Melanie Smith
San Dimas
Summary
Dedicated Licensed clinician well-versed at 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.
Empathetic with over 20 years of experience interfacing with community liaisons, facilitating individual and group sessions and monitoring conditions of clients to coordinate care. Excellent communicator with knack for building lasting professional relationships.
In process of obtaining certificate for Peri-mental Health to better serve pre and post natal women of diverse cultural and socio- economic backgrounds. Proactive in advocating and servicing women from all backgrounds whether it be race, ethnic, sexual orientation or disability. Well-versed in crisis management and case management. Offering extensive knowledge of community resources.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Medical Social Worker III
Kaiser Permanente
01.2020 - Current
- Provide support to women with various psycho-social stressors including postpartum mood disorders, needs for supplemental referrals such as WIC and CalFresh and adjusting to new role of being a mother
- Providing resources and education for survivors of intimate partner violence
- Assist in creating a safety plan if necessary
- Assess for abuse, child abuse accordingly based on mandated reporting guidelines
- Maintain good relationships with outside agencies to provide the best care for the patients
- Facilitate 8 week psycho-education support group for Prenatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
- Offered crisis intervention services to address urgent concerns related to mental health, substance abuse, or domestic violence issues.
- Completed psychosocial evaluations and needs assessments.
- Developed cultural competence through ongoing professional development opportunities, providing culturally sensitive services to diverse patient populations.
Medical Social Worker III
Kaiser Permanente
10.2015 - 04.2020
- Provide support to women with various psycho-social stressors including postpartum mood disorders, needs for supplemental referrals such as WIC and CalFresh and adjusting to new role
- Providing resources and education for survivors of intimate partner violence
- Assist in creating a safety plan if necessary
- Assess for abuse, child abuse accordingly based on mandated reporting guidelines
- Maintain good relationships with outside agencies to provide the best care for the patients
- Member of the HEAL Committee-“ Healing Empty Arms” annual memorial service.
- Completed psychosocial evaluations and needs assessments.
- Offered crisis intervention services to address urgent concerns related to mental health, substance abuse, or domestic violence issues.
- Developed cultural competence through ongoing professional development opportunities, providing culturally sensitive services to diverse patient populations.
- Connected patients with community resources, ensuring access to essential services such as housing, healthcare, and financial assistance.
Medical Social Worker
Glendale Memorial Hospital
01.2004 - 01.2015
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Women Services, Prenatal Outpatient Clinic, High Risk Infant Clinic
- Conduct initial psychosocial assessment as part of NICU patient care
- Assess suspected child abuse and report to the Department of Children and Family Services
- Participate in weekly multidisciplinary rounds for patient treatment and discharge planning with the NICU medical team
- Refer patients involved with High Risk clinic to Regional Center for developmental assessment and evaluation, and to California Children’s Services when appropriate
- Provide support to women with various psychosocial stressors, including postpartum mood disorders, need for supplemental referrals such as WIC, Food Stamps, job training programs, and housing
- Maintain strong relationships with highly utilized community agencies to better serve target population
- Expertise with assessing, providing education and referrals for Intimate Partner Abuse
- Oncology, Telemetry, Medical Surgical Units
- Clinically assess psychosocial and emotional needs for patients and their families
- Member of Bio-Ethics Committee, participating in monthly meetings to discuss current ethical dilemmas for unrepresented patients
- Openly discuss end-of-life issues for patients and families undergoing end-of-life issues, and educated them regarding Palliative Care, Advanced Directives and POLST form
- Assumed role of supervisory duties in extended absence of Social Work Supervisor with day shift/on-call scheduling and clinical supervision
- Emergency Department
- Assess for the psychosocial, emotional needs for patients and their families
- Conduct psychosocial assessments, provide appropriate referrals for counseling, crisis intervention and facilitate psychiatric hospitalization for patients.
Residential Clinician
Hathaway Children and Family Services
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Manage confidential client case files and completed Department of Mental Health progress reports
- Assess and advocate for the psychosocial and emotional needs of clients and their families
- Provided individual and family therapy, and case management services for clients
- Collaborated with DCFS social workers to help with client’s treatment plan.
Clinical Social Worker
AIDS Service Center
01.2002 - 01.2004
- Managed confidential case files for 40 clients
- Assessed for the psychosocial needs of HIV +/AIDS clients
- Worked in conjunction with Nurse Case Managers on designated client cases
- Collaborated with other social agencies in Los Angeles County to better assist clients
- Provided individual therapy for clients.
Education
Master of Arts - Social Work
California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CABachelor of Arts - Sociology And Women's Studies
University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CASkills
- Strong skill set for pre and post partum mood disorders and anxiety
- Crisis Intervention
- Stress reduction Techniques
- Anxiety Management
Certification
LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker
license number- 27755
State of California
Prenatal Mental Health Training, 2022
Postpartum Support International
Portland, Maine
Bereavement Coordinator 2011
Remembrance Through Sharing, Covina, CA
Domestic Violence Prevention Facilitator 2011
Peace Over Violence, Los Angeles, CA
Accomplishments
- Everyday Hero Award for participating in the HEAL committee 2018
- Earned “Star” recognition- Fall 2013
- Glendale Memorial Hospital “Seed of Excellence” - Spring 2007
Timeline
Medical Social Worker III
Kaiser Permanente
01.2020 - Current
Medical Social Worker III
Kaiser Permanente
10.2015 - 04.2020
Medical Social Worker
Glendale Memorial Hospital
01.2004 - 01.2015
Residential Clinician
Hathaway Children and Family Services
01.2004 - 01.2006
Clinical Social Worker
AIDS Service Center
01.2002 - 01.2004
Master of Arts - Social Work
California State University Long Beach
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology And Women's Studies
University of California Santa Cruz