Maria Rosario Ponce

• Investigates child abuse and neglect allegations by interviewing and counseling parents, children, and adolescents, analyzing information and data collected, determining degree of danger and risk of future abuse and neglect, determining if removal of the child from the home is necessary, and conducting time sensitive investigations per court order or in compliance with State of California law.

• Provides intervention services pertaining to children and families as deemed appropriate.

• Provides verbal and written recommendations, in regard to the case planning for children, to representatives of the juvenile court, family court, residential treatment centers/programs, and other agencies.

• Facilitates family reunification by monitoring behavior and progress displayed by family members, interacting with family members to provide encouragement and support, and provide services so that children may be successfully reunified with their parents; documents family reunification and maintenance steps by writing progress reports and case plans that serve as legal documents or court orders.

• Prepares appropriate case plans with parental input, as per court orders or voluntary services, by using the automated CWS/CMS system, and submits such plans to the assigned supervisor and courts for approval.

• Uses automated case management (CMS/CWS) systems to write status reports and document actions pertaining to assigned cases.

• Evaluates the actions or behavior of parents, children, and other persons associated with cases and determines the need for appropriate individual or family educational or counseling programs such as parenting skills, drug testing, substance abuse, or other educational/counseling programs.

• Conducts permanency and long term planning, such as foster care, guardianship, or adoption, for children who have been removed from homes or placement facilities.

• Places children in homes of family and non-family members, foster homes, and residential treatment centers.

• Monitors the behavior and well-being of children who have been placed in foster homes and residential treatment centers.

• Serves as a member of teams consisting of professionals from law enforcement agencies, medical agencies, and other outside agencies organized to discuss cases/referrals/investigations, develop or revise policies and procedures, perform process improvements, or enhance collaborative efforts.

• Researches the availability of foster homes by contacting CWS employees who handle placement coordination, reviewing lists of available foster homes, and making contacts with resources/persons.

I have eight years of experience working as an investigator and case management with elderly, adults, and children with Child Welfare Services, County of San Diego. As an emergency response social worker I investigate child abuse in homes and provide safety for children. I visit schools, homes, hospitals and jails. I offer families resources with community services within the county including mental health services and drug rehabilitation services. I have experience writing detailed case notes and safety plans. I help conduct Child and Family Team Meetings where we make short term plans to create safety in the homes. The families agree to abide by the short term plans. I assess if a case will need to be opened or if the investigation will be closed. I have experience making referrals and coordinating services for elderly, adults, and children. Families may be referred to domestic violence classes, Intensive Family Preservation, counseling, mental health services, housing, parenting classes. I work with community partners to reduce the risk of abuse to elders and adults such as law enforcement, the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team, Transitional housing department, family resource centers, hospitals, therapists and psychologists.

I plan, schedule, supervises, and coordinate activities of Residential Care Workers, volunteers, and contract workers who are assigned 24-hour care and supervision of children in one or more cottages. Plan and coordinate programs for cottages with Social Workers and other Residential Care Worker Supervisors to meet the needs of dependent children. Review case histories of newly admitted children with social work staff to identify potential emotional, behavioral or disciplinary issues. Intervene and respond to critical incidents and emergency situations. I assist in physical restraints to immobilize children who may be of harm to themselves or others, and write follow-up reports. I try to prevent children from leaving the facility without permission by physically blocking their path for their safety. I also assist in developing and implementing policies, procedures, and techniques for facility operations, which includes applying the Polinsky Active Teaching Approach (PATA), and Common Sense Parenting for assessing and instructing children in behavior management, socialization and living skills. I review and evaluate the accuracy and thoroughness of cottage logs and records, special incident reports, and other pertinent reports. I prepare statistical and narrative reports. I also transport and/or accompany individual and groups of children to appointments or on field trips outside the facility.