Kristen Gifford
FREDERICKSBURG,VA
Summary
Compassionate professional with strong skills in crisis intervention and student advocacy. Experienced in working with at-risk youth, developing targeted interventions, and ensuring access to necessary resources for enhanced educational outcomes.
Overview
1
1
Certification
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
School Social Worker
Prince William County Public Schools
02.2004 - 06.2026
- Conducted assessments to identify mental health needs and appropriate resources for students and families.
- Developed individualized support plans for students with diverse emotional and behavioral needs.
- Implemented evidence-based interventions to enhance student resilience and coping strategies.
- Collaborated with teachers and parents to address academic and social challenges impacting student performance.
- Advocated for student rights within the school system, ensuring access to necessary services and supports.
- Coordinated community outreach programs aimed at increasing awareness of social services available to families in need.
- Collaborated with teachers and administrators to develop intervention strategies for students in need of additional support.
- Created a safe space for students experiencing crises by providing immediate support and appropriate referrals.
- Implemented evidence-based programs aimed at improving school climate and promoting positive behavior among students.
- Facilitated crisis intervention sessions, providing immediate support and strategies for managing acute situations.
- Maintained compliance with standards relating to child protection, client confidentiality, risk assessment and reporting.
- Observed student behavior and developed behavioral interventions.
- Enhanced student well-being by providing individual and group counseling sessions addressing various social, emotional, and behavioral issues.
- Monitored student attendance, documented truancy and submitted referrals per requirements.
- Participated in IEP, RTI and other related meetings that determined and implemented school-wide policies.
- Provided crisis intervention services and collaborated with school staff to create safety plans for students at risk of self-harm or violence.
- Established supportive relationships with at-risk youth through regular check-ins, goal-setting activities, and consistent follow-up.
- Completed psychosocial histories of students under evaluation.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments of students'' social-emotional functioning to inform interventions and service planning.
- Collaborated with students, teachers, administrators, parents and outside agencies.
- Served as a liaison between the school, family, and community agencies to ensure effective communication and collaboration around student needs.
- Assisted parents in navigating the special education process, ensuring proper identification and provision of services for their children.
- Connected families with community resources to address needs such as housing, healthcare, and financial assistance.
- Provided group and individual counseling to address problems.
- Worked with teachers to implement behavioral improvement plans based on established assessments.
- Supported students, teachers and families during crisis situations.
- Provided educational support services to students with emotional, intellectual and physical disabilities.
- Monitored progress of identified students using data-driven decision making to adjust intervention plans as needed.
- Monitored students for signs of trauma, abuse and neglect.
- Identified student barriers to self-sufficiency and created relevant IEPs.
- Provided case management services, counseling, education and life-skills training to a diverse, at-risk student population.
- Promoted student success by addressing barriers to learning through targeted interventions and case management services.
- Coordinated multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss individual student needs holistically.
- Prepared comprehensive documentation of services provided following ethical guidelines while maintaining client confidentiality.
- Advocated for policy changes at school board meetings, leading to more inclusive educational practices.
- Enhanced parent engagement with school through regular communication and workshops, strengthening the home-school connection.
- Provided grief counseling to students and staff, aiding school community in coping with loss.
- Improved access to community resources for families, connecting them with necessary social services.
- Supported students with special needs by coordinating with external agencies, ensuring comprehensive care.
- Resolved conflicts among students with mediation techniques, promoting harmonious school community.
- Implemented peer mentoring program, improving student relationships and academic support.
- Enhanced student attendance by addressing underlying social and emotional issues.
- Mobilized community resources to support after-school programs, providing students with additional learning opportunities.
- Facilitated group counseling sessions, enhancing students' social skills and emotional intelligence.
- Facilitated transition for students changing schools or entering post-secondary education, promoting academic and social success.
- Collaborated with teachers and parents to create a supportive learning environment, leading to improved student academic performance.
- Conducted assessments to identify students at risk and developed targeted interventions to support them.
- Worked with educational team to develop Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for students.
- Enhanced student well-being by developing and implementing individualized support plans.
- Intervened in crisis situations and counseled children experiencing emergencies and disruptive incidents.
- Built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs.
LCSW Intern
The Ross Center
03.2025 - 09.2025
- Conducted comprehensive assessments to determine client needs and develop tailored treatment plans.
- Implemented evidence-based interventions, improving therapeutic effectiveness for diverse populations.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate care and enhance client outcomes.
- Provided crisis intervention services, stabilizing clients experiencing acute symptoms or distress.
- Expanded professional knowledge through ongoing continuing education and training opportunities in the field of clinical social work.
- Promoted the integration of self-care practices and stress management techniques among clients, fostering resilience and overall wellbeing.
- Advocated for client needs within interdisciplinary team meetings, ensuring adequate representation and access to necessary resources.
- Assisted Facilitator and co-facilitator for DBT Teen group for children experiencing significant mental health, school attendance, and substance abuse concerns.
Intensive In-Home Counselor
Compass Counseling Services
10.2016 - 12.2016
- Developed individualized treatment plans to address client-specific needs and promote mental health recovery.
- Implemented evidence-based interventions to improve client coping strategies and emotional regulation.
- Conducted assessments to evaluate client progress and adjust treatment plans as needed for optimal outcomes.
- Facilitated family therapy sessions, enhancing communication and conflict resolution among family members.
- Conducted assessments to evaluate client progress and adjust treatment plans for effectiveness.
- Implemented creative therapeutic techniques tailored to individual learning styles for increased engagement in the counseling process.
- Maintained detailed documentation of all client interactions, adhering to ethical guidelines and confidentiality protocols.
- Served as an advocate for clients within the community, ensuring access to necessary support services and promoting inclusion opportunities.
- Enhanced client progress by implementing individualized treatment plans tailored to their unique needs.
- Proactively identified potential barriers in the treatment process, implementing solutions for improved outcomes consistently over time.
- Established trusting relationships with clients, promoting open communication and fostering collaboration on treatment goals.
- Led group therapy sessions designed to address common challenges faced by clients while fostering peer support networks among participants.
- Developed strong rapport with families, creating a supportive environment conducive to positive change and growth.
- Conducted thorough assessments to determine appropriate therapeutic approaches and establish clear goals.
- Communicated regularly with referring agencies to provide updates on client progress and coordinate ongoing support services if needed.
- Managed caseload of families to ensure timely interventions and optimal support in a dynamic environment.
- Provided crisis intervention services, promptly addressing critical situations for immediate stabilization.
- Empowered families by providing education on mental health issues, available resources, and effective communication strategies.
- Conducted crisis interventions to respond to clients in crisis, assess immediate needs and provide support and resources.
- Documented clients' progress to keep detailed notes on each client's treatment progress and changes in mental health status.
- Consulted with other staff members regarding treatment plans as deemed appropriate by team leader.
- Assessed mental health needs to determine the nature and extent of clients' emotional, behavioral or mental health issues.
- Prepared reports to summarize clients' mental health status and treatment progress.
- Provided referrals to connect clients with other community resources to support mental health and well-being.
- Provided comprehensive case management services, created treatment plans, and connected clients and families to appropriate resources.
- Completed one-on-one counseling with a broad range of clients suffering from various diseases and issues.
- Supervised busy caseload, managing clients, balancing workload and prioritizing client needs.
- Supported clients by representing needs and advocating for patient rights in healthcare, legal and community-based settings.
- Developed goal-oriented psychoeducational and activity therapy groups to improve clients' level of functioning.
- Guided clients in effective therapeutic exercises integrated from Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
- Encouraged patients to discuss experiences in group and individual settings.
- Stayed current on mental health research to follow new developments and research in the mental health field.
- Managed patients with substance dependence and co-occurring Axis I and Axis II disorders.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Human Services
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VAMaster of Science - Social Work
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VASkills
- Emotional resilience
- Family engagement
- Student support
- Communication skills
- Crisis management
- Family partnerships
- Suicide prevention
- Social-emotional learning
- Team collaboration
- Case management
- Individual counseling
- Compliance
- Solution-based interventions
- Classroom assessments
- Referral coordination
- IEP collaboration
- Behavioral plans
- Client documentation
- Cultural responsiveness
- Data collection and management
- Resource coordination
- Child development expertise
- Mental health assessment
- Special needs
- Resilience
- Risk assessments
- Functional behavioral assessments (FBA)
- Loss support
- Counseling services
- Substance use education
- Parent support
- Emotional regulation
- Special education
- Behavioral assessments
- Learning difficulties
- Community resources
- Client advocacy
- Trauma-informed care
- Family counseling
- Conducting interviews
- Community referrals
- Psychosocial assessment
- High-risk populations identification
- Home visits
- Family services
- Service planning
- File management
- Student needs assessment
- Collaboration
- Trauma-informed care
- Organizational skills
- Team collaboration
- Active listening
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Effective communication
- Decision-making
- Relationship building
- Clinical documentation
- Team building
- Task management
- Mental health counseling
- Analytical thinking
- Conflict mediation
- Objective setting
- Professional conduct
- Motivational techniques
- Therapeutic interventions
Certification
- LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Timeline
LCSW Intern
The Ross Center
03.2025 - 09.2025
Intensive In-Home Counselor
Compass Counseling Services
10.2016 - 12.2016
School Social Worker
Prince William County Public Schools
02.2004 - 06.2026
Bachelor of Science - Human Services
Virginia Tech
Master of Science - Social Work
Virginia Commonwealth University