Melanie Marie Garcia
El Paso
Summary
Motivated supervisor with a high level of integrity and a strong desire to help individuals as well as oversee and develop other caseworkers. Possess knowledge of DFPS’s Conservatorship Department ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. Demonstrate compassion and a team-oriented approach. Experience as a mentor and involvement in the CPS Recruitment Campaign. Committed to making a positive impact in the lives of those served. Resourceful Supervisor trained in resolution of critical issues within time-sensitive environment with successful track record of building and maintaining talented teams. Highly organized, energetic and versatile leader committed to continuous improvements. Proven history of motivating staff to work together to achieve targets.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Conservatorship Supervisor I
Texas Department of Family Protective Services
El Paso
02.2025 - Current
- Manage a unit in a combination of making sure tasks are completed timely as well as ensuring agency values and guiding principles are supported through quality casework practice (i.e. respect, commitment, integrity, equity, urgency, safety organized, child centered, family focused).
- Exhibit both understanding and application of policy and practice standards and ensures caseworker's are in compliance also.
- Direct role in the initial training of caseworkers.
- Staff development through CPS Professional Development. Responsible for encouraging and ensuring that staff continues to develop job skills. Continuous learning supports better outcomes for clients and staff retention.
- Utilize parallel processing when interacting with staff as this models and supports the caseworker in transferring the skills required for working with families.
- Provides guidance to staff applying knowledge of the Practice Model which is beyond just 'task centered' direction.
- Demonstrate proficiency at varying administrative tasks associated with managing a unit of caseworkers and support staff.
Conservatorship Specialist III
Texas Department of Family Protective Services
El Paso
08.2021 - Current
- Provide protective services to children in the custody, or conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services, by upholding Texas family code mandates.
- Responsible for developing strategies and arranging services for children and families, so children can achieve positive permanency.
- Responsible for ensuring children are safe while in DFPS custody, that their well-being needs are met, and that their experiences while in DFPS custody are the same as children outside of state custody.
- Responsible for individual case management and appropriate placement of children under DFPS care.
- Communicate regularly with legal parties/stake holders involved in the case. Prepare court reports, attends court hearings, and give testimony in court; regarding the child's needs and family's progress in addressing the Department's family service plan and court orders.
- Routinely interact with children and families, caregivers and foster parents, the judicial system, representatives from various community organizations, other DFPS employees, and the general public; to ensure child safety.
- Served as a Mentor, training new employees successfully to become CPS Conservatorship Workers.
- Participated in focus group for CPS Recruitment Campaign to gain insight to help CPS leadership determine who we should be recruiting to become CPS caseworkers.
Pretrial Officer
El Paso County Criminal Justice Coordination
El Paso
04.2020 - 08.2021
- Interview defendants through pretrial processes using excellent communication and listening skills.
- Conduct technical document analysis under strict timeframes and complete thorough reports for courts and attorneys.
- Write, type and enter information to computers to prepare compilations of data and criminal history.
- Analyze records, complete missing data, update reports and complete detailed criminal history information for summary.
- Identify, screen, interview and verify information provided by defendants and process defendants for release by preparing bond release forms for approval.
- Work 24/7 rotating shifts as scheduled, including days, swings, holidays, weekends, and graves.
- Conduct pre-release interviews, criminal histories, risk assessments, and indigence eligibility for qualified defendants.
- Coordinate with other departments or agencies to assure that assessments are successfully completed and any documentation properly managed.
- Assist the El Paso County courts and relevant stakeholders in determining the public safety risk, flight risk and indecency status of defendants.
- Provide El Paso stakeholders with accurate and thorough information to enhance bond decisions.
- Express very good communication when interviewing defendants and working with different agencies.
- Practice customer service with defendants, and agencies on a day to day basis.
- Usage of dual computer screens.
- Review coworkers’ pretrial reports and verify all information is correct.
Family Service Worker/Caseworker
Region 19 Head Start
01.2016 - 04.2020
- Build and maintain effective partnerships with a network of internal and external resources to enhance the effectiveness of services.
- Assess family's strengths and needs using the Family Partnership Agreement Plan to identify families' strengths and needs and develop goals and referral services if needed.
- Coordinate community resource awareness presentations for children, teens, and their families.
- Develop and implement recruitment and enrollment activities to ensure funded enrollment is maintained.
- Serve as an internal and external multidisciplinary liaison for early prevention, prompt intervention and evaluation of social services outcomes.
- Provide, find, or arrange for support services, such as childcare, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, job training, counseling, or parenting classes to prevent more serious problems from developing.
- Work effectively and positively with multidisciplinary direct-support teams and site team members coordinating Multidisciplinary Case Staff Meetings.
- Complete monthly reports with data including enrollment, age, and criteria of families.
- Build solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs.
- Develop rapport to create safe and trusting environment for care.
- Collaborate with community program leaders and advocates to make resources accessible to those in need.
- Observe children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Work with teaching staff to evaluate individual progress of children.
- Engage with children of different cultures, backgrounds, and/or disabilities on individual basis to build positive relationships and promote learning.
- Work with a caseload of 64 to 98 families.
- Conduct mentorship, training, work assignments, and evaluations for employees as well as work in a team.
- Lead trainings, case staffing, and multidisciplinary meetings with excellent communication and data report.
Work from Home Bilingual Interviewer
Survey Technology & Research
12.2013 - 12.2015
- Able to work independently and from home with little to no supervision.
- Bilingual interviewer for outbound surveys and research studies.
- Appropriately handle challenging and unique customer situations in accordance with policies.
- Enter responses from survey participants into internal database to later compile reports or conduct analysis.
- Use strong and eloquent speaking skills in delivering questions to survey participants by phone and prompting responses to complete questionnaires.
- Convince unwilling individuals by using logical, persuasive rebuttals.
- Manage numerous translations requests each day with positive and upbeat communication.
- Achieve and consistently exceeded quota through surveys.
Billing/Scheduling
Correctional Healthcare Company/Otero Processing Center
01.2011 - 02.2012
- Process and fax all medical bills to ICE.
- Present daily and weekly reports of the all medical appointments pertaining to detainees.
- Ability to work effectively and meet deadlines with exceptional organizational skills.
- Submit electronic and paper claims to I.C.E. of detainee physician visits.
- Manage detainee appointments and scheduled claims for payments.
- Collaborate with medical personnel and establish partnership so detainees can be seen externally.
- Ensure all sensitive information was backed up and stored on secure systems constantly.
- Comply with all HIPAA Privacy and Security Regulations to protect patients' medical records and information.
- Communicate with Director of Nursing and detainees pertaining to any medical concerns.
Cashier/Sales Representative
Gap INC.
10.2007 - 01.2011
- Help customer’s complete purchases, locate items and join reward programs to promote loyalty, satisfaction and sales numbers.
- Reconcile cash drawer at start and end of each shift, accounting for errors and resolving discrepancies.
- Restock, arranged and organized merchandise in front lanes to drive product sales.
- Answer questions about store policies and concerns to support positive customer experiences.
- Promote customer loyalty and consistent sales by delivering friendly service and knowledgeable assistance.
- Meet and exceed goals by highlighting target merchandise with strategic promotional approaches.
- Maintain customer satisfaction with forward-thinking strategies focused on addressing customer needs and resolving concerns.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Criminal Justice, Psychology
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX, United States05.2015
Associate's Degree - Criminal Justice
El Paso Community College
El Paso, TX, United States12.2013
Skills
- Case management
- Policy compliance
- Staff development
- Crisis intervention
- Child welfare practices
- Interagency collaboration
Languages
Spanish, Intermediate, Intermediate, Advanced
Timeline
Conservatorship Supervisor I
Texas Department of Family Protective Services
02.2025 - Current
Conservatorship Specialist III
Texas Department of Family Protective Services
08.2021 - Current
Pretrial Officer
El Paso County Criminal Justice Coordination
04.2020 - 08.2021
Family Service Worker/Caseworker
Region 19 Head Start
01.2016 - 04.2020
Work from Home Bilingual Interviewer
Survey Technology & Research
12.2013 - 12.2015
Billing/Scheduling
Correctional Healthcare Company/Otero Processing Center
01.2011 - 02.2012
Cashier/Sales Representative
Gap INC.
10.2007 - 01.2011
Bachelor's Degree - Criminal Justice, Psychology
University of Texas at El Paso
Associate's Degree - Criminal Justice
El Paso Community College