Nigora (Nikki) Gontmakher, LCSW

Panel Member of the Office of Attorneys for Children, Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 1st and 2nd Departments

Founder of Visitation Support Services, LLC.

Provide forensic and therapeutic services including supervised and observed and evaluated visitation to Court referred adults and children involved in custody/visitation proceedings

Provide the Courts with reports

Provide Court testimony as an expert witness

Home-Studies in connection with custody and visitation

As part of a management team was responsible for development and implementation of the agency plans and goals

Oversaw daily operations and compliance with policies

Staffing responsibilities included interviewing, hiring, onboarding

Provided weekly individual supervision and on-call support ot full-time and part-time social work staff of 8-10 people in five boroughs

Co-facilitated quarterly scenarios trainings

Oversaw staff development and case assignment

Provided support to administrative staff

Provided direct service (client work) to Court referred adults and children involved in Custody/visitation proceedings

Provided the Courts with evaluative reports including recommendations when required

Provided Court testimony as an expert witness

Managed and oversaw daily operations of the agency including hiring, training, staff supervision and development

Worked in collaboration with management team, administrative and social work staff

Developed and maintained professional relationships with referral sources, including Jurists, attorneys, and child welfare agencies

Maintained a caseload (direct client service) by providing forensic and therapeutic services within supervised visitation setting

Conducted home-studies in connection with custody/visitation court proceedings

Provided forensic and therapeutic services including supervised and therapeutic visitation

Conducted home-studies

Consulted and advised attorneys, medical and mental health specialists, and child welfare agencies

Prepared comprehensive written reports for the Supreme and Family Courts of New York

Provided expert and fact witness testimony in Family and Matrimonial proceedings

Supervised MSW student intern

Worked with patients on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ages 1 thru 3) as part of the Early Intervention Services team

Utilized and implemented the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles to provide behavioral improvement, social skills and self-care

Achieved treatment goals by monitoring progress and adjusting strategies

Conducted periodic assessments to track progress and/or identify and address any cognitive declines

Collaborated with multidisciplinary team to coordinate patient care, support treatment, and discharge planning

Developed treatment plans

Contract work with child welfare agency as an evidence-based therapist

Provided evaluation, treatment and/or behavioral health services for the children and their families referred through foster care involvement

Achieved treatment goals by monitoring progress and adjusting approaches

Conducted Intake Interviews

Provided individual therapy

Prepared treatment plans

Conducted intake interviews and provided supervised visitation services to families that did not require expert assessment

Prepared reports to Court

Testified as a fact witness in Court