Michelle Hooper

Dedicated social work professional transitioning into Advanced Social Work, with expertise in crisis de-escalation, community resource navigation, and case management. Committed to social justice and empowering underserved communities, while ensuring client confidentiality and regulatory compliance through effective cross-agency collaboration.

• Birthline San Diego, Volunteer Case Manager, San Diego, CA, 2026-01, 2026-05, Provided critical, trauma-informed support and material resources to low-income pregnant women and families with young children, Conducted comprehensive intake assessments to identify systemic vulnerabilities and immediate material needs. Routed clients to vital community healthcare, legal aid, and stable housing networks using an equity-centered approach. Applied active listening and crisis-intervention techniques to support clients experiencing perinatal distress or socioeconomic panic. Maintained culturally competent communication while navigating delicate familial structures and sensitive reproductive health choices.
• Project AWARE, Social Work Intern, San Diego, CA, 2026-06, Present, Engaged in community-based initiatives focused on youth mentorship, mental health awareness, and emotional intelligence development. Supported group facilitators in creating safe spaces for participants to process trauma and build resilience strategies. Utilized Restorative Justice principles during youth interventions. Co-led small group discussions on emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and the impacts of systemic oppression on adolescent mental health, Monitored and documented youth participant behavioral shifts to help adapt programmatic curricula to changing cohort needs.
• Third Street Charitable Organization, Homeless Outreach Volunteer, San Diego, CA, 2025-05, Present, Provided low-barrier food security and essential supplies directly to unhoused individuals in the San Diego area. Leveraged radical empathy and active listening to build rapport, de-stigmatize poverty, and understand immediate community survival needs. Practiced harm-reduction strategies and street-level crisis de-escalation with individuals experiencing acute psychiatric distress or substance withdrawals. Conducted informal street outreach assessments to map shifts in the local unhoused population and flag individuals needing urgent agency referrals. Advocated for participant self-determination while connecting marginalized individuals to shelter coordinators and medical aid caravans.

• Case Manager | CA Rental Assistance Program (TEKsystems) – San Diego, CA | 05/2023 – 10/2023
• Managed a high-volume caseload of individuals facing housing insecurity, ensuring rapid access to critical state financial relief.
• Evaluated complex application materials for program compliance, balancing strict state regulations with a compassionate, client-centered approach.
• Maintained meticulous, legally compliant digital client records while strictly adhering to data privacy and confidentiality protocols.
• Claims Administrator | Employment Development Department (Randstad) – San Diego, CA | 02/2022 – 01/2023
• Audited state benefit programs and analyzed demographic data to ensure equitable distribution of financial safety-net resources.
• Investigated complex and high-risk claims, generating concise, analytical reports detailing system anomalies and potential fraud.
• Acted as a neutral mediator to de-escalate workplace interpersonal conflicts and diffuse high-stress situations.