Melania Abdessian
Glendale,CA
Summary
Multifaceted Lecturer with years of expertise in adapting presentations to reach students of diverse academic, social, economic and cultural backgrounds as well as students with special needs. Expert in leveraging in-depth knowledge and experience to provide relevant information and first-hand experiences. Excited to bring personable demeanor and strong work ethic to an outstanding educational institution.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lecturer
California State Los Angeles
01.2018 - Current
- Teaching
- SW 5101 Human Behavior and Social Environment, Graduate
- SW 5102 Human Behavior and Social Environment II, Graduate
- CHDV 4800 Loss and Grief within a Family, Undergraduate
- CHDV 3440 Family Resource and Case Management, Undergraduate
- CHDV 1410 Development Across the Lifespan: Adulthood & Aging. Undergraduate
- SW 3010 Writing in Social Work, Undergraduate
- SW 3720 Interviewing skills in Social Work, Undergraduate
- SW4750 Social work group practice, Undergraduate
- SW 3650 Social Policy in Aging and Families, Undergraduate
- SW 3711 Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Undergraduate
- SW 3620 From Institutional Racism to Cultural Competency, Undergraduate
- SW 3820 Community Organizing, Undergraduate
- Designed course materials, including syllabi, writing assignments and exams
- Developed semester outlines and instructional plans for each class session to comply with the stated course objectives
- Selected material relevant to each course of study and presented in an engaging fashion
- Created lecture presentations for both online and in-class environments
- Utilized innovative methods of instruction, including video, interactive class activities and discussions to present course material
- Developed exams to properly gauge information retention and student performance
- Taught diverse student population by employing various learning styles and abilities
- Planned lectures based on targeted learning outcomes as assigned by organizational leadership
- Mentored diverse student population to promote cultural diversity for ethnic and racial groups, disabled and LGTB community.
- Evaluated and revised lesson plans and course content to achieve student-centered learning
CEO/Administrator of Grace- Www.graceresidents.com
Grace Residential Care Facility, LLC
01.2016 - Current
- Maintain optimal care for elderly residents, holding significant responsibility of planning, coordinating, and supervising healthcare delivery
- Create personalized goals for each resident that enhances their quality of lives, with psychosocial activities, therapeutic services, and managing dementia and Alzheimer's
- Oversee every aspect of their facilities to ensure that up-to-date federal, state, and local regulations are being met
- Administrators act as primary liaisons for residents, families, nurses, healthcare staff, and the public
- Daily duties could include managing insurance billing, creating work schedules, maintaining patient records, supervising admissions
- Hiring new healthcare professionals, purchasing medical equipment, and directing 24/7 care
- Attend board meetings to discuss facility's capital expenditures, budget review, and operational policies
- Offered data-driven recommendations aligned with overall company strategies and prioritized process improvement initiatives
Hospice Therapist/Bereavement Counselor
Personal Care Hospice
01.2013 - 06.2018
- Provide individual and family therapy to individuals for issues related to grief, loss, depression, anxiety and adjustment prior to the death and at the discretion of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT)
- Contributes to the individual plan of care as necessary to reflect pre-death involvement and ensure on-going assessment of these needs
- Establishes therapeutic relationships with clients from a variety of cultural, religious/spiritual and socio-economic backgrounds and perform individual and group sessions to overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjustment to life
- Support and counsel clients through stages of grief while seeking to prevent normal grief from manifesting into depression or psychosis
- Provides educational programs and materials for patients/families, staff and community on loss, grief and coping with bereavement
- Led educational seminars and lectures at local community mental health centers to expand awareness of mental health symptoms and issues
Service Coordinator
Salvation Army
03.2013 - 01.2017
- Provides general service management which includes intake, education (services available and application procedures) and referral of residents to service providers in the general community
- These social services may include meals-on-wheels, transportation, home health aides, homemakers, financial assistance, counseling, preventative health screening, and other needed services
- Develops a Resource Directory
- This directory may include a listing of state and/or local service providers that residents can contact for assistance (e.g
- Services to families, children, individuals who are elderly, persons with disabilities, emergency assistance)
- In many cases, State and local governments can also provide a listing of non-profit agencies with which contract for services
- Sponsors educational events which may include subject relating to health care, agency support, life skills, referral sources, etc
- Facilitates formation of Resident Associations within property if residents are interested
- Formation of these groups assists residents in planning social events, organizing activities and discussing daily life issues
- Serves as liaison to community agencies, networks with community providers and seeks out new services available to residents
- Assists residents in building informal support networks with other residents, family and friends
Complex Case Manager
Partners In Care
02.2013 - 01.2017
- Coordinated program referrals for community-based resources.
- Completed psychosocial evaluations and needs assessments.
- Worked with medical teams, patients and families to implement effective treatment plans.
- Completed clinical rotations in Geriatrics.
- Consistently complied with applicable laws and regulations and ensured facility adhered to Medicare and Medicaid regulations.
- Developed innovative programs and activities based on analysis of community needs and interests.
- Assessed clients’ specific needs and created fundraising programs to assist them in meeting their goals.
Counselor
Hathaway Sycamores
06.2012 - 04.2014
- Caring Counseling Professional with experience in bringing strong academic background and excellent training to an excellent organization. Accomplished in planning and guiding youth and adult programs, cultivating deep professional relationships with community leaders and boosting community engagement. Proven leader with track record in supporting and coaching clients to achieve goals
- Displayed sensitivity to cultural and linguistic needs of clients and families served
- Conducted therapeutic individual and family therapy sessions
- Assessed student issues pertaining to depression, anxiety and physical abuse to resolve conflicts between students, peers and their teachers
Living Coordinator
Towards Maximum Independence
04.2009 - 03.2012
- Maintain patient stability by providing assistance with housing, benefits, crisis, medications, and management of symptoms
- Meet at regularly scheduled intervals with clients to review progress toward achieving goals set forth in client's personal recovery plan
- Lead social skills, activities of daily living (ADL) and educational groups
- Manage up to ten staff members, providing on-going training, evaluations and direct supervision
Education
M.A - Marriage and Family Therapy
Pacific Oaks College
Pasadena, CA06.2016
B.A - Psychology
University of California
San Diego, CA2013
Skills
- Skilled in Word, Excel, Power point, Salesforce,
- Interpersonal and written communication
- Materials preparation
- Tailoring curriculum plans
- Student motivation
- Student-centered learning
- Social work background
- PowerPoint
- Curriculum Development
- Online lectures
- Differentiated instruction
- Exam writing
Certification
CAMFT, Certified Bereavement Specialist, Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Administrator
Timeline
Lecturer
California State Los Angeles
01.2018 - Current
CEO/Administrator of Grace- Www.graceresidents.com
Grace Residential Care Facility, LLC
01.2016 - Current
Service Coordinator
Salvation Army
03.2013 - 01.2017
Complex Case Manager
Partners In Care
02.2013 - 01.2017
Hospice Therapist/Bereavement Counselor
Personal Care Hospice
01.2013 - 06.2018
Counselor
Hathaway Sycamores
06.2012 - 04.2014
Living Coordinator
Towards Maximum Independence
04.2009 - 03.2012
M.A - Marriage and Family Therapy
Pacific Oaks College
B.A - Psychology
University of California