Laurie M Muir
Dayton,New Jersey
Summary
Behavioral health and child welfare professional with over 20 years in crisis intervention, family stabilization, and resource coordination. Expertise includes conducting psychosocial assessments, developing stabilization plans, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Committed to connecting families with essential services to address complex social and emotional challenges.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Habilitation Counselor
Rutgers University Behavioral Health (UBHC)
Piscataway, NJ
08.2023 - Current
- Conducted crisis, psychosocial, behavioral, and safety assessments for children and adolescents in Middlesex County Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization program to identify needs and inform intervention strategies.
- Determine clinical needs, level of care, immediate safety concerns, and appropriate stabilization services in accordance with UBHC and New Jersey Children’s System of Care standards.
- Delivered community-based crisis intervention in diverse settings including family homes, schools, and juvenile detention to stabilize situations and support families in crisis.
- Collaborate with caregivers, schools, treatment providers, child welfare personnel, and community agencies to develop stabilization plans and connect families with appropriate services.
- Completed detailed clinical documentation to ensure compliance with organizational quality and regulatory standards while maintaining productivity.
Mental Health Specialist II
Rutgers University Behavioral Health (UBHC)
Piscataway, NJ
11.2021 - Current
- Delivered crisis counseling, suicide-risk support, emotional stabilization, and resource coordination through NJ Hope and Healing/Suicide Prevention service to enhance client safety and well-being.
- Assess callers’ immediate safety, emotional functioning, support systems, and need for emergency or ongoing behavioral health intervention.
- Coordinated information from callers, relatives, treatment providers, and agencies to enable effective crisis assessment and disposition planning.
- Connect individuals with mental health, housing, employment, financial, and community-based resources.
- Facilitated education for family members on mental health conditions, warning signs, crisis response, and treatment options to empower support systems.
Family Support Specialist Supervisor (Permanency Unit)
NJ Dept. Of Children and Families – Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)
Piscataway, NJ
06.2009 - 12.2021
- Supervised a six-member permanency support unit serving children and families involved with New Jersey’s child welfare system.
- Monitored case activity, reviewed documentation, guided staff on family stabilization and reunification services, ensuring compliance with DCP&P policies and state and federal regulations.
- Trained, coached, and evaluated staff to improve service delivery and support for families.
- Facilitated permanency and reunification planning, resulting in increased family stability.
- Oversaw high-risk family situations to provide necessary interventions.
- Collaborated with courts and agencies to streamline case management.
- Monitored compliance with state and federal requirements to uphold standards.
- Analyzed case activity to assess service effectiveness. and service delivery
Resource Development Specialist
NJ Dept. Of Children and Families – Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)
Piscataway, NJ
10.2013 - 09.2017
- Developed and maintained relationships with licensed resource and foster families, ensuring timely placements for children in state care.
- Facilitated initial meetings with resource and foster families post-application approval to build rapport, clarify licensing requirements, assess readiness, and navigate the approval process.
- Conducted comprehensive home studies for resource family applicants and prepared homes for licensing review within the required 90-day timeframe.
- Assessed applicant suitability and provided detailed documentation and recommendations for approval or denial based on licensing standards, safety requirements, and agency policy.
Senior Intake Investigator – FSSII
NJ Dept. Of Children and Families – Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)
Jersey City, NJ
06.2009 - 06.2011
- Investigated allegations of child abuse and neglect within mandated 24- or 72-hour response timeframes.
- Interviewed children, parents, relatives, neighbors, institutional staff, and other collateral contacts to assess safety, risk, and family circumstances.
- Analyzed complex and sometimes conflicting information, evaluated evidence, assessed witness credibility, and developed well supported investigative conclusions.
- Initiated appropriate protective action, including seeking court intervention, coordinating police assistance, and arranging emergency removal when a child could not safely remain in the home.
- Collaborated with schools, hospitals, clinics, physicians, law enforcement agencies, courts, welfare agencies, relatives, and community providers to gather information and coordinate services.
- Prepared detailed investigative findings, case summaries, court reports, recommendations, and correspondence.
- Advised clients on navigating school issues, financial challenges, healthcare access, family dynamics, and connecting to community resources for improved support.
Education
Master of Arts - Adolescent Advocacy and Public Policy/Public Child Welfare
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ05-2017
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - Adolescent Advocacy and Public Policy
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ08-2016
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and Psychology
Rutgers University–Newark
Newark, NJ05-2006
Skills
- Crisis Intervention
- Suicide Prevention
- Psychosocial Assessment
- Child Protection
- Case Management
- Family Stabilization
- Permanency Planning
- Safety Planning
- Resource management
- Court reporting
- Community intervention
- Child Interview Techniques
- Foster Care Assessment
- Policy Compliance
- Staff Supervision
- Mental Illness
- Domestic Violence
Specialized Training
- Domestic Violence
- Human Trafficking
- Sexual Abuse
- Substance Use
- Mental Illness
- LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care
- Immigrant Populations
- SAFE Home Study Writing
- Forensic Interviewing
Timeline
Habilitation Counselor
Rutgers University Behavioral Health (UBHC)
08.2023 - Current
Mental Health Specialist II
Rutgers University Behavioral Health (UBHC)
11.2021 - Current
Resource Development Specialist
NJ Dept. Of Children and Families – Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)
10.2013 - 09.2017
Family Support Specialist Supervisor (Permanency Unit)
NJ Dept. Of Children and Families – Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)
06.2009 - 12.2021
Senior Intake Investigator – FSSII
NJ Dept. Of Children and Families – Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)
06.2009 - 06.2011
Master of Arts - Adolescent Advocacy and Public Policy/Public Child Welfare
Montclair State University
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - Adolescent Advocacy and Public Policy
Montclair State University
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and Psychology
Rutgers University–Newark