ORISSA LAVIA
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Compassionate Family Services Professional with experience in educational support. Skilled in addressing complex social and emotional issues to foster healthy relationships and well-being. Experienced as a School Social Worker who enhances students' social-emotional development in classroom environment. Strong communicator, committed to positively impacting individuals and families lives.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Social Worker
Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center
Brooklyn, USA
01.2020 - 08.2024
- Provided parent counseling to support families in understanding the IEP/CPSE process and addressed their child’s educational and developmental needs.
- Planned, coordinated and implemented support and resources to help clients and their families cope in difficult times and overcome dependencies.
- Ensured proper communication with families and ACS on daily basis regarding children.
- Processed, distributed, verified, and maintained children's records to ensure compliance with regulations.
- Prepared and processed outgoing parent/student ACS applicants.
- Led annual ERSEA activities, achieving full enrollment of eligible children.
- Organized and facilitated annual PAC elections and coordinated monthly meetings to enhance parent engagement and collaboration with school leadership.
- Actively participanted in local community organization activities, gather resources to support family in need.
School Social Work: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Intern
Urban Assembly
Brooklyn, USA
09.2021 - 05.2022
- Counseled students using positive reinforcement, social and coping skills, and strategies to encourage prosocial behaviors.
- Trained advisors and teachers in accordance to develop their personal and instructional approaches to SEL.
- Collected and analyzed SEL data to inform reports and facilitate community reflection processes.
- Updated and maintained SEL rubric, delivering research and reports to support continuous improvement.
- Built and maintained strong relationships with students and families to encourage and provide resources.
- Worked in the Resilience Scholar Program supporting the transition of SEL instruction for Institute of Math and Science for Young Women.
Family Worker
Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center
Brooklyn, USA
04.2017 - 03.2020
- Communicated daily with families and ACS to provide updates and address concerns regarding children.
- Ensured development of positive relationships with children to promote self-esteem.
- Assisted teacher in ensuring physical, social, cognitive and educational excellence of children.
- Documented key observations of children to support developmental assessments.
- Processed outgoing parent/student ACS applications to facilitate access to support services.
- Handled the processing, distribution, verification and maintenance of the children's records ensuring compliance.
Teachers Assistant
Friends of Crown
Brooklyn, USA
09.2015 - 03.2017
- Collaborated with lead teacher on lesson planning and program execution, enhancing classroom engagement.
- Supervised activities, ensuring safety standards and promoting positive behavior among students.
- Facilitated parent-teacher meetings and delivered informative lectures on health and behavior change strategies, fostering parent involvement.
Education
Masters of Social Work - Advanced Standing
Fordham University
New York05-2022
Bachelor of Arts - Social Work
Medgar Evers College
Brooklyn05-2020
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Special Education
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn05-2016
Skills
- Case Management
- Crisis intervention
- Motivational Interviewing
- Family Assessment
- Family Support
- Service Coordination
- Child Development
- Multitasking
Certification
- Provisional Certificate School Social Worker
- New York State Teacher Certification - ATAS (Assessment of Teacher Assistant Skills Certification)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
School Social Work: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Intern
Urban Assembly
09.2021 - 05.2022
Social Worker
Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center
01.2020 - 08.2024
Family Worker
Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center
04.2017 - 03.2020
Teachers Assistant
Friends of Crown
09.2015 - 03.2017
Masters of Social Work - Advanced Standing
Fordham University
Bachelor of Arts - Social Work
Medgar Evers College
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Special Education
Brooklyn College