Mariela Contreras-Barajas
Kalamazoo,MI
Summary
Dedicated social worker well-versed in liaising with clients to foster access to community resources, treatment, and assistance programs. Strong background in supporting client treatment plans. Compassionate and driven with unfailing work ethic and passion for helping others.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Medical Social Worker
Elara Caring Hospice
01.2022 - Current
- Completed psychosocial evaluations and needs assessments.
- Worked with medical teams, patients and families to implement effective treatment plans.
- Coordinated individualized discharge plans to manage safe transition back into community and home environments.
- Explained medical care options to help families make informed healthcare decisions.
- Organized clinical documentation, treatment plans, and referrals.
- Facilitated family meetings to discuss patient care plans.
- Assisted patients in accessing housing, financial assistance and other community resources.
Therapist
Serene Solutions
01.2022 - Current
- Assessed clients' mental health needs, developed treatment plans and monitored progress.
- Documented patient information, treatment plans, and patient responses.
- Delivered brief interventions to help clients develop healthy coping skills.
- Counseled individuals, groups, and families to bring awareness of problems, deal with crisis situations and develop action plans.
- Developed strategies to help patients cope with stress and anxiety and build resilience.
Children's Outpatient Therapist
Children, Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County
07.2019 - 12.2021
- Provide outpatient psychotherapy
- Provide psychosocial assessment and crisis response services for individuals seeking services.
- Develop, implement, and monitor person-centered plans.
- Provide crisis services, including counseling, linking, coordinating or referrals to hospitals, police departments, jails and other community agencies.
- Examined 30 individuals per week and developed proper treatment plans.
- Guided clients in the development of skills and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
- Maintained client caseload of 30 individuals and couples per week.
Transitional Case Manager
Bethany Christian Services
05.2018 - 07.2019
- Coordinate short term case management services for client's educational, therapeutic, medical and legal needs
- Meet weekly with supervisor to consult on cases, to review case plan and direction and to evaluate client participation and progress
- Meet regularly with unit therapist to discuss resident’s assessment and treatment
- Present social history of new residents at staff meeting following admission
- Review youth's journey into the United States, any exploitation and/or trafficking concerns, family history, psychological history, school history, and identify any issues or behaviors that would warrant attention in treatment
- Be knowledgeable on DHS and UAC policy and procedure in terms of intake procedures, reporting procedures and reunification procedures
- Meet weekly (or more) with the youth to ensure safety of youth and progress towards goals
- Provide timely reunification services to potential sponsors
- Be available to transport youth if needed to identified sponsors
- Be available to interpret for clientele from Spanish to English as needed
- Provide transportation for clients as needed
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date information on foster children in care while meeting DHS, ORR, and
- Bethany's documentation and reporting requirements
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Trauma Assessment Clinician-Intern Samaritas
09.2018 - 06.2019
- Participate in neurodevelopmental trauma assessments in partnership with the clinical team
- Participate in pre and post assessment discussions regarding the child’s histories, assignment of assessments, gathering of materials for individual cases, and review of the day
- Conduct psychosocial interviews, attachment assessments and administer clinical assessment tools, which includes scoring of various assessment tools, and report reviews
- Timely completion of trauma assessment reports including reviewing, editing, and providing feedback
- Complete interviews with biological parents, foster parents, and child welfare processions, as needed
- Participate in scheduled supervision, staff meetings, and professional development
- Assist with other special projects and duties, as assigned.
Family Support Worker
Family and Children Services
12.2016 - 05.2018
- Oversee scheduled parenting time visitations
- Effectively provide constructive feedback to Biological parents regarding their parenting skills
- Provide detailed case notes/visitation notes to case managers after each parenting time
- Transport foster children, as needed, to various counties for appointments and visits
- Assist in ensuring Friend of the Court and DHS families meet their parenting time goals.
Education
Master's - Social Work
Spring Arbor University
Kalamazoo, MI10.2019
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI12.2016
Skills
- Highly Organized and able to Prioritize
- Customer Service Oriented
- Skilled Problem Solver
- Case Management
- Crisis intervention
- Psychotherapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Individual counseling
- Motivational interviewing
Additional Information
- Social Work License
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Medical Social Worker
Elara Caring Hospice
01.2022 - Current
Therapist
Serene Solutions
01.2022 - Current
Children's Outpatient Therapist
Children, Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County
07.2019 - 12.2021
Trauma Assessment Clinician-Intern Samaritas
09.2018 - 06.2019
Transitional Case Manager
Bethany Christian Services
05.2018 - 07.2019
Family Support Worker
Family and Children Services
12.2016 - 05.2018
Master's - Social Work
Spring Arbor University
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
Western Michigan University