Manuel Manny Dawson

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMH) focusing on teaching/modeling conscious discipline and helping teachers manage classroom behaviors. IECMH Consultation also includes supporting the educators professionally (handling site/staffing concerns) and emotionally (teaching emotional regulation skills). Therapy internship consists of providing weekly individual therapy. Therapy is practices ethically and supervised by Sunbeam and The University of Oklahoma. I utilize a psychodynamic approach that combines elements of family systems therapy, DBT, and TF-CBT meant to help clients manage their stress and thinking.

My Care Navigator duties are focused on managing elements of the Engaging Adversity and Surviving trauma in OKC (E.A.S.T. OKC) Grant. I coordinate outreach events, conduct training, compile resources, capture community voices, and foster collaboration among agencies serving East OKC.

• Led an E.A.S.T. OKC Coalition that created new 988 outreach posters and stickers targeting the African American Community
• Led a Black History Month video project promoting mental health resources
• Spearheaded an E.A.S.T. OKC Coalition that developed community mental health initiatives, including the creation of new culturally-sensitive 988 outreach materials and mental health awareness resources for diverse populations
• Lead coalition partnerships to enhance mental health resource accessibility, while managing program implementation and stakeholder engagement across community services
• Direct strategic mental health outreach programs, including education initiatives focusing on underserved populations
• Facilitate Protective Factors training programs while coordinating comprehensive community-based mental health services and resource distribution

• Facilitated partnerships and coordinated collaboration among organizations serving East OKC
• Coordinated various outreach projects, presentations, and focus groups
• Assisted with counseling referrals and crisis management at Palomar
• Developed multiple outreach resources such as a trauma brochure, a grant service area map, mental health presentations, and multiple training and event newsletters

• Lead worker for Youth Transition Services
• Assisted legally free adjudicated youth in building connections and finding permanency
• Certified Mentor and KFOR “A Place To Call Home” Liaison
• Co-developed the new Youth Adoption Guidebook used by Child Welfare Workers

• Worked in the Adoption Transition Unit, the Adoption - SWIFT Program, and Permanency Planning
• Served as a Facility liaison
• Facilitated adoptions and assisted adjudicated youth in achieving permanency
• Oversaw contract compliance for agency partners
• Coordinated and led Permanent Connection Meetings

• Led comprehensive child protection investigations while managing prevention cases and permanency planning, ensuring thorough documentation and compliance with state protocols