NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities
- Current
Provide support to individuals and families choosing self-direction services to live independently
Coordinate circle of support meetings to initiate services and budget
Educate individual and families on options
Help to navigate individual with employer and budget authority and changes along the way
Work with fiduciary intermediary and agencies on behalf of the individual
Assist individuals and families navigate throughout the self-direction process
Employment Specialist, CESP
Skills Unlimited, Inc.
08.2016 - 02.2018
Company Overview: (FREE)
Oversee a caseload of 15 individuals and complete required documentation on each including OPWDD monthly billing, progress notes, intakes and discovery
Runs and develops weekly Job Club which includes resume writing, interview skills, interactive participation and guest speakers
Responsible for promoting employment among participants through specialized groups, counseling individuals and placing individuals in competitive employment
Onsite job support and development of soft skills for job retention
Develop community networks and employment opportunities with local and surrounding business to ensure successful continuation and integration
Great knowledge of OPWDD, Front door access, community integration, person centered approach and valued outcome, ADA, TITLES I and II, Citizen Centered Leadership
Provide encouragement, motivation and hope to individuals consistently
Assist individuals to participate in activities and groups that fulfill their Individual Recovery Plan (IRP)
Provide support to those on all Spectrums, Dual Diagnosis, Verbal and Non Verbal
(FREE)
Human Resources Recruiter
Family Residence and Essential Enterprises, Inc.
05.2014 - 08.2016
Company Overview: (FREE)
Responsible for Recruiting, interviewing and hiring appropriate candidates to work serving individuals with developmental disabilities and dual diagnosis
Recruiter for seven different internal companies, including personal recruiter for the OMH Behavioral Health division & RIDES Transportation
Maintain confidentiality of employee records and HR issues
Knowledge of OPWDD, OMH, SAMHSA, OCFS, OASAS, NY Dept of RHealth, & The Justice Center, Core Competencies & Person Center Approach, Additionally SEL & MHL
Effectively schedule fingerprinting appointments thru Moropotrust (identogo) website and track results back through Justice Center site
Administrator of the E-Verify Program and currently only management employee processing I-9 verification for eligibility to work in the United States
Versed in SSA Tentative non confirmation and DHS Tentative non confirmation
Follow up and track all missing documentation within Federal and State and agency guidelines for the employee Personnel and CBC Files, including PPDS
Set up, perform and maintain tracking, in a timely manner for all pre employment checks (IE: Statewide, LENS, OMIG, reference checks, in addition assist new hires in filling out required paperwork for the on boarding process
Effectively build and maintain College and career track development with community at large in order to recruit via job fairs
Accurately and positively communicate agency philosophy as well as projecting a professional and positive and helpful manner toward agency personnel, visitors and applicants
Responsible for organizing two (2) new hire orientations monthly of no less than 30 new hires each session and presenting the HR portion of the Orientation
Developed and implanted a method to organize the enormous paper volume working in an obsolete applicant tracking computer system
Effectively communicate and act as a liaison internally and externally in accordance with Federal and State and agency guidelines
Establish positive working relationships with co workers, management while always advocating and maintaining confidentiality for individuals and entire company
Developed initiative to follow up with new hires after first 90 days in an effort to effectively deal with agency retention issue and turnover rates
(FREE)
Crisis Counselor
Project Hope
07.2013 - 02.2014
Provide Individual one on one and group counseling to disaster survivors and help survivors to understand the effects of disaster and its aftermath and related concerns
Responsible for Adult as well as Children disaster survivors
Engaged Children with Art and play therapies as related to disasters
Effectively communicate and interact with large groups such as Civic Associations, Veterans, clubs, Schools, Community Leaders & First Responders to work to help strengthen existing community support systems
Unite Survivors with resources and referrals to other agencies, such as NY Rising, Robinhood Foundation and United Way
Certified and trained through FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency and The State Office of Mental Health (OMH) Emergency Preparedness and Response and SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration
Thru the use of SPR Skills for Psychological Recovery work with the survivors to promote resiliency, empowerment recovery and self-efficacy
Trained in Suicide prevention & Child and Elder Abuse
Customer Service Specialist
Sovereign Bank
11.2002 - 05.2009
Handled daily Customer account inquiries for payment updates, address changes, ACH requests as well as year end balance & year end interest requests, for three business lines
Responsible for Customer disputes involving research and resolution within Bank guidelines
Handled entire Company offsite storage retrieval requests as well as archiving and storage pickups while maintaining Federal guideline schedule
Collaborated with Manger on Special Projects
Handled entire Company mail room operation for 13 weeks in conjunction with my own daily tasks until a replacement was positioned
Responsible for training new employees in customer service and imaging departments
Able to streamline and set up new file room of 10,000 plus files when company merged and moved into new location
Worked diligently to image backlog of file accounts while maintained new daily booking volume
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) - Advanced Human Studies
National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 2022-Present
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), 2022-Present
Personal Information
Title: Social Worker
Awards
Phi Kappa Phi life Inducted, April 2023
Recognition State Office of Mental Health Crisis Counseling, 2014
Nassau Executive Chambers Recognition, 04/01/14
State of NY Executive Chamber Certificate of Recognition, 04/01/12
Town of Huntington Certificate of Recognition, 04/01/12
Proclamation State of NY, 04/01/12
Honorary Member of the Walt Whitman Birthplace, 2015
Volunteer Experience
Crisis Counselor Volunteer, Family of Woodstock, Woodstock, NY, 01/01/21, Present, As a crisis hotline responder, I am tasked with providing immediate support and intervention to individuals experiencing emotional distress, trauma, or crisis situations., In this role, I am adept at actively listening to callers, validating their feelings, and offering non-judgmental support in a calm and reassuring manner., I assess the severity of the situation, de-escalate tensions, and help callers explore coping strategies to manage their emotions and make informed decisions., I am trained to handle a wide range of crises, including but not limited to suicidal ideation, domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health crises., I adhere to established protocols and procedures, ensuring confidentiality and professionalism at all times., Collaborating with a team of trained professionals, I remain composed under pressure, prioritize caller safety, and provide appropriate referrals to local resources and services when needed.
Volunteer Grant Writer, Crystal Visions, Inc., Snowflake, AZ, 01/01/22, Present, The primary mission is to train students to become sound healers who are devoted to bringing healing to Native American reservations, recovery centers, Veterans, people in crisis, People with PTSD, Hospice settings and to practitioners to prevent burnout., I identify relevant grant opportunities, tailor proposals to match the objectives and criteria of each funding source, and present a clear plan for how the grant funds will be utilized to support student training programs., Additionally, I establish partnerships with organizations aligned with our mission, cultivate relationships with donors, and ensure compliance with grant requirements to maximize our chances of success in securing the necessary resources to empower students with the transformative benefits of sound healing.
Volunteer Literacy Tutor, Ulster Literacy Association, Kingston, NY, 05/01/18, Present, I provide tailored support to students at various levels to enhance their reading, writing, and comprehension skills., Utilizing personalized learning strategies, I assessed students' strengths and weaknesses, developed customized lesson plans, and implemented effective instructional techniques to address their specific needs., I fostered a positive and encouraging learning environment where students felt empowered to engage with diverse texts, practice critical thinking, and express themselves creatively through written communication., Through one-on-one instruction, group activities, and targeted interventions, I facilitated significant improvements in students' literacy abilities, equipping them with the tools and confidence to succeed academically and beyond.
Fundingandscholarships
Disability Justice and Intersectionality Research Grant, 05/01/23, Fordham University, $3000
Workshop with Dr. Janina Fisher, 04/01/23, California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), $1500
Healing the Legacy of Historical and Transgenerational Trauma, 10/01/22, California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), $1750
Trauma and the Restoration of Self, 01/01/22, California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), $2500
Recipient of the Mayer Shevin Scholarship, 03/01/18, Cornell University, $2000
Research
Research Team Member Disability Justice, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, Dr. Laura Wernick, 2022-2023
Research Symposium Presenter, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, 05/01/2023
Timeline
Employment Specialist, CESP
Skills Unlimited, Inc.
08.2016 - 02.2018
Human Resources Recruiter
Family Residence and Essential Enterprises, Inc.
05.2014 - 08.2016
Crisis Counselor
Project Hope
07.2013 - 02.2014
Customer Service Specialist
Sovereign Bank
11.2002 - 05.2009
Independent Broker Consultant Self Direction
NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities
- Current
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) - Advanced Human Studies
Developmental Support Professional 3 at NYS Office For People With Developmental DisabilitiesDevelopmental Support Professional 3 at NYS Office For People With Developmental Disabilities
Direct Support Professional at NYS Office For People With Developmental DisabilitiesDirect Support Professional at NYS Office For People With Developmental Disabilities
Habilitation Specialist 1 at NYS Office For People With Developmental DisabilitiesHabilitation Specialist 1 at NYS Office For People With Developmental Disabilities
Deputy Director, Division of Quality Improvement at NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)Deputy Director, Division of Quality Improvement at NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)