Mauretta Johnson-Copeland
Chesterfield,VA
Summary
Cultural Broker in the disability field with over 10 years of experience in working alongside families/caregivers from diverse backgrounds throughout the state to become better advocates. Talented in dispute resolution, demonstrated strong ability in preparing others to be leaders.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Cultural Broker
Partnership For People With Disabilities At VCU
12.2009 - Current
- Works alongside African American/black or other families of color navigate the various disability systems and build their skills as advocates for their child/family
- Provides emotional support, safe space to families as they navigate issues involving possible implicit/explicit bias/microaggressions etc
- Establishes collaborative relationships with leaders and professionals in the Black/African American communities to promote the goals of the CFI and the Partnership
- Acts as a "bridge" or go between black/African American families of children/adults with disabilities and service providers
- Serves as a resource to the CFI and Partnership by bringing cultural perspectives, training, and technical assistance to ensure the delivery of culturally sensitive and appropriate services to organizational clients
- Maintains information on family and professional support in the CFI's data system (Salesforce)
- Identifies and recruits black/African American families to become trained "family navigators" to provide peer support for families of diverse backgrounds as needed
- Managed up to three family navigators at a time
- Provides community trainings/presentations for professionals related to working with families of children/adults with disabilities from diverse backgrounds
- Does presentations for other organizations promoting the CFI and Partnership for People with Disabilities
- Assists, develops and participates in programs or projects assigned by the supervisor to ensure the integration of cultural components, family perspectives to these programs
- Attends all mandatory CFI, Partnership, VCU staff development opportunities
- Provides technical assistance by serving on local, state, and national boards or councils
Clinic Coordinator
VA LEND Partnership People With Disabilities VCU
01.2016 - 11.2019
- Provided clinic orientation for each VA Leadership Education in Neuro-Developmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) cohort of trainees and faculty
- Built and maintained relationships with community clinic partners
- Reached out to community partners in securing clinic referral, and sent to trainees
- Attended pre-clinic family visit along with trainees, and helped trainee/clinic team decide "Hot topic discussion" for clinic
- Arranged interpreters/translators to or other resources for clinic
- Assigned clinic groups based on trainees discipline
- Reviewed clinic teams pre-clinic summary
- Provided required paperwork/materials to admin assistant to make copies
- Sent out Google calendar invites/ reminders with pre-clinic summary, date and location of clinic
- Ensured clinic participants sign in, distribute clinic materials
- Made welcome remarks and introduced the clinic case
- Participated in clinic as family faculty, assisted trainees as needed
- Took part in clinic debriefing, and closed the clinic
- Reviewed trainees post clinic report draft, circulated draft report to clinic faculty for review and edits
- Sent the family and referring agency the final clinic report via US mail and email
- Responded to questions from clinic team leaders or agency representatives
Family Specialist
VA LEND Partnership People With Disabilities VCU
01.2010 - 01.2016
- Worked as family faculty
- Was responsible for co-teaching: Teamwork course, Leadership Seminar and Congenital Neuro-developmental Disabilities (CND) course from a family centered perspective to graduate level and professional trainees
- Helped to coordinate Self-advocate panels
- Assisted with the coordination of the Parents/Caregivers of children with disabilities panels
- Served as faculty advisor to family discipline trainees
- Participated in Association University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) LEND family discipline conference call meetings
- Attended and participated in Capital Hill visits with trainees
- Responsible for co-leading one-two clinics per year
- Participated in monthly clinics as family faculty
- For professional development attended the Disability Policy Seminar each year
- Attended and participated in the AUCD yearly conference
Education
Masters in Education - Early Childhood Special Education
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA05.2025
Bachelor of Science - Communications
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA12.2022
Associate of Applied Science - Human Services
John Tyler Community College
Chester, VA05.2008
Skills
- Leadership
- Oral and written communications
- Active listening
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Marketing
- Interpersonal
- Problem-solving
Timeline
Clinic Coordinator
VA LEND Partnership People With Disabilities VCU
01.2016 - 11.2019
Family Specialist
VA LEND Partnership People With Disabilities VCU
01.2010 - 01.2016
Cultural Broker
Partnership For People With Disabilities At VCU
12.2009 - Current
Masters in Education - Early Childhood Special Education
Virginia Commonwealth University
Bachelor of Science - Communications
Old Dominion University
Associate of Applied Science - Human Services
John Tyler Community College
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