Nikolina Ruzic

-Provided individual and group, case management and crisis intervention services to a diverse population of children and families diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum as well as a wide range of mental health issues often compounded by developmental disorders.

-Supervised a total of 20 youth counselors in a rotation of 7 in a shift.

- Conducted weekly one on ones with each youth counselor on their concerns and suggestions as well as new contributions to the client's individualized treatment plan.

-Provided education, coping skills and empathized with the children and their families based on their developmental and emotional level.

- Developed strong relationships with families to facilitate transparent communication regarding resident care and progress.

-Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams in weekly meetings to discuss and address the needs of the children and effectively advocated for tailored interventions.

-Active role in training new staff in the area of behavior management, carrying out treatment plans based in Applied Behavioral Analysis and crisis management.

-Assisted families and children with de-escalating techniques to decrease anxiety and stress during crisis, family visits, and medical appointments.

-Evaluated staff performance regularly, providing constructive feedback and growth opportunities as needed.

-Maintained thorough case history records with detailed written reports.

-Delivered direct behavior management programming by facilitating and/or implementing them.

-Organized daily activities and routines to optimize treatment program and client's learning.

-Monitored residents' progress, documenting observations and providing feedback to case managers for ongoing treatment planning adjustments.

- Provided crisis intervention when necessary, deescalating volatile situations while ensuring the safety of all involved parties.

-Followed treatment guidelines in developing and fostering acceptable alternatives to non-communicative, negative, and/or destructive behaviors.