Maria Garcia-Hernandez
Bakersfield,CA
Summary
Dynamic professional with extensive experience in behavioral health and child care, notably with Kern Behavioral Health And Recovery Services. Excelled in fostering client relationships and implementing trauma-informed care, enhancing positive outcomes. Skilled in multidisciplinary collaboration and effective communication, consistently advocating for client needs and advancing care standards.
Offering passion for mental health advocacy and readiness to learn and grow in field. Brings transferable skills in active listening and empathy, ensuring compassionate and supportive approach to client care. Ready to use and develop communication and problem-solving skills in Social Worker role.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Recovery Specialist I
Kern Behavioral Health And Recovery Services
06.2024 - Current
- Provides individual recovery-oriented behavioral health services to adults and children with mental illness and/or substance abuse.
- Ensures that services are individualized, emphasizing consumer/family strengths, abilities, needs, and preferences.
- Assists with individual and group rehabilitation and educational services to the chronically mentally ill, including but not limited to training in: independent living, activities of daily living, transportation, financial services, budgeting, etc.
- Assists professional staff in obtaining and documenting client information on various forms; and prepares and maintains case management records in accordance with system standards.
- Assists professional staff in providing limited client intervention.
- Keeps team and supervisor apprised of issues related to clients.
- Acts as an advocate for Children's System of Care.
- Interacts with community agencies and other County department staff.
- Assists in gathering data and statistical information to be utilized by professional staff in developing reports.
- Regularly visits foster youth/families in the community to assess their home and mental well being to recommend service needs, and to deliver services and support.
- Performs basic typing and computer tasks; accesses, utilizes, and maintains electronic records and files, including an electronic medical record computer program.
Program Facilitator
Kern County Superintendent of Schools
06.2023 - 06.2024
- Answer questions and provide information to the public; recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints
- Disseminate information to various national and local organizations concerning child care projects
- Participate in budget preparation and administration
- Prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations
- Submit justifications for budget items; monitor and control expenditure
- Assist in the recruitment and support of in-home, exempt, and licensed child care provider
- Offer technical assistance and information to individuals interested in becoming licensed child care providers
- Refer individuals seeking child care to providers; monitor and distribute child care subsidies
- Serve as a liaison between State licensing officials and individuals providing or seeking to provide child care
- Coordinate workshops for child program participants
- Set up and maintain specialized and general office files; record all parent, provider and general public contact
- Maintain a variety of reports and logs; prepare a variety of materials including recertification and termination notices, correspondence, information as necessary
- Implement resource lending library patron policies; assist in a variety of Community Connection for Child Care and local community project
- Attend and conduct a variety of meetings, conferences and workshops; perform related duties as assigned.
Behavior Intervention Specialist
Panama-Buena Vista Union School District
11.2014 - 06.2023
- Supported teachers in developing classroom management techniques that fostered a positive, inclusive learning environment.
- Sharing best practices and providing guidance on case management processes.
- Promoted a school-wide culture of positive behavior support by modeling respectful communication, active listening, and empathy in all interactions with students, staff, and families.
- Reduced classroom disruptions by providing targeted support and direct instruction in social-emotional learning skills.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Human Services
University of Phoenix
Bakersfield, CA04-2012
Skills
- Foster care client relationship building
- Suicide risk assessment
- Client advocacy
- Boundaries establishment
- Motivational interviewing
- Self-care promotion
- Empathy development
- Behavioral assessment
- Psychoeducation delivery
- Individualized care planning
- Multidisciplinary collaboration
- Family support coordination
- Stress reduction strategies
- Cultural history
- Service referral
- Anger management techniques
- Trauma-informed care
- Teamwork
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Organizational skills
- Active listening
- Effective communication
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Case documentation
- Decision-making
- Patient education
- Certified in CPR/AED
- Clinical documentation
- Clinical interventions
- Task prioritization
- Self motivation
- Interpersonal skills
- Analytical thinking
- Goal setting
- Professionalism
- Mental health evaluations
- Interpersonal communication
- Crisis intervention
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Continuous improvement
- Adaptability
- Written communication
- Therapeutic interventions
- Records management
- Professional demeanor
- Cultural Competency
- Case management
- Treatment Planning
- Grief counseling
- Adolescent counseling
- Electronic medical record software
- Behavior modification techniques
- Analytical skills
- Community resources specialist
- Process monitoring
- Nonviolent crisis intervention
Affiliations
- New Life Church
Certification
- First Aid Certification
- California Driver's License
- CPR/AED Certification
- Basic Life Support Certification (BLS)
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
Interests
- Playing Sports
- Volunteering
- Enjoy hobbies that combine physical activity with outdoor exploration
- Gardening
- Road Trips
- Train Travel
Timeline
Recovery Specialist I
Kern Behavioral Health And Recovery Services
06.2024 - Current
Program Facilitator
Kern County Superintendent of Schools
06.2023 - 06.2024
Behavior Intervention Specialist
Panama-Buena Vista Union School District
11.2014 - 06.2023
- First Aid Certification
- California Driver's License
- CPR/AED Certification
- Basic Life Support Certification (BLS)
Bachelor of Science - Human Services
University of Phoenix
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