Neida Villafañe
Bronx,NY
Summary
Social Worker and SAPIS Counselor, specializing in crisis response, behavioral support, and trauma-informed, multi-tiered interventions. Collaborate with educators, families, and community partners to remove barriers to learning, deliver individual and group counseling. Recognized for deescalation expertise and cultivating safe, supportive school climates.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialists (SAPIS Counselor)
NYCPS
Bronx, NY
09.2025 - Current
- Provide crisis-response services to schools needing support during crisis incidents, conduct parent workshops that address alcohol and substance abuse issues as well as bullying and violence prevention. Work alongside students who are at risk for alcohol and substance abuse, gang involvement, suspension from school, disruptive behaviors, and violations for intervention services.
School Social Worker
Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy
Bronx
09.2021 - 08.2025
- Provided support during crisis situations involving students and families, assist with conflict resolution and anger management.
- Assisted in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies and intervention strategies to increase academic success.
- Helping the child develop appropriate social interaction skills, assisting the child in understanding and accepting self and others. Provided individual and group counseling sessions to students with mental health issues.
- Alleviating family stress to enable the child to function more effectively in school and community, to access programs available to students with special needs, and utilizing school and community resources.
- Collaborated with teachers, administrators, parents and outside agencies to develop strategies for addressing student concerns.
- Conducted assessments of student needs and developed appropriate plans for intervention or referral services. Documented case notes in an electronic database system according to agency standards.
Paraprofessional
Bronx Academy for Multi-Media
Bronx
09.2016 - 09.2021
- Assist teachers with class work and the daily care of students with emotional, cognitive, physical handicaps, autism and crisis support.
- Responsibilities included individual or small group instruction as outlined by the teacher, reinforce behavior through positive behavior support, guide and assist students in small group instruction settings with class and remote learning routines and in transitioning from one activity to the next.
- Collect data documenting student behavior for instructional purposes, write anecdotal information concerning student behavior, provide language assistance for bilingual students.
Parent Coordinator
MS 302 Luisa Desus Cruz Middle School
07.2004 - 08.2016
- Engaged with and involved parents in the school community, worked with the administrative team, increased parent involvement by working closely with the school parent association.
- Responsible for convening and facilitating parent workshops and events relating to topics of parent concerns; identified and addressed parent and related school issues in a timely manner.
- Conducted outreach to increase parent engagement in their children's education, school policies or facilities issues, attended meetings where appropriate; serve as liaison to parent and school, served as interpreter.
- Work with the attendance committee, STH staff to initiate effective attendance and interventions with students chronically absent.
- Served as a school liaison to Central and Field-based parent support staff.
Education
Master of Social Work - Social Work
SILBERMAN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
New York05-2020
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Behavioral Science
MERCY COLLEGE
NY05-2016
Skills
- Hold a certification with NYSED as a Provisional Social Worker
- Hold a certification as a Teaching Assistant Level 3
- Proficient in speaking, writing and reading in Spanish and English languages
LANGUAGES
Bilingual
Spanish
Timeline
Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialists (SAPIS Counselor)
NYCPS
09.2025 - Current
School Social Worker
Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy
09.2021 - 08.2025
Paraprofessional
Bronx Academy for Multi-Media
09.2016 - 09.2021
Parent Coordinator
MS 302 Luisa Desus Cruz Middle School
07.2004 - 08.2016
Master of Social Work - Social Work
SILBERMAN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Behavioral Science
MERCY COLLEGE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Professional development in Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Supporting Students with Incarcerated Parents
- SEL Supports & Mental Health Interventions
- Counseling Support Strategies for Engaging Families
- De-escalation Strategies for Student Success
- Trauma Informed Practices
- Designated Liaison Child Abuse Prevention Training