Hi, I’m
MERA WEST
Summary
Reliable Direct Care Worker and accomplished Case Manager, offering exceptional care in home, clinical, school and social environments. Passionate about supporting patient progress by monitoring medication reactions, observing behaviors and teaching healthy habits. Dedicated to patient safety, wellness and happiness. I work from a comprehensive mindset where I gather information on a case by case basis, and enjoy working with an extensive team to support client needs and goals.
Overview
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Recovery ConsultantsSan Francisco, CA
Sober Companion
04.2023 - Current
Job overview
- Advocating for clients dealing with addiction, trauma and mental health diagnosis, with a goal of reintegration back to a stable, healthy and abstinence based lifestyle.
- Offering physical, emotional and structural support after a relapse, completion of an inpatient treatment facility or aiding in harm reduction strategies.
- Methods I use include, but are not limited to, establishing nutrition and daily fitness, monitoring medications, testing via urinalysis, as well as other holistic practices.
- Being present for the patient to avoid feelings of loneliness, help them ease back into the world by regaining confidence and social skills.
- Actively preventing the client from relapse by searching the home for drugs, accompany clients to social outings and recovery based meetings.
- Shifts are various time frames, both 24/7 care as well as 4, 6 and 8 hour shifts.
ANITA CASPARY TRUST Los Angeles, CA
Executive Assistant/Editor
06.2019 - Current
Job overview
- Assist with the biography of Anita Caspary by providing support to author Dr. Susan Maloney.
- Prepare and convert relevant articles, research applicable copyright titles and trustees for intended reprint.
- Reformat dictation from historical correspondence with noteworthy individuals
- Implementation of book layout and print.
WELL BABY CENTERLos Angeles, CA
Administrative/Clinical Manager
08.2017 - 05.2018
Job overview
- Ensured efficient oversight and management of day to day operations including client recruitment, intake and QA processes, staff administrative orientation and technical training, facilities management, technical and accounting processes, human resources, payroll and vendor relations
- Oversaw and managed client database system, FileMaker, and weekly productivity reports in coordination with the clinical and administrative staff
- Interfaced with the public and vendors, managing retail hours, tours, room rentals and outdoor rental contracts.
UCLA PEERS ClinicLos Angeles, CA
Clinic Coordinator
08.2016 - 02.2017
Job overview
- Organized domestic and international certified training seminars on the effective implementation of the PEERS intervention.
- Supervised a team of graduate student research assistants and interns.
- Constructed contracts, managed financial negotiations, and marketing.
- Assisted in patient intake appointments, organized case conference meetings.
- Demonstrated targeted skills through role-play demonstrations, provided behavioral coaching to clients and caregivers to promote generalization of skills.
- Supervised and assisted in the copy-editing process of the published PEERS for Young Adults Treatment Manual, under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson.
Fernald Child Study Center, UCLALos Angeles
Research Intern
08.2015 - 06.2016
Job overview
- Participated in weekly seminars addressing methodological considerations in the study of developmental psychopathology
- Coded parent-child interactions for a family collaborative study, examining the influence of parent directives for the social-emotional development of children with autism.
Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human BehaviorLos Angeles
Research Assistant
08.2015 - 06.2016
Job overview
- Assisted in infant and toddler sessions using electroencephalogram (EEG) to track biomarkers of functional changes in the brain from Autism intervention, and predicting response to treatment
- Coded behavior in infants and toddlers during EEG sessions
- Assisted in a multicenter research study based at Yale, to develop reliable and objective measurement of social function and communication in people with autism.
David Geffen School of Medicine University of CaliforniaLos Angeles
Research Intern
05.2015 - 06.2016
Job overview
- Administered measures to adopted children and their resource parents, including the Child Behavior Checklist, and Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, among others
- Organized, scored and entered data and clinical measures using SPSS and Excel
- Created manual of instruction for all Research Assistants.
OAK HILL SCHOOLSan Anselmo, CA
Occupational Therapy Intern
09.2012 - 02.2013
Job overview
- Evaluated the learning advancement of children on the autism spectrum through a clinical and hands-on approach
- Aided in occupational therapy classes, used individualized Applied Behavioral Analysis approaches with students on all levels of ASD
- Communicated using American Sign Language with non-verbal students
- Thorough understanding of establishing apparent objectives for lessons, and projects consistent with curriculum goals.
GATEWAYSan Francisco, CA
Resident/House Manager
08.2010 - 06.2012
Job overview
- Supervised schedules and behaviors of 12 adult’s various types of with mental illnesses and disorders
- Developed and upgraded house rules and policies
- Created new admittance and residency requirements
- Conducted thorough application interviews for residents, devised and updated contracts, received payables, and managed reimbursements and budgeting
- Maintained monthly expense reports, which were always up to date and error free
- Resident advocate for job/school/volunteer position placements and oversaw required outpatient program schedules
- Hired and managed an Assistant Manager to implement and appoint tasks as needed
- Family liaison for resident updates and progress.
BERKELEY THERAPY INSTITUTEBerkeley, CA
Medical Assistant
07.2004 - 03.2006
Job overview
- Assisted two psychiatrists with patient and personal scheduling, charting and intake appointments
- Triaged all patient phone calls and inquiries
- Managed medical front desk area, assisted patients with billing and coordinated daily pharmaceutical matters with medical insurance companies dealing with high volumes of prescription orders
- Obtained medical transcripts from physicians and charted patient files and progress.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES
Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Psychology
06.2016
Skills
- Employee Training Program
- Employee Performance Evaluations
- Interdepartmental Functions Coordination
- Policy and Program Development
- Data Analysis
- Team management
- Employee Supervision
- In-Service Programs
- Resource Allocation
- Patient Advocacy
- Quality Assurance Controls
- professional public speaking & presentations
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, FileMaker, Access Database, SPSS, Quickbooks, Google and Trello, Ripple, Ramp,
- Client Documentation
- First Aid and Safety
- HIPAA Compliance
- Relationship Building
- Client Transportation
- Community Integration
- Client Evaluation
- Case Management
- Crisis Management
- Active Listening
- Contract Negotiation
- Team Building
- Social Perception
Affiliations
American Psychological Association 2015 – Present
International Society for Autism Research 2015 – Present
Association for Psychological Science 2015 – Present
Bruins for Recovery 2014 – Present
Presentations
West, M. N. (2016, May). Friendship Quality and Concept in Children with ASD: Associations Between Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors. Poster presentation at the 2016 Stanford University, Stanford Undergraduate Psychology Conference.
*Also presented at the 2016 University of California, Los Angeles, Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference
Timeline
Sober Companion
Recovery Consultants
04.2023 - Current
Executive Assistant/Editor
ANITA CASPARY TRUST
06.2019 - Current
Administrative/Clinical Manager
WELL BABY CENTER
08.2017 - 05.2018
Clinic Coordinator
UCLA PEERS Clinic
08.2016 - 02.2017
Research Intern
Fernald Child Study Center, UCLA
08.2015 - 06.2016
Research Assistant
Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior
08.2015 - 06.2016
Research Intern
David Geffen School of Medicine University of California
05.2015 - 06.2016
Occupational Therapy Intern
OAK HILL SCHOOL
09.2012 - 02.2013
Resident/House Manager
GATEWAY
08.2010 - 06.2012
Medical Assistant
BERKELEY THERAPY INSTITUTE
07.2004 - 03.2006
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES
Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Psychology