Mykel Jackson
Hammond,IN
Summary
Professional with strong experience in family services and support. Skilled in assessing needs, developing individualized plans, and providing emotional guidance. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results. Known for adaptability, reliability, effective communication, and impactful work in developing and implementing family-focused programs.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Family Specialist
Josiah White’s Foster Care
04.2024 - Current
- Developed individualized service plans addressing unique needs of each child and family unit.
- Facilitated workshops and training sessions for foster parents on best practices in child care.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive support for foster families.
- Monitored progress of children in care, providing regular updates to stakeholders involved in their welfare.
- Conducted home studies to assess suitability of potential foster placements, ensuring compliance with regulations.
- Advocated for resources and services necessary for the well-being of children in foster care systems.
- Developed trusting relationships with families by building rapport, demonstrating empathy, and maintaining professional boundaries.
- Evaluated the effectiveness of intervention strategies through regular progress reviews, adjusting approaches as needed for optimal outcomes.
Family Support Specialist
Mental Health America, Lake County
10.2022 - 04.2024
- Facilitated family assessments to identify needs and develop tailored support plans.
- Conducted regular follow-ups with families, ensuring ongoing support and engagement.
- Developed educational materials to inform families about mental health resources and services.
- Enhanced family well-being by providing comprehensive support services and resources.
- Maintained detailed case notes documenting client interactions, interventions provided, progress made, and any barriers encountered during service delivery.
- Strengthened families'' social networks through referrals to community programs that encourage peer support or mentorship.
Family Case Manager II
Indiana Department of Child Services, Lake County
07.2021 - 10.2022
- Facilitated communication between families and community resources.
- Conducted assessments to identify strengths and challenges of clients.
- Provided crisis intervention support to families in need of immediate assistance.
- Advocated for client needs within various agencies and organizations to ensure access to resources.
- Developed and Implemented tailored interventions based on client needs that led to positive outcomes such as increased school attendance or improved mental health status.
- Ensured accurate documentation of case progress by maintaining detailed records and submitting timely reports to supervisors.
- Contributed to continuous improvement efforts within the agency by participating in ongoing training opportunities and providing constructive feedback on existing processes.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Applied Health Science
Indiana University School of Public Health
Bloomington, Indiana05.2021
Skills
- Mental health awareness
- Professional boundaries
- Diversity sensitivity
- Child development knowledge
- Family advocacy
- Needs assessment
- Individualized planning
- Time management
- Behavioral support
- Case management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
Timeline
Family Specialist
Josiah White’s Foster Care
04.2024 - Current
Family Support Specialist
Mental Health America, Lake County
10.2022 - 04.2024
Family Case Manager II
Indiana Department of Child Services, Lake County
07.2021 - 10.2022
Bachelor of Science - Applied Health Science
Indiana University School of Public Health
YOUTH ADVOCACY EXPERIENCE
- Banneker Community Center at Fairview, Bloomington, IN
- Activities Supervisor Assistant
- January 2020 – May 2020
- Supervise youth guidance techniques including, but not limited to, positive role modeling, conflict resolution, and positive discipline
- Facilitate group activities for ages 5-7, to promote fine motor skill developmental growth.
- Guide individual students with their homework to meet academic expectations
- Jill’s House Intergenerational Preschool, Bloomington, IN
- Observer
- Observed a group of students ages 1-2, play and interact with one another
- Ability to understand each student’s needs and incorporate those needs into learning experiences
- Comprehend students’ current abilities, while encouraging further fine motor development
- Hoosier Courts Nursery School, Bloomington, IN
- Observed a group of preschool student’s sensorimotor and fine motor skills development
- Thoroughly observed interactions and abilities of the preschoolers
- Compared similarities and differences between the age groups observed
LEADERSHIP
- Discussion Leader, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
- February 2020
- Professional Preparation in Human Development Course
- Facilitate unit discussion while encouraging positive interactions with fellow classmates
INTERN EXPERIENCE
- Indiana Department of Child Services, Lake County
- Shadow and assist case manager to ensure the safety and permanency of juveniles
- January 2021 – May 2021
- Attend court hearings, including a fact-finding hearing, permanency review hearings and observed family recovery court.
- Communicate with service providers, including court appointed special advocates (CASA), home based case workers, and therapists.
- Conduct face to face visitations with parents and children and upload contacts into MaGik
- Attend child and family team meetings to create plans and address any concerns as identified by the family and/or providers and upload meeting notes in MaGik.
- Navigate MaGik to create family networks.
- Complete pre-dispositional reports, court reports and progress reports in QUEST.