Margarita Ramirez Cruz

As a Continuing Services Children's Social Worker (CSW), I manage cases by visiting families monthly, collaborating with service providers, and facilitating meetings. I also help transition families to different services, complete referrals, and educate parents on child development, parenting, trauma, family dynamics, safety, and cultural considerations.

My role includes gathering information from family members and other contacts, implementing safety plans, following up on child abuse or safety concerns, and providing reports to the Court about the family’s progress and efforts to ensure child safety. I started my role at the Vermont Corridor office as an Emergency Response CSW, where I investigated child abuse referrals, conducted unannounced visits, and searched various systems for family history.

I also coordinated drug and alcohol testing, referred children for medical exams, and connected families to services like mental health support. I conducted safety and risk assessments, built rapport with families, and created safety plans. Additionally, I reviewed medical, dental, and school records, wrote court reports, and held family engagement and team meetings. I worked closely with supervisors and other staff to ensure comprehensive care

• Conducted outreach and engagement for adults and children that were referred through the PMRT and MET team to help link to community-based services, facilitate team meetings to establish a treatment plan, create safety plans, build rapport with service providers, followed up on utilization of services, coordinate with the treatment team, provide psychoeducation regarding trauma and mental health, provide crisis management support, complete DMH documentation, and assist with closing out the referrals.

• Coordinate with mental health providers, facilitate meetings, submit referrals for additional services, provide support with intake/enrollment, complete DMH documentation, consult with providers, ensure continuity of care, follow up on case related issues, problem solve as a team, mediate with family and caregivers, provide progress letters, and close out cases.

• Provided trauma-based behavioral interventions and case management to low-income families, collaborate with service providers such as DMH, DCFS, probation, clinical staff, school staff, etc., work with foster youth who are at risk of loss of placement, practice coping strategies, problem-solving skills, build rapport, family engagement, complete outcome measures, and follow up on services.

• Provided emotional support and completed documentation regarding progress and behaviors for adolescent girl in a level 12 group home. Collaborated with staff to ensure the safety and stability of the residents while building rapport and encouraging active participation with activities.

• Processing checks, balancing the asset and safe, transferring currency, office support, conducting phone calls, filling paperwork, maintaining a clean and safe environment, conducting morning and closing procedures, and distributing information to customers about our services.

• Assisted the program director with office work that includes faxing, filling, copying, printing information, organizing documents, conducting phone calls, monitoring foster children, and assisting social workers with paperwork.