La' Asia Swift
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Dedicated candidate eager to leverage knowledge in social services and program development with comprehensive knowledge of social justice issues and systems affecting marginalized communities. Passionate about developing and facilitating programs to support communities in need. Skilled in running social services initiatives and developing policies and procedures. Collaborative and committed to addressing social issues to improve quality of life in marginalized communities.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Integrated Treatment Model Coach
Jewish Child Care Association
06.2023 - Current
- Assist in running groups, skills coaching in the milieu and reinforcing ITM skills in all milieu environments in all programs.
- Effectively schedules self to carry out work during traditional and nontraditional work hours including some evening and weekends to provide role modeling to all staff.
- Provide ongoing training of ITM to new staff as well as refresher.
Develop and provide ongoing monitoring of ITM in every milieu through ITM Environmental Adherence, milieu observation and group observation. - Attend and participate in all mandatory program and agency meetings.
- Assists with program development, document review, preparation for
implementation of the integrated treatment model throughout the assigned JCCA program. - Work under pressure when quick response is needed in a crisis situation.
- Maintain a balance of objectivity and empathic understanding in dealing with families living in stressful situations and with "caretakers" who have abused children in their care.
- Work as part of a team, which involves helping with crisis situations relating to other unit's assignments.
- Document and organize case related information in both a paper and an automated system.
- Perform various clerical duties such as typing, filing, faxing, and copying.
- Administered therapy and applied behavioral analysis techniques in school, home and community to facilitate client treatment plan.
Master Social Work Intern
Jewish Child Care Association
05.2023 - 05.2024
- Planned and implemented a campus wide LGBTQ+ and friends support forum.
- Facilitate gender affirming groups with staff and youth.
- Utilize the LGBTQ + and friends forum to receive feedback and ideas from youth and staff on campus in revision and development of policies.
- Developed and implemented gender affirming campus wide policies and procedure.
- Researched and reviewed any campus policies on LGBTQ+
- Pursued ongoing education and training opportunities to further develop professional skills.
- Built positive rapport with law enforcement officers, court officials and community service agencies.
- Documented services provided meticulously by keeping accurate records of activities, interactions and conversations.
- Maintained client reports to track client progress, record interventions and provide relevant data for analysis.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to optimize client care and improve overall wellbeing.
- Improved client outcomes by developing and implementing individualized service plans.
- Interviewed clients to assess needs and determine most suitable needs and services.
- Assessed program effectiveness using feedback from participants and data analysis techniques, making recommendations for improvement as needed.
- Responded to crises and emergency situations to provide immediate assistance to persons in need.
- Developed strong rapport with clients by establishing trust and maintaining open lines of communication throughout the internship experience.
- Organized community outreach events to raise awareness about available social work services and promote positive public relations efforts.
- Enhanced client self-sufficiency through goal setting, problem-solving, and skill-building activities.
Integrated Treatment Model Coach
Good Shepherds Services
06.2020 - 12.2023
- Conduct program intakes, psychoeducational classes, resource linking, coping skill development, eco mapping.
- Also assist with family roundtables; Eco maps are identifying all possible triggers and underlying contributing factors to their emotional symptoms.
- Coordinate all referrals, service planning, and documents for assigned cases; Conduct phone calls, home visits within required timeframes;
- Provide ongoing support, assistance and education to crossover youth and their resources while in placement and during transition into the community.
- Coordinate communication between identified crossover youth’s team in effort to assist with, and monitor his/her progress in incorporating ITM skills into their lives.
- Develop expertise in ITM (MI AND DBT) through attending internal and external trainings
- Develop individual case plans with particular attention to culture, language, and any special circumstances;
- Maintain all assigned case files; Provide information, education, referrals, outreach, advocacy, and support to ensure that each child receives required services;
- Assess ongoing basis utilizing child welfare and social work best practice principles;
- Acted as a role model for clients by exhibiting positive behaviors.
- Promoted self-care practices among colleagues by organizing wellness events such as stress-reduction workshops or yoga classes at the workplace.
Case Manager
Childrens Community Services
05.2018 - 03.2020
- Maintained accurate documentation on all cases, ensuring compliance with regulations and confidentiality requirements.
- Promoted a culture of collaboration and teamwork within the department by fostering open communication channels and encouraging peer support among staff members.
- Championed a strengths-based approach to case management, empowering clients to build upon their existing skills and abilities while addressing challenges head on.
- Conducted thorough assessments of clients'' situations, identifying issues, goals, and necessary interventions.
- Served as a liaison between clients and social service agencies, effectively advocating on their behalf and securing necessary resources.
- Improved shelter residents'' mental well-being by conducting regular emotional support sessions and group activities.
- Developed comprehensive case management plans, addressing individual needs of clients and facilitating their progress toward self sufficiency.
- Facilitated successful reintegration into society for numerous clients by assisting them in finding stable housing options after leaving the shelter environment.
Case Manager
Childrens Village
11.2019 - 02.2020
- Maintained accurate documentation on all cases, ensuring compliance with regulations and confidentiality requirements.
- Provided crisis intervention support for clients experiencing emergencies, using appropriate techniques to de-escalate situations safely.
- Conducted thorough assessments of clients'' situations, identifying issues, goals, and necessary interventions.
- Promoted a safe environment for vulnerable populations by reporting suspected abuse or neglect as mandated by law.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address client needs and formulate tailored support strategies.
- Facilitated individual and group sessions to promote positive behavior change for clients.
- Fostered open lines of communication with clients'' families and support networks, involving them in the case management process as appropriate.
- Developed comprehensive discharge plans to transition clients to appropriate service providers in community.
- Monitored clients' progress and tracked client services to provide crisis interventions.
Youth Advocate Counselor
Harlem Children Zone
08.2019 - 01.2020
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current with best practices in youth advocacy counseling field.
- Built strong rapport with clients through active listening, empathy, and nonjudgmental support while respecting cultural diversity.
- Supported academic success by providing tutoring assistance in various subjects as needed.
- Championed diversity inclusion through outreach initiatives targeting underrepresented populations within the community.
- Assisted youth in setting achievable goals by providing guidance and support throughout their journey towards success.
- Played a vital role in shaping young minds through consistent encouragement, guidance, and advocacy on their behalf.
- Established and enforced clear school-wide disciplinary procedures to protect students and staff.
- Developed strategies to improve student behavior school-wide and help teachers better manage classroom environments.
- Managed assemblies to recognize student achievement.
- Improved campus-wide student engagement by implementing innovative programs and activities.
- Enhanced school spirit by coordinating extracurricular activities that promoted camaraderie among students.
- Evaluated the effectiveness of behavior interventions using data-driven approaches, making adjustments as needed to ensure success.
Youth Development Specialist
Elmcrest Children's Center
02.2016 - 08.2019
- Collaborated with fellow staff members to design comprehensive programs addressing the diverse needs of participating youths.
- Created and facilitated recreation and education activities for youths to engage in groups in safe environment.
- Managed cash handling procedures, maintaining accuracy in financial transactions and minimizing discrepancies in daily reconciliations.
- Trained new employees and delegated daily tasks and responsibilities.
- Prepared shift summary reports for supervisor and communicated regularly on goals and progress.
- Offered guidance and advice to help cultivate self-esteem and community involvement.
- Implemented effective strategies for managing challenging behaviors while maintaining a safe and supportive atmosphere within our programs.
- Increased participant engagement through the creation of a welcoming and inclusive environment for all youth members.
- Organized special events that showcased participant achievements, strengthening connections between our organization and the surrounding community.
- Maintained detailed records of participant progress, enabling us to track individual growth over time and demonstrate the effectiveness of our interventions to stakeholders.
- Facilitated group therapy sessions focused on anger management, conflict resolution, decision-making skills, and other essential life skills.
- Prepared, processed and maintained forms, reports, logs, records, and activity journals.
- Worked with juvenile offenders to help in development of decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Reduced repeat offenses through active involvement in rehabilitation efforts such as counseling sessions, educational programs, and vocational training.
- Assisted in conducting staff training sessions focused on topics such as crisis intervention, cultural competency, and professional ethics.
- Facilitated dialogue between participants, family and program workers to provide best possible program and individualized program.
- Developed strong rapport with families, ensuring their involvement in supporting the growth of their children within our programs.
- Connected with community organizations to create partnerships that enriched program offerings and increased resources available for participants.
- Led training sessions for staff members focused on best practices in youth development, enhancing overall program quality across the board.
Education
Master of Social Work - Social Work
Hunter College
New York, United States08.2024
Bachelor of Science - Therapeutic Recreation
SUNY College At Cortland
Cortland, NY05.2019
Associate of Science - Recreational Leadership
Tompkins-Cortland Community College
Dryden, NY12.2016
Skills
- Restorative justice practices and experience working with marginalized populations
- Gender Identity Training and Safe Space Creation
- Intersectionality Understanding
- Facilitation and training
- MS Office Suite expert
- Adaptability
- Interpersonal skills and relationship building
- Policy and procedure improvement
- Organizational Leadership
- Innovation and Creativity
- Grant Writing
- Program assessment, development and management
- Data collection and research
- Behavioral intervention
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Supervisory Experience and Staff Management
- Ethical Practice
- Schedule development
- Strategic Planning
- Active Listening
- Time Management and organizational skills
- Goal-Oriented
- Youth engagement
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with team of 3 in the development of the Integrated treatment model at the Jewish Child Care Association.
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Hip Hop therapy certification.
- Revamped intervention strategies, reducing egregious behavior incidents by 80%.
- Awarded The Ann Travers Thompson Transformative Powers of the Library Award.
- Documented and resolved non confirming policies which led to a gender affirming environment.
- Supervised team of 20 staff members.
Timeline
Integrated Treatment Model Coach
Jewish Child Care Association
06.2023 - Current
Master Social Work Intern
Jewish Child Care Association
05.2023 - 05.2024
Integrated Treatment Model Coach
Good Shepherds Services
06.2020 - 12.2023
Case Manager
Childrens Village
11.2019 - 02.2020
Youth Advocate Counselor
Harlem Children Zone
08.2019 - 01.2020
Case Manager
Childrens Community Services
05.2018 - 03.2020
Youth Development Specialist
Elmcrest Children's Center
02.2016 - 08.2019
Master of Social Work - Social Work
Hunter College
Bachelor of Science - Therapeutic Recreation
SUNY College At Cortland
Associate of Science - Recreational Leadership
Tompkins-Cortland Community College
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