Nora Benard
Claremont,CA
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
CHILDREN SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR I-GRH
Department of Children and Family Services
Los Angeles, CA
11.2019 - Current
- Direct the development and administration of a Children Services specialized program unit regarding the Grievance Review Hearings (GRH) process, that occurs when the region provides the relative or foster parent with a GRH 14-Day Notice, of the region's intent to remove a foster child from their foster home
- Analyze, assess, process, collaborate, and determine if a GRH should be granted or denied utilizing policy guidelines, implementation of Senate Bills, California State Department of Social Services regulations, Welfare and Institutions Code Sections, California Department of Social Services (CDSS) regulations, and the California CDSS Manuel
- Ensure, update, and collaborate with supervisor, deputy director, county counsel, and the Policy section that all utilized GRH forms are constantly updated, informative, legally sufficient, and contain the most recent policy, child and welfare codes, and guidelines for constituents and their legal representation, the region, county counsel, and the public to easily read and request a GRH
- Constant collaboration with GRH county counsel to ensure Grievant Agent (GA) neutrality, act as liaison between GRH county counsel, the region, and the constituent, and the Grievant Agent (GA) who conducts the GRH
- Send Non-GRH Requests to Public Inquiries
- To decrease the number of foster children replacements by ensuring the GRH 14-Day Notice was proper and notice guidelines were followed by policy
- Ensure the region follows policy regarding the development of a Placement Preservation Strategy (PPS) to prevent a child's removal from placement
- Utilized jpeg, Word, pdf, and email to ensure exhibits were recorded and provided to all parties
- Ensure templates and exhibits were processed and data recorded utilizing Excel sheets
- Logged and preserved all documents and physical evidence presented at GRH, including audio recordings of hearing
- Manage the shared GRH inbox where GRH and Non-GRH Requests were received
- Schedule AT&T hearings and TEAMS meetings
- Ensure TEAMS meeting recordings were secured
- Supervise a Senior Typist Clerk, train and delegate work, Ecap, and provide performance evaluation
- Access GRH MAPP goals and present MAPP goal quarterly reports
- Answered phone calls and emails from clients to address questions, complaints, and needs
- Complete DAC reports
- Utilized computer software to complete various administrative tasks
- Managed detailed filing system for organizing client records
- Maintained confidential records in accordance with company policy and legal requirements
- Collaborated with other teams to develop strategies for improving operational efficiency
- Responded promptly to all customer inquiries via phone or email within established timeframes
- Created and managed database systems to store and organize information
- Participated in management meetings to discuss new directives and offer insights and suggestions to improve procedures
- Coordinated special projects by managing resources, meeting deadlines and communicating progress updates
- Developed efficient office procedures, policies and standards that improved workflow and productivity
- Handled incoming mail distribution, outgoing mailings and courier services
- Coordinated employee schedules and set dates for GRHs and appointments
- Reviewed incoming requests for service or materials ensuring accuracy of order details before processing
- Prepared reports to summarize operational results
- Set up video conferences to facilitate remote communication between various departments within the organization
- Created or maintained database of GRHs
- Worked with coworkers to complete tasks
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks while remaining adaptable and flexible
- Responded quickly to meet region, grievant, community, in-house and outside attorney needs and resolve problems
- Committed to delivering excellent customer service while working in a fast-paced environment
- Focused on learning new skills and staying updated with industry changes
- Participated in ongoing training to enhance own job skills and knowledge
- Provided efficient and courteous service to customers at all times
- Identified ways to improve efficiency in operations and implemented process changes
- Troubleshot minor problems and reported larger technical issues
CHILDREN SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR I- VISITATION
Department of Children and Family Services
West Los Angeles, CA
07.2018 - 10.2019
- Responsible for the administration of the WLA DCFS office Visitation Program by providing administrative and logistic support to ensure families are provided with ample and appropriate visitation opportunities for parents and legal guardians to bond and reunify with their children, reduce the time foster children are in foster care, and reduce incidents of maltreatment after case closure
- Oversee court ordered and Case Plan visitation are implemented by the eight to ten staff of Human Services Aids (HSA) that I supervised
- Collaborate with DCFS employees and volunteers, to schedule visits within all DCFS offices, the community, residential care, and churches for parents and legal guardians to have meaningful visits with their children
- Develop visitation centers and work with contracts to assist with the development
- Engage community partners to maximize their involvement with visitation
- Maintain ongoing communication with community partners and volunteers in order to expand the available resources for this critical service
- Worked with a CSA III from the Executive office and the WLA RA to ensure Federal and State laws, and Regulations are followed and implemented
- Ensured policies and procedures were followed as it relates to family reunification
- Interview and hire HSAs, enroll HSAs in the DCFS training module of visitation, define and prepare HSAs to monitor and provide meaningful and safe visits, how to prepare for a visit and end visits, and inform HSAs about Procedural Guide for Supervised Visits
- Prepare HSAs for each visitation with concerns, needs, and court orders before a visitation occurred
- Ensure parents and legal guardians receive frequent and quality visits by communicating with all parties about what went well and what concerns and changes are needed to improve visitation
- Provide CSWs and SCSWs with written visitation contacts, concerns, and observations for their court reports
- Maintain Excel sheets, face sheets, and visitation notes for data to see if visitation objections, planned activities, visit schedules in frequency and quality were occurring, length, end and start time, and were the necessary resources available for a successful visit
- Ensure visitation plan had an objective, activities, scheduled for the week and month; parent, child, siblings, and HSA were prepared for the visit, report any problems and what went well with the visit, and address safety planning for each visit
- Work with CSA III and Chicago University to provide input regarding what was complex or sensitive regarding visitation
- Work with managers regarding input to address systemic challenges and provide alternative solutions
- Work regional office management team to develop, monitor, and provide oversight by utilizing tracking tools, logs, and data
- Measured progress, identified barriers, and develop strategies to improve outcomes of quality, purposeful, and meaningful visits
- Answered phone calls and emails from clients to address questions, complaints, and needs
- Utilized computer software to complete various administrative tasks
- Maintained confidential records in accordance with company policy and legal requirements
- Provided administrative support to department staff, including scheduling meetings and coordinating travel arrangements
SUPERVISING CHILDREN SOCIAL WORKER
Department of Children and Family Services
Palmdale, CA
03.2016 - 07.2018
- Supervised eight to ten Children Social Workers who each carried a case load of 15 to 20 cases that included Voluntary Family Maintenance, Family Reunification, Family Maintenance, and Permanency Placement, and AB12
- Utilized CWS/CMS, Core Practice Champion, SDM, JPP, reply to DACs, generate and train on Case Plans and Case Plan updates, write and understand children's court hearings and court process, and prepare a face sheet on assigned cases for CSW to follow-through and follow-up on the needs, plans, and resources for each case
- Meet with CSWs one-on-one once a week, and trained CSW Trainees
- Did home visits with CSWs, assisted in monitoring visits, walked through cases to assist CSW to analyze, develop, and plan for resource services and then use the information to work with families
- Trained and conducted CFTs
- Supported, problem solved, delegated, provided decision making tools, motivated, and assisted the CSW in having difficult conversations with parents and caregivers
- Made clear DCFS expectations, ensured policy and procedures were followed, ensured timely visits occurred, completed timely PEs, Worked with HR to address concerns of some CSWs
- Engaged all staff at the DCFs Palmdale office, worked as a Team with other components of DCFS that included DI and ER, the ARA, the RA, The HSAs, Secretaries, and all other staff, the community, and resources in the community and outside the community
- Ensured visits, contacts, court reports, resources, programs, monies, and trainings were captured for all DCFS cases and for the CSWs in an Excel sheet or in the assigned application found in the Dash Board
- Kept myself informed of new laws and how many children were in the system
- Built respectful and trusting relationships with clients
- Demonstrated cultural sensitivity when working with diverse populations from different ethnic backgrounds
- Advocated on behalf of clients and families for services, basic needs, and other related issues
CHILDREN SOCIAL WORKER III
Department of Children and Family Services
Pomona, CA
04.2010 - 03.2016
- Continuing Services Social Worker II with a case load of 30 to 42, provided safety, well-being, resources, visits, resources, and wrote court reports in what was the best interest of child
- Maintained monthly contacts, wrote court reports in a timely manner, did case plans, on time with monthly visits, provided assistance with resources, and connections to community resources, did safety assessments, and SDM
- Built respectful and trusting relationships with clients
- Interviewed residents and families to obtain social history and determine needs for services
- Demonstrated cultural sensitivity when working with diverse populations from different ethnic backgrounds
- Advocated on behalf of clients and families for services, basic needs, and other related issues
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate care between agencies or providers
- Worked with the 'Family First' unit that provided an intense short term reunification plan and a thorough case plan to reunify families quicker and faster by providing CFTs and resources to meet the safety and reunification plan
CHILDREN SOCIAL WORKER III
Department of Children and Family Services
Belvedere, CA
12.2006 - 10.2007
- Built respectful and trusting relationships with clients
- Maintained accurate documentation of clinical activities, including progress notes, incident reports, and discharge summaries
- Interviewed residents and families to obtain social history and determine needs for services
CHILDREN SOCIAL WORKER II
Department of Children and Family Services
North Hollywood, CA
11.2000 - 10.2003
- Built respectful and trusting relationships with clients
- Maintained accurate documentation of clinical activities, including progress notes, incident reports, and discharge summaries
- Interviewed residents and families to obtain social history and determine needs for services
Timeline
CHILDREN SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR I-GRH
Department of Children and Family Services
11.2019 - Current
CHILDREN SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR I- VISITATION
Department of Children and Family Services
07.2018 - 10.2019
SUPERVISING CHILDREN SOCIAL WORKER
Department of Children and Family Services
03.2016 - 07.2018
CHILDREN SOCIAL WORKER III
Department of Children and Family Services
04.2010 - 03.2016
CHILDREN SOCIAL WORKER III
Department of Children and Family Services
12.2006 - 10.2007
CHILDREN SOCIAL WORKER II
Department of Children and Family Services
11.2000 - 10.2003
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