Leah Sparrowe
Martinez,CA
Summary
Empathetic Associate Clinical Social Worker with 3 years' experience providing therapy to individuals and groups of up to eight. Strong record of success with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to move clients toward behavioral goals. Passion for serving adolescents, vulnerable populations, special need populations, families, and young adults.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Community Mental Health Clinician
A Better Way, Inc.
Oakland, CA
02.2024 - Current
- Maintained accurate client records for 13 cases and documentation according to Medi-Cal billing requirements.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary team members to coordinate care for clients.
- Coordinated psychosocial assessments, treatment plans, CANS assessments, pediatric symptoms checklists, and other necessary paperwork to provide well rounded services for clients.
- Organized home and community therapy sessions when necessary.
- Provided psycho-educational support to families by educating them about their loved one's diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Conducted crisis intervention services in a timely manner to ensure safety of clients.
Associate Clinical Social Worker
Blackhawk Family Development Center
Danville, CA
07.2023 - 01.2024
- Supported an average of 10 clients a week in developing coping skills to manage symptoms associated with mental illness. Conducted therapy, provided crisis intervention and educated patients and families. Advised parents on strategies for managing challenging behaviors exhibited by their children.
- Coordinated psychosocial assessments, treatment plans and progress notes for 20 clients. Maintained accurate records of patient progress notes and treatment plans in accordance with agency policy and procedures.
- Participated in case reviews and team meetings to discuss complex cases or provide updates on client progress.
Independent Contracted Social Worker
Castro Valley Unified School District
Castro Valley, CA
10.2022 - 06.2023
- Provide Castro Valley High School students with mental health services, including drop-in services, one-on-one counseling with a 9-client caseload, and group therapy
- Teach students skills to help them express themselves, provide support during a mental health crisis, and report any wrongdoings in which the students are involved
- Reported any abuse disclosed in session and included the student in the process if appropriate
- Conducted same-day Restorative Justice circles with Supervisor at Canyon Middle School and Castro Valley High School
- Thirty-four referrals were submitted (68 students, two adults, 1 ELD Class, 1 Community Circle)
- Grade levels: 6th grade: 32% of referrals, 7th grade: 26% of referrals, and 8th grade: 42% of referrals.
Intern - Wellness Center
Castro Valley Unified School District
Castro Valley, CA
08.2021 - 06.2022
- Provide Castro Valley High School students with mental health services, including drop-in services, one-on-one counseling with a 9-client caseload, and group therapy
- Teach students skills to help them express themselves, provide support during a mental health crisis, and report any wrongdoings in which the students are involved
- Reported any abuse disclosed in session and included the student in the process if appropriate.
Intern - Residential Counselor
Youth Homes, Inc
Walnut Creek, CA
12.2020 - 06.2021
- Enforce housing rules to keep ten child residents safe and content and help them adjust to the house they have been assigned to as their temporary home
- Assisting residents with meals and cooking, assisting residents with personal issues, cleaning, and providing supplies and maintenance as needed
- Assisting residents with transportation needs to appointments and jobs over the county
- Welcoming new residents, searching their belongings to ensure no paraphernalia enters the building, and providing them with medication brought into the program
- Updating the clients' backgrounds and treatment plans to ensure they receive the help they need passivation program and passing the information to the counselors
- To make sure the residents receive the support they need.
Registered Behavior Technician
Easterseals Northern California
Walnut Creek, CA
01.2019 - 04.2021
- Use applied behavior analysis to help a caseload of 9 children on the autism spectrum with challenging behaviors and teach them skills to express themselves
- Teach parents skills to help their children advance the objectives set during sessions
- Use data-collecting applications to track the children's progress and communicate with the program supervisors
- Monitor and analyze data and each child's progress to ensure they are working on skills needed to communicate, build a tolerance to routine changes and other people's behavior, and lower their risk of hurting themselves and others who come in and out of their environment.
CPS Caseworker Specialist I
Department of Family Protective Services
Austin, TX
07.2016 - 06.2018
- Represented the State of Texas by protecting the lives of children through the government's policies and regulations of abuse and neglect
- Managing 15 cases, assisting 23 parents, and 25 children, with a 90% reunification rate
- Assisting the children's placements and foster agencies with services that cover psychological assessments, drug testing, drug abuse rehabilitation, counseling, daycare, visitations between parent and child, and medical care
- Conducting conferences with parents, attorneys, children's placements, C.A.S.A., relatives of the parents, and children that define what needs to be accomplished for the children to return to their parents
- Enforcing rules and policies to see that the Judge's orders and safety plan that has been put into place will be followed through with to make sure the parents and children are getting what they need to thrive
- Handling sensitive information about cases, communicating that information to the involved parties, attending hearings regarding that information, and communicating it to a Judge
- Writing court reports, child plans, family plans, visitation plans, home assessments, notes regarding monthly visitations, summaries of cases, etc
- Transporting children and parents to their services, their visits with each other, court, and transporting children to their placements throughout Travis County and the State of Texas.
Education
Master's Degree - Social Work
California State University Easy Bay
12-2022
Bachelor's Degree - Sociology
University of California Santa Cruz
06-2013
Skills
- Strong communication/Interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving
- Determining ways to create efficiencies
- Meeting deadlines
- Managing multiple tasks
- Crisis Intervention
- Evidence-Based Practices
- Coping Mechanisms
- Intervention Strategies
- Managing and distributing important documents
- Strong interpersonal skills with professionals, parents, and individuals with special needs
- Creating a compassionate environment to allow vulnerable populations
- Treatment Plans
- Recordkeeping and Documentation
License
Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW)
Timeline
Community Mental Health Clinician
A Better Way, Inc.
02.2024 - Current
Associate Clinical Social Worker
Blackhawk Family Development Center
07.2023 - 01.2024
Independent Contracted Social Worker
Castro Valley Unified School District
10.2022 - 06.2023
Intern - Wellness Center
Castro Valley Unified School District
08.2021 - 06.2022
Intern - Residential Counselor
Youth Homes, Inc
12.2020 - 06.2021
Registered Behavior Technician
Easterseals Northern California
01.2019 - 04.2021
CPS Caseworker Specialist I
Department of Family Protective Services
07.2016 - 06.2018
Master's Degree - Social Work
California State University Easy Bay
Bachelor's Degree - Sociology
University of California Santa Cruz