Maria Lopez, LSW, SWC
Pueblo,CO
Summary
Proactive and resourceful social worker with a strong knowledge of community resources. Knowledgeable and experienced in coordinating care for diverse needs and populations. Ready to offer years of field experience with a passion for helping others.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Case Manager
Colorado State University Pueblo
04.2023 - Current
- Partnered with faculty, staff, and collateral contacts to develop and implement individualized action plans and documented student interactions and interventions in electronic charting systems.
- Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to determine timely delivery of services.
- Coordinated services with other agencies, community-based organizations, and healthcare professionals to provide useful benefits to students.
- Assisted students in navigating housing, legal services and public benefits to gain access to valuable resources.
- Researched best practices and developed strategies to improve program outcomes.
- Provided leadership, guidance and support to staff members.
Admissions CRM Advancement Specialist
Colorado State University Pueblo
06.2022 - 03.2023
- Collaborated with outside departments towards promoting use of the Slate CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform, assisting with integration processes and business practices into the CRM to improve student outreach.
- Assisted with system maintenance and technical collaborations with colleagues in and outside of the Office of Admissions which included serving as a liaison between technical staff and end-user staff.
- Served as a backup to provide assistance for other CRM-related processes such as managing events, scheduler, event templates and related communications as needed.
COSI Back to Work Advisor
Colorado State University Pueblo
01.2022 - 05.2022
- Received and reviewed transcripts to determine eligibility for admission to specific COSI programs.
- Provided support and guidance to students experiencing academic and personal troubles.
- Collaborated with departmental staff to expand on-campus engagement and program outreach.
- Developed partnerships with campus departments to promote student access to resources at hand.
Clinician I
San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group
07.2021 - 12.2021
- Provided patients with detailed information about symptoms, causes and treatment expectations.
- Established appropriate course of treatment and implemented interventions.
- Interviewed patients concerning physical complaints, discussed symptoms, asked questions and suggested treatment options.
- Determined appropriate treatments to achieve balance in body.
- Identified alternative pain control methods to avoid use of opioids and other overly-abused narcotics.
- Implemented therapeutic regiments involving medications and other interventions to mitigate symptoms and prevent reoccurrence.
- Evaluated patient histories, complaints and current symptoms.
Communications Specialist
Colorado State University Pueblo
01.2021 - 06.2021
- Developed engaging communication strategies.
- Assisted in developing job postings, social media and other external communications.
- Studied objectives, promotional policies or needs of organizations to develop public relations strategies influencing public opinion or promoting ideas.
- Provided administrative support to senior team members.
- Used Slate CRM to create eloquent, visually appealing content for admissions and enrollment communications.
- Created, wrote and revised content for Admissions programs and events.
- Promoted institutional vision through announcements and communications.
- Collaborated in finding ways to increase student engagement in campus-wide initiatives based on detailed communication analytics embedded within Slate.
Graduate Intern Domestic Violence Counselor/Therapist
YWCA
04.2020 - 12.2020
- Provided pro bono counseling services to residents at the YWCA while completing Master of Social Work program, under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
- Conducted biopsychosocial assessments to determine appropriate treatment options.
- Co-facilitated psychoeducational and support groups.
- Provided individual therapy to survivors of domestic violence by integrating treatment models and techniques.
- Provided tools in helping clients recognize the cycle of abuse, and focus on contributing factors that would have led to abuse and develop strategies to help end the cycle.
- Participated in a multi-disciplinary team with YWCA staff in delivering coordinated care and support.
- Actively participated in individual and consultation groups.
- Participated in training opportunities.
Graduate Intern Counselor
Willow Tree Counseling
05.2019 - 02.2020
- Worked in a private practice setting providing diagnosis and intervention to clients, under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
- Completed intake and psychosocial assessments.
- Provided counseling, psychoeducation and other interventions to assist clients with achieving goals.
- Developed and implemented treatment plans in collaboration with client and staff clinicians.
- Participated in supervision meetings, providing colleagues with case feedback.
- Collaborated with staff in assessing service and resource needs.
- Maintained files and provided weekly documentation on client progress toward goals.
Medical Social Worker
Frontier Home Health & Hospice
01.2019 - 05.2019
- Provided care coordination, counseling, and referral services to patients in the community receiving home health.
- Assisted patients and their families in obtaining resources to help manage and support medical conditions that required ongoing care.
Lead Senior Case Manager
Pueblo County Department of Social Services
01.2016 - 11.2018
- Provided case management services to a caseload of 57, assisting clients in receiving assistance, care or treatment, counseling or related services through Long Term Care Medicaid for Single Entry Point Programs of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), Long Term Health (skilled home health) and Nursing Home.
- Performed permanently assigned lead work over professional case managers, providing guidance regarding case planning, review, and permanence planning, assisting supervisor with the distribution and balance of workloads, and answering questions related to policies and procedures.
- Made site visits, assessing the quality of care and compliance with program requirements.
- Conducted interviews and assessments to identify needs and/or risks with clients.
- Reviewed determinations, monitoring and maintaining program eligibility requirements.
- Supported clients in crisis intervention and counseling to assist in resolving issues and other barriers to obtaining services.
- Developed action/treatment plans, made referrals, and coordinated services to meet client needs; made recommendations for short and long-term treatment, care, or assistance.
- Documented action/treatment plans, client progress and services being provided.
- Coordinated services with collateral agencies, families, or service providers.
- Provided follow-up case management on assisting clients with resolving problems with the quality of care or services.
Eligibility Specialist
Family Service Center
11.2014 - 01.2016
- Gathered, assembled, and reviewed information from applicants and recipients regarding financial and non-financial criteria relevant to initial or continued eligibility for Colorado Works, Food Assistance and MAGI Medicaid.
- Informed applicants/recipients of the relevant requirements and benefits of the program for which they may have eligibility; assisted applicants with completing forms; secured documents; notified applicants of appeal rights and procedures in response with notices generated by the computer.
- Assisted co-workers as necessary and approved/denied applicants based upon a review of case information, in accordance with program rules and regulations.
- Interviewed clients to obtain general case information and requested supporting documentation from clients as necessary.
Program Coordinator
Pueblo Community Health Center, PCHC
03.2014 - 10.2014
- Healthcare for the Homeless and Early Intervention Services, Coordinated delivery of health and supportive services to special populations including Health Care for the Homeless, and HIV/AIDS in Pueblo County.
- Conducted community outreach to identify eligible clients.
- Assured effective day-to-day operation of homeless primary care services through teamwork with other PCHC departments serving the homeless population.
- Collaborated effectively with other homeless serving agencies.
Eligibility Specialist
Pueblo County Department of Social Services
12.2012 - 03.2014
- Gathered, assembled, and reviewed information from applicants and recipients regarding financial and non-financial criteria relevant to initial or continued eligibility for Food Assistance, Adult Financial, Long-Term Care, and Medicaid.
- Informed applicants/recipients of the relevant requirements and benefits of the program for which they may have eligibility; assisted applicants with completing forms; secured documents; notified applicants of appeal rights and procedures in response to notices generated by the computer.
- Maintained inquiry level access in multiple State and County computer systems for basic case information as necessary.
- Assisted co-workers as necessary.
- Approved/denied applicants based upon the review of case information, in accordance with program rules and regulations.
- Established and maintained case files; prepared necessary documentation to initiate, continue and modify public assistance; planned and organized caseload to ensure that necessary work is completed in accordance with regulations relating to eligibility and timeliness.
- Maintained a caseload of 800 clients encompassing multiple public assistance programs.
- Interviewed clients to obtain general case information, requesting supporting documentation from clients as necessary.
- Utilized data entry through multiple County and State computer systems requiring detailed, specific program knowledge.
- Determined the need for recovery of funds.
- Kept clients informed of changes in laws or regulations that may affect them.
Field Manager
Fair Share Alliance
07.2012 - 08.2012
- Trained, oversaw, motivated, and evaluated canvassers.
- Developed canvassing strategies to meet or exceed the campaign goals districts Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).
Technician
Pueblo County Department Of Social Services
01.2012 - 04.2012
- Data verification by phone contact, written request, and/or collateral contact.
- Received visitors and assisted them in the application process and provided an explanation of program rules and requirements.
- Answered phones and made referrals to community agencies as appropriate to enhance the quality of life to applicants.
Education
Master of Social Work -
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO12.2020
Graduate Certificate - Advanced Clinical Behavioral Health
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO05.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
State University of New York At Purchase
Purchase, NY05.2000
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts
Bronx Community College
Bronx, NY05.1998
Skills
- Progress evaluations
- Documentation proficiency
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Care coordination
- Evidence-based practices
- Treatment planning
- Bilingual in Spanish and English
- Analysis and research
- Intake interviewing
- Mental health counseling
- Resource advocacy
- Biopsychosocial assessments
- Mental health support
- Case management proficiency
Certification
- Brain Synchronization Therapy
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
- Clinical Social Work Candidate (SWC)
- SBI (Screening and Brief Intervention) with Adults
Professional Training
- 16 Hour MTS (Moving Towards Serving) Training Retreat - February 2023
ESCALA Educational Services, Inc., Santa Fe, NM
Relevant Work Experience
Retreat Facilitator
The Center for Inclusive Excellence, CSU Pueblo - Pueblo, CO
May 2021 to August 2021
- Facilitated professional development for student affairs through group discussion and consensus building activities.
- In consultation with the Assistant Dean of Student Support and Advocacy, developed action plans which identified key issues, problems, approaches, and resources required for the direction of program services.
- Fostered collaboration among team members.
Program Coordinator
Aztlan Native American Cultural Center - Gardner, CO
February 2010 to September 2010
- Provided administrative support answering phones, e-mails.
- Managed scheduling and organizing cultural/educational presentations throughout Colorado and the Northeast.
Member Political Staffer
United Health Care Workers - New York, NY
August 2008 to September 2009
- Worked on Healthcare Reform in Denver, Colorado with the Change That Works© Campaign to guarantee comprehensive
healthcare to all. - Canvassed on a letter writing campaign for the Fair Share Tax Reform to reduce the budget deficit for the state of New
York in 2009, and lobbied and informed local elected officials in NYC and Albany and recruited their involvement and
participation as either panelists or observers.
References
Andrea Beltran, LCSW
HUD VASH Case Manager
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
719-289-5932
andrea.beltran@va.gov
Christopher Beltran, LCSW
Director of HSI Initiatives, Operations and Advancement
Colorado State University Pueblo
719-549-2535
christopher.beltran@csupueblo.edu
Louann Androes
Assistance Payments Supervisor (Retired)
Pueblo County Department of Human Services, Pueblo, CO
719-568-4778
Timeline
Case Manager
Colorado State University Pueblo
04.2023 - Current
Admissions CRM Advancement Specialist
Colorado State University Pueblo
06.2022 - 03.2023
COSI Back to Work Advisor
Colorado State University Pueblo
01.2022 - 05.2022
Clinician I
San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group
07.2021 - 12.2021
Communications Specialist
Colorado State University Pueblo
01.2021 - 06.2021
Graduate Intern Domestic Violence Counselor/Therapist
YWCA
04.2020 - 12.2020
Graduate Intern Counselor
Willow Tree Counseling
05.2019 - 02.2020
Medical Social Worker
Frontier Home Health & Hospice
01.2019 - 05.2019
Lead Senior Case Manager
Pueblo County Department of Social Services
01.2016 - 11.2018
Eligibility Specialist
Family Service Center
11.2014 - 01.2016
Program Coordinator
Pueblo Community Health Center, PCHC
03.2014 - 10.2014
Eligibility Specialist
Pueblo County Department of Social Services
12.2012 - 03.2014
Field Manager
Fair Share Alliance
07.2012 - 08.2012
Technician
Pueblo County Department Of Social Services
01.2012 - 04.2012
- Brain Synchronization Therapy
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
- Clinical Social Work Candidate (SWC)
- SBI (Screening and Brief Intervention) with Adults
Master of Social Work -
Colorado State University
Graduate Certificate - Advanced Clinical Behavioral Health
Colorado State University
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
State University of New York At Purchase
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts
Bronx Community College
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