Rahdearra Paris Woods
Colorado Springs,CO
Summary
Compassionate former Truancy Case Manager, Social Worker, Pastor and active listener dedicated to working timelessly with children and their families to ensure they receive the necessary and best assistance. Committed to providing effective, supportive and empathetic care to encourage and empower clients in finding and implementing the best solutions. Skilled in advocating for student's educational needs both in court and school via court reports and representation.
Experienced with pastoral care, spiritual leadership, and community building. Utilizes compassionate guidance and insightful sermons to support and inspire congregations. Track record of fostering strong community connections and effectively managing church operations.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Pastor
Peoples United Methodist Church
07.2021 - 07.2025
- Provided pastoral care to individuals in need, offering counseling, guidance, and support during difficult times.
- Provided spiritual care through visitation, counseling, and prayer.
- Officiated special services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and nursing home services.
- Strengthened relationships between families by initiating regular events and workshops catered to their needs.
- Planned and conducted worship services, wrote sermons, and worked with key church leaders to carry out church mission.
- Fostered a welcoming environment for newcomers by creating an inclusive culture within the church community.
- Oversaw administration and management of all areas of ministry.
- Provided spiritual and administrative leadership to church and managed daily operations.
- Upheld church governance structure by effectively managing staff and volunteer teams while ensuring adherence to established policies and procedures.
- Led programs such as worship, study, fellowship, and service opportunities.
- Advised couples preparing for marriage via pre-marital counseling services tailored specifically towards their unique relational dynamics.
- Collaborated with church leadership to develop strategic plans for ministry growth and expansion.
- Managed church operations, ensuring proper allocation of resources and budget management.
- Served as mentor to children in church community, offering guidance and support.
- Organized successful fundraising events designed to support church missions locally as well as internationally.
- Facilitated small group discussions aimed at deepening participants'' understanding of core biblical principles and themes.
Social Worker
Centennial Peaks Hospital
09.2018 - 07.2021
- Updated client documentation for accurate, compliant and current records.
- Interviewed clients, families, or groups to assess situations, limitations and issues and implement services to address needs.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure appropriate care coordination and resource allocation for clients.
- Educated families on available community resources, connecting them with essential services such as housing assistance, financial aid, or healthcare providers.
- Supported clients and families with empathy and compassion during difficult times.
- De-escalated stressful situations through individual and family crisis interventions.
- Maintained accurate case documentation, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and facilitating informed decision-making by team members.
- Helped clients develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to drive behavior modification.
- Developed and facilitated support groups, promoting healthy coping skills and fostering peer connections among participants.
Work Study
Iliff School of Theology, Office of Institutional Advancement
09.2016 - 06.2017
- Transcribed interviews
- Researched community information
- Set-up and assisted in fundraising events
- Created Excel sheets
- Created invitations for fundraisers and events
- Maintained Jenzebar database
- Copied and filed papers
- Retrieved and sorted mail
Assistant Manager
Station Management Consultants Inc.
01.2015 - 02.2016
- Complete end of day paperwork through DSR data-sheet
- Enter paperwork into SSCS database system
- Check-in vendors
- Complete all orders for the store
- Complete cigarette and lottery audits
- Supervise staff consisting of 5 people
- Run the day to day operations of a gas station
- Make employees schedules and Aid in payroll
- Conduct gas survey’s and bank transactions
- Manage floor and cooler products
- Complete store and gas price changes
Truancy Case Manager
Juvenile Justice Center
08.2012 - 06.2015
- Advocate for student's educational needs in court via Court Reports and representation
- Prepare court documents and case conference reviews
- Conduct thorough home and school visits to ensure child safety and educational compliance
- Ensure that all administrative duties are completed in compliance with Department of Human Service policies and procedures by ongoing database maintenance and physical file compliance
- Assist families with referrals to appropriate resources to ensure compliance with Court Orders
- Attend meetings and trainings designated by DHS and provider agency
- Attend Regional and Family Court proceedings to ensure Truancy Intervention compliance of clients and families
- Service students and families from 32 School District of Philadelphia public schools within the Northwest Region
Truancy Case Manager
Pathways PA
11.2010 - 06.2012
- Advocate for student's educational needs in court via Court Reports and representation
- Prepare court documents and case conference reviews
- Conduct thorough home and school visits to ensure child safety and educational compliance
- Ensure that all administrative duties are completed in compliance with Department of Human Service policies and procedures by ongoing database maintenance and physical file compliance
- Assist families with referrals to appropriate resources to ensure compliance with Court Orders
- Attend meetings and trainings designated by DHS and provider agency
- Attend Regional and Family Court proceedings to ensure Truancy Intervention compliance of clients and families
- Service students and families from 32 School District of Philadelphia public schools within the Northwest Region
Legislative Intern
Office of Senator Vincent J. Hughes, Caucus Chairman, Senate of Pennsylvania
01.2010 - 04.2010
- Prepared and keep floor book updated.
- Assisted in scheduling events and meetings for the Senator.
- Attended Meetings, Conference calls and Press Conferences.
- Wrote synopsis for letters of persons requesting services.
Education
Master’s of Divinity - Theology
University of Denver Iliff School of Theology
Denver, CO 09.2016 - 06.2020
Master’s of Social Work - Social Work
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work
Denver, CO 09.2017 - 05.2019
Bachelor’s of Arts - Political Science (Minor: Psychology)
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Cheyney, PA 09.2007 - 06.2010
Skills
- Truancy Prevention
- Case Management
- Assistant Manager
- Administrator Assistant
- Court Representation
- Family Dynamics and Communication
- Adolescent Sexual Behaviors
- Child Sexual Development
- Adolescent Females: Using a Positive Youth Development Approach to Behavior Management
- Working w/Vulnerable Clients
- Adolescent Brain Development
- Domestic Violence
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- PowerPoint
- Written and Verbal Communication
- Crisis Prevention and Safety Techniques
- Truancy Case Management
- Education Support Center
- Mental Health/Substance Abuse
- Adolescent At-Risk Behaviors
- Mandated Reporter
- Crisis Intervention
- Preaching
- Teaching
- Pastoral counseling
- Pastoral care
- Public speaking
- Mission-oriented
Affiliations
- Alpha Nu Omega Sorority Inc.
- PSI CHI – National Honor Society for Psychology majors and minors
- National Honor Society Mustang Chapter
Awards
Secretary/Chaplain for the National Alliance of Pan-African Seminarians - Iliff school of Theology, Faculty Merit Scholarship - University of Denver GSSW, Vice-President for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - Cheyney University, Co-founder of the Cheyney University NAACP Education Conference, Co-Founder of the Cheyney University Student Organization "Chosen Generation", Keystone Honors Academy, PSI CHI – National Honor Society for Psychology majors and minors, Horatio Alger Pennsylvania State scholarship winner, Tom Joyner Scholar, National Deans List, Humphrey’s Scholar, Who’s Who among American Colleges and Universities, WW Smith Scholar
Timeline
Pastor
Peoples United Methodist Church
07.2021 - 07.2025
Social Worker
Centennial Peaks Hospital
09.2018 - 07.2021
Master’s of Social Work - Social Work
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work
09.2017 - 05.2019
Master’s of Divinity - Theology
University of Denver Iliff School of Theology
09.2016 - 06.2020
Work Study
Iliff School of Theology, Office of Institutional Advancement
09.2016 - 06.2017
Assistant Manager
Station Management Consultants Inc.
01.2015 - 02.2016
Truancy Case Manager
Juvenile Justice Center
08.2012 - 06.2015
Truancy Case Manager
Pathways PA
11.2010 - 06.2012
Legislative Intern
Office of Senator Vincent J. Hughes, Caucus Chairman, Senate of Pennsylvania
01.2010 - 04.2010
Bachelor’s of Arts - Political Science (Minor: Psychology)
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
09.2007 - 06.2010
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