KATIE J. BAKER
Nevada,Iowa
Summary
Experienced professional with a strong background in social work and dedicated to providing exceptional support to clients with disabilities. Committed to ensuring the well-being and academic success of students with disabilities, fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment. Proficient in crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, and creating supportive spaces. Collaborative team player prioritizing positive outcomes, client advocacy, and excellent customer service. Adaptable to changing needs and challenges, known for effective communication, empathy, and exceptional problem-solving skills.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Social Worker
Heartland AEA
08.2019 - Current
- Assist the Executive Director, Instructional Services while under the direct supervision of the Regional Director to provide services for the identification, evaluation and educational programming for children from birth through age 21
- Communicate with parents, school personnel, and community resource staff to involve them in a problem-solving approach with children from birth through age 21 to develop coordinated action plans
- Assist in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of interventions developed in response to educational performance problems at the systems level (school/district-wide) and for individual students
- Use functional assessment techniques that are designed to focus on the child's relationship with home, school and community and on the development of interventions to improve students’ educational performance
- Manage time, organize materials necessary and communicate with AEA and LEA staff to effectively manage cases in assigned buildings
- Support the full and meaningful participation of parents in educational decisions
- Collaborate and communicate with other professions to improve client services
- Participate in inter-agency/inter-disciplinary meetings that determine the eligibility and appropriate educational plans for children with disabilities
- Contribute to professional development by providing in-services, consultation, research activities, and mentoring colleagues as needed
- Assist the facilitator of School Social Work services as directed in the supervision of practicum students
- Serve as an advocate for all children and youth
- Report any and all violations of state and federal rules and regulations, and agency procedures to Executive Director of Instructional Services or Regional Director
- Act in concert with legal requirements and ethical codes of the profession and the Iowa Department of Public Health Board of Social Work Examiners and/or Iowa Board of Educational Examiners
- Demonstrate cultural competence and behaviors consistent with the core values, vision, and mission of Heartland AEA 11
- This position has access to highly confidential information so a background check is required
School Social Worker
Des Moines Public School District
08.2017 - 07.2019
- Strive to enhance the educational programming of students by working with an interdisciplinary team to identify, assess, and support their needs including social, emotional, behavioral, and adaptive needs
- Work independently as well as a part of an interdisciplinary team to make informed decisions regarding a student's educational needs and FAPE and serve students with disabilities to the best of the team's ability
- Provide leadership and support with classroom interventions and supporting students who are showing slow progress behaviorally
- Conduct a data driven Functional Behavior Assessment, and collaborate with the team, the parent, and the all of those who work with the student to develop a Behavior Intervention Plan to support the child and assist them in being successful in the classroom
- Serve as the team liaison between the home, school, and community and advocate for the student and their best interest both academically and personally
- Facilitate referrals between home, school, and community as appropriate while maintaining confidentiality
- Coordinate consultation between the team and the district training team and Behavior Strategists in looking at evaluating and analyzing complicated cases of behavior to better support the student and the learning environment
- Manage Medicaid billing and provide billing instruction and training to special education teachers and school associates
- Consult with and provide education to both school staff and families on issues related to psychosocial health
- Assist building administrators in keeping current and informed of school suspension issues as they relate to a student with IEP support
- Advocate for the civil and human rights of each student and family
- Strive to maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with student's, school staff, and the public
- Support and facilitate Child Study Team weekly to discuss students with disabilities and IEP support
- Access continuing education on current and future trends and techniques in school social work
- Conduct home visits as needed
Clinical Social Worker
VA Central Iowa Health Care System
03.2010 - 07.2017
- Independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their families to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team
- Provide information, education, and counseling to assist Veterans, families, and the inter- disciplinary team in working together to problem solve by communicating and providing referrals to other resources
- Complete psychosocial assessments, treatment planning, individual, group, and family counseling, discharge planning, follow-up, crisis intervention, case management assistance, resource development, and coordination
- Maintain electronic clinical records in accordance with program guidelines and professional licensure requirements
- Seek consultation with other professional disciplines when the need for collaboration arises, or unusual problems are confronted
- Identify appropriate governmental and community resources in the VA and private sector, and refer Veterans and family members to those available resources, as well as assist with the coordination of services
- Independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds
- Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA
Social Work Supervisor
Iowa Veterans Home
04.2008 - 03.2010
- Supervise, direct, and evaluate the work of unit social workers and effectively and efficiently recommend and carry out personnel actions related but not limited to grievances, work schedules and assignments, performance, disciplinary procedures, training, and hiring, and administer personnel and related policies and procedures
- Aid Department Director in planning and implementing project and program goals and objectives, and direct and participate in special projects requested by facility administration
- Work collaboratively to determine what departmental and facility-wide projects should be developed or dropped, and assist in analyzing budget allocations for the department
- Advise unit social workers in problem-solving and reaching decisions when working with highly complex cases
- Perform and carry out duties of Department Director in the event of Director's absence
- Actively participate on facility Admissions, Relocation, Utilization Review, and IT Steering Committee
- Also member of the IVH Research Review Committee
Social Worker III
Iowa Veterans Home
03.2006 - 04.2008
- Provide intensive casework and supportive services for residents with complicated and complex problems including impulsive and compulsive behaviors, self-destructive behaviors, and chronic mental illness to assist the resident and family in effectively dealing with the problems and concerns associated with their emotional and psychosocial well-being
- Serve as a member and facilitator of an interdisciplinary treatment team providing casework and group work services while making professional decisions and recommendations that can strongly impact the life of the resident and family
- Complete or facilitate the preparation of necessary records, reports, and documentation included in daily casework and discharge planning while ensuring compliance with regulatory and departmental requirements
- Work and communicate effectively and efficiently with all clinical disciplines in order to provide each resident with the highest quality of life
General Manager
Papa Murphy's Pizza
03.2002 - 03.2006
- Recruit, interview, and staff store, conduct orientations, train, schedule, complete performance evaluations, and conduct corrective disciplinary actions of team members
- Competency with problem solving skills, interpersonal skills with staff and guests, and excellent oral and written communication with store owner and corporate representatives
- Efficiency of operations, optimizing food and labor costs, minimizing waste, payroll, store inventory, and maintaining fair, consistent treatment of employees
- Supervise up to nine employees on shift and maintain store compliance with Federal, State, and Local labor laws
- Provide constructive and positive feedback while encouraging growth and a diverse, team-oriented work environment
- Resolve guest concerns, with the utmost professionalism, maintaining total guest satisfaction
Patient Family Counselor
Lifepath Hospice
02.2001 - 03.2002
- Member of interdisciplinary team to provide palliative care and achieve best quality of life for patient's through relief of suffering, control of symptoms, and restoration of functional capacity while remaining sensitive to personal values and cultural and religious beliefs and practices
- Completion of advanced directives, discharge planning, volunteer support, referrals to community programs, caregiver issues, nursing home and assisted living facility placement, and assure assistance with appropriate bereavement follow-up and care
- Provided patients and their families options about services available, advocacy for their needs, emotional and spiritual support and counseling, and the opportunity to understand social challenges of illness, disability, and the dying process
- Guided them as they addressed issues of life completion and closure
- Assisted families with financial, insurance, and legal issues, and Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamp inquiries and concerns
- Completed necessary documentation within Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) guidelines and recommendations
Social Worker
South Florida Baptist Hospital
07.2000 - 02.2001
- Knowledge of disease, treatments, and psychosocial implications for individuals and families as it pertains to age and stage of development
- Proficient use of available hospital, community, and governmental resources, and frequent consultation with a multidisciplinary team to assure timely patient movement throughout continuum of care
- Provided social services to Skilled Nursing Unit with 90% of patient population age 65 years and older
- Skilled utilization of MDS, patient care plans, and Resident Assessment Protocol (RAPs)
- Provided social and case management services in hospital areas including emergency room, inpatient medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and pediatrics
Health Care Technician
VA Medical Center
05.1997 - 07.2000
- Function primarily in social work advocate capacity
- Manage process of preparing nursing home placement paperwork
- Assist veterans through process of receiving emergency funding for personal needs
- Pat On the Back Award recipient
- Recognized for extra effort in expeditiously resolving patient transportation dilemma
- Achieved increase in quality of patient care, maintenance of costs, and reduction of lost time
- Recognized for ability to achieve positive resolutions resulting in long-term satisfaction for patient's, family, and healthcare providers
- Facilitate conflict resolution process relevant to nursing home placement, long-term care option, and psychiatric commitment issues
- Demonstrated excellence in efficiently performing diverse computer-based clerical duties and customer service functions
- Trained entry-level ward administrators and health care technicians
Personnel Facilitator
Rockwell Collins
06.1996 - 05.1997
- Functioned in an employee recruiting capacity
- Conducted phone screen interviews with engineering applicants
- Assessed applicant résumés for appropriate qualifications and recommended candidates for engineering management consideration
Education
Master of Social Work -
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
05.2000
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
05.1997
Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Family collaboration
- Multidisciplinary team collaboration
- Compliance Monitoring
- Classroom observations
- Resource advocacy
- Child development expertise
- Special needs support
- Grief counseling
- Detailed Reporting Expertise
- Client documentation
- Crisis Intervention
- Client Visits
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking Abilities
- Conflict Resolution
- Professionalism
- Time management abilities
- Adaptability
- Behavioral assessment
- Multicultural Awareness
- Maintain case files
- Client Socialization issues
- Special needs
- Learning difficulties
- Disabilities Support
Certification
- Mandatory Reporter, 03/01/24, 03/31/27
- Master’s Level Social Work License
- Licensed Independent Social Worker
References
Available upon Request
Personal Information
Title: School Social Worker
Timeline
School Social Worker
Heartland AEA
08.2019 - Current
School Social Worker
Des Moines Public School District
08.2017 - 07.2019
Clinical Social Worker
VA Central Iowa Health Care System
03.2010 - 07.2017
Social Work Supervisor
Iowa Veterans Home
04.2008 - 03.2010
Social Worker III
Iowa Veterans Home
03.2006 - 04.2008
General Manager
Papa Murphy's Pizza
03.2002 - 03.2006
Patient Family Counselor
Lifepath Hospice
02.2001 - 03.2002
Social Worker
South Florida Baptist Hospital
07.2000 - 02.2001
Health Care Technician
VA Medical Center
05.1997 - 07.2000
Personnel Facilitator
Rockwell Collins
06.1996 - 05.1997
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
Master of Social Work -
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA