Kristen Jester, LMSW
Waterbury,CT
Summary
Connecticut and New York DOE Certified School Social Worker with an LMSW specializing in situational assessments conflict resolution and effective communication. Seeking a role where I can service children and families to promote optimum mental, emotional and behavioral health in collaboration with other school based teams.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Social Worker
Waterbury Public Schools
Waterbury, CT
08.2022 - Current
- Effectively assesses crises and provides appropriate interventions and de-escalation strategies.
- Developed social and emotional lesson plans with multimedia learning tools to meet academic, intellectual and social needs of students.
- Taught SEL which provided students the knowledge to exercise their strength & challenges,positive thinking, coping skills and conflict resolution techniques
- Effectively conducts suicide ideation assessment and its impact on education.
- Effectively understands and considers the impact of cultural, adolescent development, family dynamics, social, and environmental influences on student success.
- Assesses students’ needs to facilitate referrals, including wrap-around services with community agencies for students and parents;
- Works collaboratively with parents, the school, and the community to understand students’ needs in relation to curriculum and instruction in order to improve educational performance and success
- Utilizes available technology resources to enhance services, including but not limited to Google Suite, PowerSchool, and any future innovative resources;
- Effectively creates social/emotional behavioral goals for individual plans
- Utilizes strategies and approaches to promote student growth and development, using individual counseling;small group activities; focused group interventions; classroom-based activities; school-wide initiatives; home visits; and parent education; parent/teacher conference
Care Coordinator III
Newport
Bethlehem, CT
08.2022 - 01.2024
- Facilitated on-going assessment of patient and family needs and oversaw implementation of interdisciplinary team plan of care.
- Maintained clean and well-organized environment for client happiness and safety.
- Created safe and positive living situations for clients by communicating with family and other staff about concerns or challenges.
- Improved patient outlook and daily living through compassionate care.
- Worked closely with clinical staff to support therapeutic and behavioral plans.
- Observed patients for changes in physical, emotional, mental or behavioral condition and injuries.
- Encouraged residents to participate in activities of daily living to enhance personal dignity.
- Maintained records management system to process personnel information and produce reports.
School Social Worker
Soliant/Hamden District
Hamden, CT
11.2021 - 06.2022
- Provided SEL targeted supports to individuals and selective services to identified groups.
- Developed social and emotional lesson plans with multimedia learning tools to meet academic, intellectual and social needs of students.
- Taught SEL which provided students the knowledge to exercise their strength & challenges,positive thinking, coping skills and conflict resolution techniques
- Worked with teachers, administrators, students, parents and external support agencies to maximize treatment success.
- Provided workshops and support to school staff to educate them on the issues facing students with mental health matters and the social-emotional needs.
- Facilitated individual and group therapy sessions per week to solve problems, set and achieve goals and improve communication skills.
- Utilized established assessment techniques to evaluate and diagnose social interaction and learning problems.
- Monitored students academic progress, mental health and sociability through ongoing individual assessments.
- Promoted parent and teacher partnerships and communications to support students educational goals.
- Followed-up with outside mental health service providers to coordinate in-school support.
- Engaged students and boosted understanding of material using focused instructional strategies and hands-on activities.
CPST Worker II
JCCA
Brooklyn, NY
03.2021 - 03.2022
- Implemented behavioral plans designed by IEP teams for students with behavior disorders or other special conditions to help meet special education students needs in the community.
- Modeled social, peer facilitation and peer training to achieve academic, social, emotional and behavioral goals.
- Applied abilities in techniques like active listening and collaborative problem-solving to make positive impact.
- Developed safety plans to minimize crisis risk and intervene with specific procedures.
- Assessed risk to client, loved ones or general public through established evaluation procedures.
- Devised community-based programs focused on combating specific problems.
Interim Program Director/School Social Worker
Metropolitan Diploma Plus High School, NYC Mission
Brooklyn, NY
09.2019 - 11.2021
- Communicated with parents/guardians to share information regarding educational planning and programming.
- Provided quality crisis and behavioral interventions to youth ages 21 and under in the school/home/community settings.
- Conducted direct observations of behavior, review of records/behavioral data, and verbal/written input from team members, including direct support employees when necessary.
- Coordinated development and implementation of students Individualized Education Plans/Programs (IEPs).
- Coordinated, tasked and supervised staff to sustain organizational operations and champion organizational mission.
- Collaborated with DOE staff to evaluate successes and failures as well as develop new partnerships and make proactive changes.
- Implemented behavioral improvements plans by working directly with teachers.
- Developed hiring and recruitment policies to drive transparent and fair hiring process for selecting candidates on basis of merit and relevance with job
Senior Social Worker
Care On Call
Lawrence, NY
04.2019 - 09.2019
- Performed intakes, follow up assessments and unit evaluations (Psychosocial assessments).
- Collaborated with clients medical doctors to establish the proper referral sources and mechanisms and fostering interdisciplinary case plans.
- Provided crisis intervention, supportive counseling and emotional support to seniors and their caretakers.
- Prepared reports as required and assist the Clinical Director in development and implementation of new systems and procedures, including methods for outcome measurement.
- Included conducting intake interviews; rendering diagnoses in accordance with DSM criteria.
Social Worker & Project Coordinator
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn, NY
10.2018 - 03.2019
- Evaluated patients and performed ongoing assessment of social, psychological, environmental, and financial factors for the HRSA project.
- Worked with HIV+ mothers during their pregnancy with a focus on viral suppression, engagement and retention in OB/HIV care, health literacy, and ensuring mother is prepared to give birth and understands ART treatment for her newborn.
- Conducted assessments/reassessments, developed service/care plans, ensures multidisciplinary service delivery, provides referrals, and follow-up for patients who are HIV+ along with pregnant HIV+ women and their newborns.
- Prepared reports as requested, including visit encounter forms, new patient data forms, HRSA forms & track spreadsheets, NYS AIRS data input forms, weekly data reports and information for annual reports to funder.
- Counseled patients in adjustments to chronic illness, changes in lifestyle, and choice of treatment modality.
- Coordinated patient care with medical and mental health providers and facilitated daily case conferences.
Senior Caseworker, Adoption/Foster Care Worker
The Children's Village
New York, NY
03.2014 - 05.2018
- Completed psycho-social assessments , service plans and coordinated family team conferences.
- Attended court hearings and ACS conferences for assigned cases as required.
- Conducted monthly home visits to OPWDD youth ages new born to 21 years of age.
- Developed discharge and safety plans for clients with severe mental health and substance abuse issues.
- Provided case management, permanency planning and counseling services to youth ages new born to 21 years of age and their families.
- Utilized child welfare database to prepare all required documentation such as progress notes, psychosocial reports, permanency hearing notes, and FASP's.
- Conducted face-to-face and home casework contacts every month to assess child safety, provide support, and discuss progress towards permanency; additional contacts to be conducted as needed.
Education
Masters in Social Work - Social Work, Clinical Practice With Individuals and Families
Hunter College
New York, New York12.2017
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Monroe College
New Rochelle, New York05.2013
Skills
- Proficient in all Microsoft Offices (Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel) CT-SEDS, Think Central, Second Step, Office Practicum, AIRs & Connectionsocfsnygov
- Emotional Support
- Mental Health Assessments
- OPWDD
- Crisis Intervention
- Crisis management
- Culturally-sensitive
- Analytical problem solving
- Evaluation and Assessment
- Community Referrals
- CPR Certified
- Patient-centered care
- Child welfare & protective services
- IEP writing knowledge
- Behavioral Specialist
Certification
- Licensed Master Social Worker - 10/2023
Timeline
School Social Worker
Waterbury Public Schools
08.2022 - Current
Care Coordinator III
Newport
08.2022 - 01.2024
School Social Worker
Soliant/Hamden District
11.2021 - 06.2022
CPST Worker II
JCCA
03.2021 - 03.2022
Interim Program Director/School Social Worker
Metropolitan Diploma Plus High School, NYC Mission
09.2019 - 11.2021
Senior Social Worker
Care On Call
04.2019 - 09.2019
Social Worker & Project Coordinator
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
10.2018 - 03.2019
Senior Caseworker, Adoption/Foster Care Worker
The Children's Village
03.2014 - 05.2018
Masters in Social Work - Social Work, Clinical Practice With Individuals and Families
Hunter College
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Monroe College
- Licensed Master Social Worker - 10/2023
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