MONIQUE FUNDERBURK
Cheektowaga
Summary
School social worker professional with extensive experience in student advocacy and mental health support. Proven record of fostering safe and inclusive school environments, addressing diverse student needs through counseling and intervention. Known for collaborative teamwork and adaptability in dynamic educational settings, ensuring reliable support and positive outcomes.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Social Worker
Enterprise Charter School
12.2014
- Responsible for providing supportive counseling to student and their families
- I provide advocacy through community referrals
- Facilitate groups for student and trainings for staff
- Groups I provide cover trauma, grief and loss, bullying, self-esteem, building socialization skills and conflict resolution
- I develop student behavioral service plans that work in conjunction with the student educational plans
- Responsible for tracking student attendance per the school attendance policy
- Responsible for completing new student intakes
Therapist
New Purpose Counseling, PLLC
651 Delaware Avenue Buffalo NY 14202
10.2024 - Current
- Built strong rapport with clients, fostering trust and open communication for effective therapy sessions.
- Maintained detailed case notes and documentation, ensuring effective tracking of progress and continuity of care across providers.
- Established clear boundaries with clients, maintaining ethical practice standards while preserving the therapeutic relationship.
- Provided individual and group therapy sessions to patients suffering from mental health issues.
- Enhanced client well-being through personalized treatment plans tailored to individual needs and goals.
- Assessed clients' mental health needs, developed treatment plans and monitored progress.
- Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based therapeutic techniques and interventions.
- Counseled individuals, groups, and families to bring awareness of problems, deal with crisis situations and develop action plans.
- Delivered brief interventions to help clients develop healthy coping skills.
- Guided clients in development of skills and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
- Developed creative therapeutic approaches to address unique client challenges and promote lasting change.
Certified School Social Worker
Buffalo Public Schools
11.2015 - Current
- As a member of the Committee on Special Education I am responsible for obtaining consent for testing for students referred to the CSE and who are eligible for special education services
- I am responsible for gathering and completing comprehensive social histories for students initially referred to CSE, I update social histories for reevaluations
- I administer adaptive behavior and parental checklist measures, class room observations and crisis intervention
- Responsible for providing supportive counseling to student and their families
- I provide advocacy through community referrals
- Facilitate groups for student and trainings for faculty
- Groups I provide cover trauma, grief and loss, bullying, self-esteem, building socialization skills and conflict resolution
- I develop student behavioral service plans that work in conjunction with the student educational plans
- Responsible for tracking student attendance per the school BPS attendance policy
- Guardian of Equity for BPS I am responsible for ensuring that our building is culturally responsive, equitable and shows equity
Facilitator/Consultant
National Federation for Just Communities
01.2009 - Current
- Facilitate Community Build retreats for Middle school and High School Students
- Facilitate Leadership and Diversity trainings for schools and community programs
- Facilitate professional development model with principals, teachers and support staff from the Buffalo, Kenmore and Sweet Home School districts to encourage racial and ethnic awareness and its effects on academic achievement
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Coordinator
Erie County Youth Services
01.2012 - 08.2014
- Responsible for facilitation of a detention reform initiative for Erie County Youth Services
- Responsible for gathering and Reviewing secure and non- secure detention data, policies /procedures
- Responsible for compliance monitoring of the Secure Facility based on OCFS NYS180 regulations
- Policy development as needed to assure compliance
- Report directly to the Deputy Commissioner of Youth Services regarding non-compliance issues and monitor for facility change and adherence
- Report JDAI updates to Juvenile Justice Stakeholders (i.e
- Family Court Judges, Attorneys and Probation Department)
- Responsible facilitation of subcommittee meetings with JJ Stakeholders to ensure that all policy and procedure development is in compliance with the fidelity of the Annie Casey Foundation eight core strategies and detention reform model
- Responsible for completing youth psychosocial assessments and supervision of Juvenile Justice Counselors in the absence of the Clinical Supervising Social Worker
Assistant Director of Prevention Programming
Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth
06.2011 - 06.2012
- Responsible for managing daily program operations Statewide for Preventive programs
- Supervise all Program Coordinators, network with County Commissioners, school administrators and other local government officials
- Responsible for marketing and new program development, oversight of Prevention Programming
- Prevention program complete all necessary paperwork involved with the position including budgets, billing, policy and procedural oversight for agency standards (OCFS, COA, County, Medicaid Compliance and Federal)
Director of Services/District Supervisor for the Western Region
Berkshire Farm Center
08.2004 - 06.2011
- Responsible for managing daily program operations for Buffalo and Rochester offices, Supervise all Program Coordinators, network with County Commissioners, Judges and other local government officials
- Responsible for marketing and new program development, oversight of all foster care programs, Group Home, respite program, SES program, supervise Residential Treatment Specialist, Prevention Programming, completed all necessary paperwork involved with the position including budgets and billing
Program Coordinator
Berkshire Farm Center
08.2003 - 08.2004
- Supervised four Family Specialist, supervised Home Finding department, screened foster care intakes, completed monthly billing, prepared monthly reports, after hour’s emergency calls
- Trained new foster care staff
- Taught conflict resolution and crisis management Marketed agency programs to surrounding Counties
Foster/Adoptive Home Finder
Berkshire Farm Center
08.2002 - 08.2003
- Recruit Foster Parent and Adoptive Homes, Screening, inquires (fingerprints and SCR check), complete Home studies (home safety checks), train applicants (GPS/MAPP, Agency and State Policies, Managed fifty foster homes, maintained one foster care case
Family Specialist/Foster care/adoption
Berkshire Farm Center
02.1998 - 08.2002
- Focus on permanency and reunification
- Home Visits, Crisis Counseling, Supportive counseling to Foster Parents, Therapeutic Counseling to Foster Children, Supportive counseling to Biological parents, develop and assess Comprehensive Treatment Plans for Children, and Parents based on Court Menu, court advocacy, community referrals, transporting, on-call crisis counseling, gather info and assess appropriately, therapeutic case planning, organized and facilitated peer group meetings
- Also skilled and knowledgeable on independent living skills for youth and adoption planning and completion of adoption packets
Family Counselor
Parent Education Program Intensive Home Base Program
09.1994 - 11.1997
- Daily Home Visits, Behavioral Counseling, Supportive Counseling, Strength based Counseling, worked with Children with Behavioral Problems, Domestic Violence counseling, taught Family Empowerment, Taught Communication Skills, Taught Anger Management Techniques, Made referrals to Supportive services agencies, Case Recordings, Crisis Counseling, On-Call24 hours, assumed duties and responsibilities of the program supervisor in her absence, facilitated trainings, complete monthly program reports
Family Therapist
Geneva B. Scruggs Intensive Home Base Program
01.1992 - 01.1994
- Daily Home Visits, Behavioral Counseling, teach communication skills, parenting skills, on-call24 hours, crisis counseling made referrals to supportive service agencies, trained new employees, court advocacy, facilitated parenting classes, record keeping, maintained statistical reports for State Funding
Case Planner
Geneva B. Scruggs Preventive Foster Care
01.1990 - 01.1992
- Bi-weekly home visits, Parenting Skills, Supportive counseling to parents, case recording, court advocacy, community referrals, developed and facilitated parenting classes and support groups
Education
Masters Degree in Social Work - Children And Families
University At Buffalo, State University of New York
Buffalo, NY09.2006
Bachelor of Social Work - undefined
Buffalo State College
05.1990
Skills
- Emotional support
- Student advocacy
- Family support
- Verbal and written communication
- Restorative practices
- Multicultural competence
- Anti-bullying strategies
- Special education support
- Anger management
- Grief counseling
- Referral coordination
- Social-emotional learning
Accomplishments
Collaborated with school administration to facilitate the school name change from Early Childhood Center #82 to the Ronald Peoples School of Scholars.
Certification
- GPS/MAPP Trainer/Leader
- Licensed Master Social Worker
- Certified School Social Worker
- Certified Grief Informed Professional
Internship
- Child and Family Services Sexual Offenders Management Program Group Facilitator
- Co-facilitated adolescent and adult sexual offenders management groups. Facilitated a family support/ educational group for significant others of sexual offenders. Progress notes, treatment plans and letters of progress for probation and Judges.
Timeline
Therapist
New Purpose Counseling, PLLC
10.2024 - Current
Certified School Social Worker
Buffalo Public Schools
11.2015 - Current
School Social Worker
Enterprise Charter School
12.2014
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Coordinator
Erie County Youth Services
01.2012 - 08.2014
Assistant Director of Prevention Programming
Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth
06.2011 - 06.2012
Facilitator/Consultant
National Federation for Just Communities
01.2009 - Current
Director of Services/District Supervisor for the Western Region
Berkshire Farm Center
08.2004 - 06.2011
Program Coordinator
Berkshire Farm Center
08.2003 - 08.2004
Foster/Adoptive Home Finder
Berkshire Farm Center
08.2002 - 08.2003
Family Specialist/Foster care/adoption
Berkshire Farm Center
02.1998 - 08.2002
Family Counselor
Parent Education Program Intensive Home Base Program
09.1994 - 11.1997
Family Therapist
Geneva B. Scruggs Intensive Home Base Program
01.1992 - 01.1994
Case Planner
Geneva B. Scruggs Preventive Foster Care
01.1990 - 01.1992
Bachelor of Social Work - undefined
Buffalo State College
Masters Degree in Social Work - Children And Families
University At Buffalo, State University of New York