affidavits for district court when necessary
- Provide appropriate level of intervention to assure safety and continuously review progress made to eliminate safety threats
- Identify and connect children and families to available resources
- Develop and implement permanency plans
- Prepare timely, factually specific and accurate affidavits for the District Court to allow the court to take steps needed to implement the permanency plan
- All records and contacts kept up to date to ensure prompt payment for services
- Assure child is evaluated and assessed to determine medical and psychological needs
- Make clear recommendations and referrals for medical, psychological and other services
- Use critical decision-making skills in high stress situations
- Active participation in child protection teams, multidisciplinary teams, foster care review, youth centered meetings, family decision making meetings, weekly staffing and unit meetings
- Clear understanding of legal system, prepare affidavits and testify in court as needed.
Abortion Services Supervisor-Blue Mountain Clinic
2006.06 - 2011.02
- Responsible for hiring, training, evaluating and supervision of abortion staff
- Perform pre-surgical counseling and assessment (in addition to peer counselor job duties)
- Coordinate patient and staff schedule for outpatient surgery
- Responsible for chart review and patient follow up as needed
- Oversee Montana Access Project texting service and outreach
- Develop and implement case management services for patients seeking monetary assistance
- Lead worker responsible for community outreach and education
- Manage initial intake and management of patients electing to participate in the Turnaway Study administered through the University of California, San Francisco
- Supervise and mentor BSW and MSW practicum students
- Develop and lead ongoing training to direct care staff
- Coordinate regular review and updating of abortion policies and procedures for consistency of care and to meet malpractice insurance needs.
Abortion Peer Counselor-Blue Mountain Clinic
2005.08 - 2006.06
Director/Supervisor-Creation Station Daycare and Preschool
1998.09 - 2005.08
VISTA Volunteer-American Red Cross, Disaster Preparedness/Volunteer Coordinator
1994.01 - 1995.03
Education
Masters of Social Work - Children, Youth and Families
Portland State University
Portland, OR06.2018
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work -
University of Montana
Missoula, MT01.1998
Skills
- Suicide Risk Assessment
- Behavioral treatment services
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Written Communication
- Team building
- Clinical interventions
- Mental Health Assessment
- Assessment reports and other documentation
- Motivational Interviewing
- Child and Adolescent Therapy
- Crisis Intervention
- CPR/AED
Professional Development
- ADHD Clinical Certification Course: Strength Based Interventions to Thrive with ADHD from childhood to adulthood 7/24
- Confidentiality: The HIPAA Privacy Rule & 42 CFR Part 2 5/24
- NASW Code of Ethics 4/24
- Treatment for Suicidal Ideation, self-harm & suicide attempts among youth 4/24
- Ethics and Boundary Issues 4/24
- Narrative Therapy in Practice 6/23
- What is Narrative Therapy 5/23
- DBT in a Nutshell: Treating Multi-diagnostic, complex Individuals 5/23
- Clinical Supervision and Ethics for Professional Counselors 9/22 &10/22
- Understanding Expression of Trauma as a Component of Trauma-Informed Care 5/21
- Professional Ethics 2/27-28/2019
- Addiction Pharmacology 3/6-8/19
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training 3/14-15/2019
- DBT Training, Portland DBT Institute 6/7-6/2018 & 6/14-15/2018
- OYA Orientation9/18
- OYA Advanced Academy 10/18
- CPR, AED, 1st Aid 10/18
- CPI: Non-violent Crisis Intervention 10/18
- PROFESOR-Protective Risk Observations for Eliminating Sexual offense Recidivism-OASONTN 12/18
- MANDT, Sequoia Mental Health Services 3/18
- SBIRT, Portland State University 09/17
- The Impact of Child Maltreatment on Development: Ages birth-5 years, University of MT 1/2015
- Family Development Specialist Certification, University of Iowa 6/2014
- Cultural Competency, The National Native Children’s Trauma Center 9/2014
- Mediation and Group Facilitation, 9/2014
- Motivational Interviewing 10/2014
- Youth Engagement Training 11/2014
- Early Intervention and Secondary Prevention for At-Risk Children and Youth, University of MT
Timeline
Behavioral Health Specialist-QMHP
Oregon Youth Authority; MacLaren Youth Correctiona
2018.09 - Current
Outpatient Therapist
Sequoia Mental Health Services
2018.05 - 2018.09
Chemawa Indian Health Services
2017.10 - 2018.02
Pioneer Special School; Portland Public Schools
2016.08 - 2017.06
State of Montana DPHHS Child Protection Specialist; Intensive Service Unit
2014.12 - 2015.12
Child Protection Specialist
2011.02 - 2014.12
Abortion Services Supervisor-Blue Mountain Clinic
2006.06 - 2011.02
Abortion Peer Counselor-Blue Mountain Clinic
2005.08 - 2006.06
Director/Supervisor-Creation Station Daycare and Preschool
1998.09 - 2005.08
VISTA Volunteer-American Red Cross, Disaster Preparedness/Volunteer Coordinator
1994.01 - 1995.03
Masters of Social Work - Children, Youth and Families
Portland State University
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work -
University of Montana
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