Melissa Carson
Summary
Dynamic District Branch Director with proven success in budget management and strategic planning. Drove a $250K deficit to surplus while launching programs in Texas, demonstrating commitment to stakeholder engagement and project implementation.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
District Branch Director
Bethany Christian Services
04.2018 - Current
- Direct program operations and service delivery for diverse programming in Colorado and Texas.
- Brought the CO foster care program budget out of a $250K deficit and into a yearly surplus.
- Launched program operations in Houston, and Dallas.
- Attained key performance indicators to consistently maintain a top 10 ranking on the branch director scorecard.
- Successfully onboarded and managed four remote HSPRS teams in Texas, and the combined western region covering eight states.
Deputy Division Director
Denver Human Services
Denver
06.2010 - 04.2018
- Managed operations for a large, diverse county child protection department with over 450 staff members and more than 5,500 cases annually.
- Managed multiple funding sources and budgets totaling $56 million.
- Provided oversight of all out-of-home placement services in the county, including 100+ county foster homes, adoption services, contracted services with child placement agencies, residential facilities, and non-certified kinship care.
- Managed over 200 provider contracts for clinical and family support programs.
- Implemented innovative programs, increasing relative placement by 64%, reducing core service approval time from 6 weeks to the same day, and decreasing residential care by 88%.
Child Welfare Grant Manager
Denver Human Services
Denver
08.2007 - 06.2010
- Managed multiple federal, state, and private foundation grants, providing program development and evaluation.
- Provided quarterly and annual reports to the funding agency, as required.
Child Protection Supervisor
Denver Human Services
Denver
03.2003 - 08.2007
- Supervised daily operations of child protection case management teams and service delivery.
Education
Master of Science - Social Work
University of Denver
Denver, CO01-1994
Bachelor of Science - Social Work
Colorado State University
Colorado01-1991
Skills
- Operations management
- Budget management
- Grant writing and oversight
- Strategic planning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Lean process improvement certification
- Supervisor development
- Project implementation
Certification
Black Belt certification - Lean Process Improvement business model
Accomplishments
2023 Excellence Award Bethany Christian Services
Operational Excellence in All Five Strategic Domains
Operational Excellence in All Five Strategic Domains
Timeline
District Branch Director
Bethany Christian Services
04.2018 - Current
Deputy Division Director
Denver Human Services
06.2010 - 04.2018
Child Welfare Grant Manager
Denver Human Services
08.2007 - 06.2010
Child Protection Supervisor
Denver Human Services
03.2003 - 08.2007
Master of Science - Social Work
University of Denver
Bachelor of Science - Social Work
Colorado State University