Luis Eduardo Ponce
Austin,Texas
Summary
Professional with a rich background in mental health and special education. Excelled in bilingual communication and Autism Behavioral support. Demonstrating proven leadership and skills in behavioral analysis and peer advocacy with high client outcomes. Expert in multitasking and innovation with mental health services and diverse sensitivity to cultural differences.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Event Assistant
City of Austin, Zilker Botanical Gardens
Austin, Texas
07.2024 - Current
- Working as an event assistant and grounds keeper
- Sets up and strikes down venue sites that are rented for various events
- Maintain grounds with daily cleaning and sanitization of restrooms, facility lobby, and ADA hand railings
- Working within the botanical scenery knowledge of driving vehicles and utilizing garden tools to properly display clean sites to the public
Speech & Behavioral Assistant
Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Manor Independent School District
Manor, Texas
04.2024 - 12.2024
- Worked with the Special Education Department under limited supervision
- Organized 1:1 services for students with intellectual, physical, and mental challenges
- Assisted in de-escalation within the 'life skills' unit with students who had a challenging time with behavioral understanding
- Provided Speech therapy with the Speech Pathologist virtually and acted as the in-person teacher
- Used multitasking skills to further assist the students while keeping a safe environment
Peer Support Specialist/ Psychiatric Nursing Assistant
Department of Health & Human Services, Austin State Hospital
Austin, Texas
11.2023 - 05.2024
- Provided peer support services to patients with serious mental illnesses, forensic commitment, and/or addiction issues, and served in the orientation and training of other peer specialists
- Depicted as a role model for other peer specialists and persons served, I exhibited competency in personal recovery
- Performed a wide range of tasks providing guidance to other Peer Support Specialists and persons served
- Assisted peers of all ages, from young youth, adults to seniors, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process
- Work involved engagement in interactions with persons served, assisting management of the peer services department; assessing competency of other peer specialists; and leading individual and group sessions
- As a Peer Support Specialist I supported people who served self-determination with immediate and long-term concerns
- Advocated and led educational panels for organizational staff, committees, and communities; and assisted with providing training in trauma informed care, recovery model, or person-centered care to others
- Served as a lead worker providing direction to others
- Worked under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment
- Educated clients on available community resources that could enhance their quality of life.
- Provided crisis intervention services to individuals in need of emotional and mental support.
- Participated in weekly team meetings to discuss cases and develop treatment plans.
- Helped individuals overcome discrimination, stigmas and trauma by providing encouragement and community resources.
Registered Behavioral Technician
Stepping Stones Group
Spicewood, Texas
08.2023 - 11.2023
- Worked at Lake Travis Independent School District within the Special Education department
- Assigned to treat children with Behavioral challenges and Intellectual difficulties
- Organized 1:1 timeframes with students to help them gain social engagement
- Assisted the Classroom Teacher in gathering the children for arrival, transitions of periods and for dismissal
- Worked closely with the Special Education Department to fulfill BCBA requirements that were not being provided within the ABA guidelines
- Implemented evidence-based interventions such as Applied Behavior Analysis techniques, positive reinforcement strategies, and other behavioral approaches.
Case Worker
Department of Family & Protective Services, Region 7
Austin, TX
01.2023 - 06.2023
- Supervised Parent Child visits while documenting and uploading required information to the database for the agency to view
- Transported clients to and from placements, visits, and assisted with immediate removals
- Worked closely under limited supervision with caseworkers, supervisors, and the Program Directors to ensure high work ethics and professionalism were maintained
- Maintained accurate and confidential client records in accordance with legal requirements.
Lead Counselor
City of Round Rock, Madsen Recreation Center
Round Rock, Texas
05.2022 - 03.2023
- Worked with intellectually and physically challenged individuals of youth and young adulthood to maximize their independent potential
- Worked Summer camp for individuals with disabilities
- Lead a team of five counselors and twenty participants with limited supervision
- Provided crisis intervention services in emergency situations.
- Conducted individual and group counseling sessions to address mental health issues, career concerns, and personal development.
Mental Health Tech Lead
Discovery Mood & Anxiety
Dripping Springs, Texas
11.2022 - 01.2023
- Company Overview: Dripping Springs
- Monitored patients overnight, took vitals upon waking up, updated charts hourly, and was the first line advocate for at risk youth
- Worked closely with youth residents to assist in their daily lives and educate them in resources for proper mental health treatment outside of the facility
- Dripping Springs
Activity Specialist
City of Austin, Alamo Recreation Center
Austin, Texas
01.2022 - 06.2022
- Worked with intellectually and physically challenged individuals from young adulthood to geriatrics
- Leading with occasional limited supervision I organized activities, community outings and garden activities for the individuals
- Researched community programs that offered ADA accommodations for full participation of the group
Activity Specialist
City of Austin, Givens Recreation Center
Austin, Texas
06.2021 - 01.2022
- Worked the After-school programs, Summer Camps, Winter Camps, and other various events to interact with children ages 5-12 and assist at the front desk when needed
- Worked as Inclusion Lead for youth and led a team of three specialists with little to no supervision
Education
Bachelors - Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a Minor in Writing
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas01.2022
Bachelors - Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a Minor in Neuroscience
Texas A&M International University
Laredo, Texas08.2020
Diploma - Advanced Placement Curriculum with Dual-Enrollment classes
Raymond & Tirza Martin High School
Laredo, Texas05.2018
Certificate - Nursing and Pharmaceuticals
Laredo College
Laredo, Texas05.2018
Skills
- Time Management
- Communication
- Bilingual
- 45 WPM
- Autism Behavior Support
- Special Needs
- Restraining
- Deescalation
- Behavioral Intervention
- Event setup and breakdown
- Guest management
- Grounds patrol
- Venue management
- Sales experience
- Relationship building skills
- Mental health services
- Leadership skills
- Multicultural sensitivity
- Applied behavior analysis
Training
- Human Trafficking, Department of Family and Protective Services, 2024
- Case Filing, Department of Family and Protective Services, 2024
- Home Inspections, Department of Family and Protective Services, 2024
- Vehicle Inspection, Department of Family and Protective Services, 2024
- Unit Checks, Department of Health and Human Services, 2024
- HIPPA Coding, Department of Health and Human Services, 2024
- Food and Handling Safety, Department of Health and Human Services, 2024
- Mental health Intervention, Department of Family and Protective Services, 2024
- Mental Health Intervention- Adolescents, Department of Health and Human Services, 2024
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Intervention, City of Austin- Inclusion, 2024
- Epileptic Seizure Intervention, City of Round Rock, 2024
- Peer Support Services, Department of Health and Human Services, 2024
- Behavioral Intervention and Restraining, Discovery Mood and Anxiety, 2024
- Registered Behavioral Technician, Stepping Stone Group, 2024
Awards
- Counselor of the Month, Madsen Recreation Center, 06/01/22
- H.S.T. of the Month, D.F.P.S Austin, 03/01/23
- Peer Therapist of the Month, Austin State Hospital, 01/01/24
Certification
- Pharmacy Technician
- Behavioral Technician
- Peer Support
- Autism Intervention
Languages
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
English
Native/ Bilingual
Italian
Limited
Affiliations
- Reading
- Classical Music
- Museums
- Cooking
- Family
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Event Assistant
City of Austin, Zilker Botanical Gardens
07.2024 - Current
Speech & Behavioral Assistant
Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Manor Independent School District
04.2024 - 12.2024
Peer Support Specialist/ Psychiatric Nursing Assistant
Department of Health & Human Services, Austin State Hospital
11.2023 - 05.2024
Registered Behavioral Technician
Stepping Stones Group
08.2023 - 11.2023
Case Worker
Department of Family & Protective Services, Region 7
01.2023 - 06.2023
Mental Health Tech Lead
Discovery Mood & Anxiety
11.2022 - 01.2023
Lead Counselor
City of Round Rock, Madsen Recreation Center
05.2022 - 03.2023
Activity Specialist
City of Austin, Alamo Recreation Center
01.2022 - 06.2022
Activity Specialist
City of Austin, Givens Recreation Center
06.2021 - 01.2022
- Pharmacy Technician
- Behavioral Technician
- Peer Support
- Autism Intervention
Bachelors - Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a Minor in Writing
Texas State University
Bachelors - Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a Minor in Neuroscience
Texas A&M International University
Diploma - Advanced Placement Curriculum with Dual-Enrollment classes
Raymond & Tirza Martin High School
Certificate - Nursing and Pharmaceuticals
Laredo College
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