Monica Cunningham
Grand Prairie,TX
Summary
Customer/Client Interviewing Skills • Writing and verbal communication • Client engagement and assistance • Lead Assessment Coordinator for DPSCD Schools • Responsible for the State of Michigan Assessments for over 400 students • Power School trained • Trained for MSTEP/Mi-Access/Panorama Surveys/Illuminate Assessments/i-Ready Diagnostic • Community Outreach Program • Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Data Entry 35 WPM • Responsible for New Hire Training • Worked effectively with staff/students • Strong customer service skills • Knowledge of HIPAA standards • Knowledge of OSHA standards • CPR Training Certificate • Public speaking during community events • DFT Winner for DPSCD • Worked with small groups utilizing virtual learning (Teams platform) • Virtual learning for small groups/assessments • Covered classes as a substitute teacher.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Kinship Specialist/Foster Care Worker
Empower
Dallas, TX
05.2024 - Current
- Deliver case management services to kinship caregivers, ensuring safety, stability, and permanency for children placed with relatives.
- Advocate for families by coordinating with courts, schools, healthcare providers, and child welfare agencies.
- Entrusted with temporary supervisory authority, overseeing scheduling, workflow, and resolution during supervisor absences.
- Guide caregivers through legal processes, licensing requirements, and financial assistance applications.
- Connect families to community resources, including housing support, mental health services, and educational programs.
- Conduct home visits and assessments to monitor child well-being and compliance with child welfare policies.
- Develop individualized service plans to meet the needs of children and caregivers.
- Facilitate caregiver training on trauma-informed care, child development, and parenting strategies.
- Maintain detailed case records and documentation in compliance with agency and state regulations.
- Built trusting relationships with diverse families, fostering collaboration and long-term stability.
- Partner with multidisciplinary teams to create permanency plans that support reunification, or long-term kinship care.
Investigator
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Dallas, TX
03.2023 - 12.2023
- Investigate each child's living environment to determine whether home is safe or present risks.
- Develop and execute plans to remove children from homes where abuse or neglect had occurred.
- Conduct in-depth interviews with children, guardians, doctors, nurses, and law enforcement to gain insight into individual cases.
- Document case information by completing forms promptly and filing with appropriate agencies.
- Facilitate delivery of services and resources after thoroughly assessing each child's individual needs.
- Keep child welfare workers informed of progress and challenges.
- Remain composed and calm when interacting with individuals, considering that children and families may be involved in high-stress situations.
- Identify appropriate community resources and provide referrals for services.
- Work with care team to assess client needs and discuss collaborative treatment efforts.
- Establish behavioral modification goals and assess progress toward goals.
- Maintain confidentiality through stringent handling of charts and data.
- Used job-related software to compose or prepare correspondence, case notes and technical reports.
- Built trust and rapport with victims of violent crimes by remaining calm and compassionate in variety of situations.
- Interview clients individually and in groups to assess situations, capabilities, and problems.
- Participate in ongoing training and enhance knowledge of relevant mental health topics.
- Collaborate with state agencies and benefits coordinators to develop individualized plans for each case.
- Investigate reports or indications of abuse, neglect or exploitation of at-risk adults, adolescents, and children.
- Attend hearings with victims to provide emotional support.
- Interface with local court system, attending court proceedings and working directly with attorneys.
- Advocate for victims during difficult situations by filing police reports and connecting to needed services.
- Inform victims about legal processes and timelines.
- Evaluate personal characteristics and home conditions of foster home or adoption applicants.
Lead Assessment Coordinator/Academic Interventionist (Hybrid)
DPSCD Schools
Detroit, MI
12.2018 - 03.2023
- Worked through the State of Michigan Education Site, and with the Secure/DRC Site utilizing Data Entry skills.
- Trained/Educated and organized the staff on upcoming deadlines and met State deadlines plus handled assessment materials to stay in compliance with the State guidelines.
- Communicated daily with Educators to develop strategies to help students obtain grade level.
- Responsible for training new employees with job requirements using district guidelines.
- Coached and Mentored students during afterschool activities.
- Community Outreach by networking with parents and students during after school hours inside homes and gathering case notes for each visit.
- Monitored and generated reports by providing completion rates, and pass rates for numerous assessments.
- Emailed and monitored weekly reports for the staff, and multi-tasked effectively.
- Prepared quarterly Assessment Plans for the District with strong attention to detail.
- Responsible for Pre-ID of Students along with assigning and undesigning students within the State of Michigan database.
- Responsible for online assessment session setup in the OEAA Secure Site.
- Responsible for initial material orders with utilizing a high level of accuracy.
- Responsible for accommodation for students with an IEP or 402 Plan.
- Responsible for pre-identification of students utilizing barcode labels.
- Developed solutions and implemented new strategies for the staff.
- Worked with Tech Support to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues.
Customer Service Rep/Staff Support Manager
Livingston International and Penske Logistics
Taylor, Michigan
08.2012 - 12.2018
- Worked closely with common carriers to ensure timely deliveries by checking shipping status.
- Keyed in data using the TMS systems by entering and processing customer inquiries.
- Completed daily logs and checklists utilizing Microsoft Outlook.
- Worked with customers to resolve any transportation issues such as cancelled/late deliveries.
- Communicated with associates from other shifts to ensure on time freight for Ford Motor Co.
- Answered all internal and external customer complaints via (telephone/email).
- Supported a high volume of inbound customer calls during hazardous weather conditions.
- Met deadlines each day by entering data for pick-up and drop-off times for truck drivers by routing drivers to various destinations.
Hospice and Palliative Certified Nursing Assistant
In-House Hospice
Southfield, MI
06.2010 - 08.2012
- Maintained confidentiality and followed HIPPA standards in safeguarding patient information.
- Provided hospice care, skilled nursing, memory care, and post-acute care.
- Investigated any complaints such as neglect or abuse involving patients to the Nurse or State.
- Developed and maintained rapport with patients and families.
- Transferred/repositioned patients utilizing Hoyer lifts, by following procedures.
- Processed paperwork for clients utilizing the patient portal, email, and faxes.
- Prepared families for hospice and palliative care by providing pain management/emotional support.
- Assessed the needs of each patient by interviewing family members.
- Attended weekly meetings to discuss the patients' mental and physical conditions.
- Provided bereavement care and counseling needs along with the medical team for the surviving family and friends.
- Handled large volumes of paperwork for each patient.
- Established trusting relationships with patients and their families while providing support, appropriate accountability, and encouragement.
Certified Nursing Assistant
The Fountains at Franklin Retirement Community
Southfield, MI
04.2003 - 06.2010
- Secured patients health information regulated by HIPPA standards.
- Conducted comprehensive weekly social activities and trips for Dementia clients with the staff.
- Prepared families for hospice and palliative care by assisting families according to the need.
- Organized trips and planned artwork, dance classes and exercise routines daily.
- Assisted and transported patients to daily appointments.
- Maintained daily medication logs for each client utilizing medical logs.
- Trained new employees on job requirements along with the Nurse Managers.
- Administered medication and provided medication reminders to patients under supervision.
- Interviewed family members concerning patients' past and current medical conditions/medications.
- Monitored patients' health conditions daily by providing quality care.
- Updated patient's conditions to medical professionals in weekly meetings.
- Engaged patients/families in development of comprehensive treatment and self-management plans.
Receptionist/Greeter/Office Assistant
Towbin Dodge
Henderson, NV
01.2000 - 04.2003
- Conducted customer greetings and evaluated needs, directing them to suitable sales associates.
- Provided informed recommendations through thorough research on stock information.
- Managed incoming calls by taking messages and routing them to the correct personnel.
- Engaged in a reality television show, enhancing brand recognition.
Education
Master of Science - Healthcare Administration
Purdue Global
West Lafayette, IN01-2017
Bachelor of Science - Human Services Management
University of Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ01-2013
Timeline
Kinship Specialist/Foster Care Worker
Empower
05.2024 - Current
Investigator
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
03.2023 - 12.2023
Lead Assessment Coordinator/Academic Interventionist (Hybrid)
DPSCD Schools
12.2018 - 03.2023
Customer Service Rep/Staff Support Manager
Livingston International and Penske Logistics
08.2012 - 12.2018
Hospice and Palliative Certified Nursing Assistant
In-House Hospice
06.2010 - 08.2012
Certified Nursing Assistant
The Fountains at Franklin Retirement Community
04.2003 - 06.2010
Receptionist/Greeter/Office Assistant
Towbin Dodge
01.2000 - 04.2003
Master of Science - Healthcare Administration
Purdue Global
Bachelor of Science - Human Services Management
University of Phoenix