Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certifications
Timeline
Generic

Sara Meier

Thornton,NH

Summary

Dedicated Social Worker provides exceptional professional care and implements appropriate interventions. Utilizes variety of resources to identify unique needs and assist vulnerable populations. Adept at establishing strong rapport with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience

Work History

Shelter Manager

Voices Against Violence
05.2023 - Current
  • Increased access to resources for residents by forming partnerships with local community organizations.
  • Helped developed comprehensive emergency response plans, ensuring the safety of all guests during crises.
  • Improved communication between staff members through regular meetings and clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
  • Facilitated case management meetings with clients regularly, helping them set goals toward self-sufficiency.
  • Maintained accurate and up-to-date records for all clients, ensuring thorough documentation of services provided and progress made during the shelter stay.
  • Enforced compliance with federal and state regulations regarding safe emergency housing practices.
  • Reduced incidents of conflict by establishing clear guidelines for guest behavior and mediating disputes when necessary.
  • Monitored budget expenditures closely, ensuring optimal allocation of funds across various programs and services offered at the shelter.
  • Enhanced shelter safety by implementing and enforcing security protocols.
  • Managed daily shelter operations, maintaining a clean, organized, and welcoming environment for residents.
  • Advocated on behalf of guests with public assistance agencies, securing critical financial support for housing transitions.
  • Established referral networks with other service providers in the area to facilitate seamless transitions for clients exiting the shelter system.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams including mental health professionals and social workers to address the complex needs of residents.
  • Provided leadership, guidance and support to staff members.
  • Participated in community events to promote services and engage with public.
  • Referred clients to appropriate team members, community agencies and organizations to meet treatment needs.
  • Partnered with local organizations to expand access to social and community services.
  • Developed and implemented training programs for staff.
  • Researched best practices and developed strategies to improve program outcomes.

Housing Advocate

Voices Against Violence
09.2019 - Current
  • Assisted clients in navigating complex legal processes related to eviction proceedings while ensuring they understood their options and rights.
  • Prevented homelessness for numerous households by identifying early warning signs of potential eviction risks and intervening proactively.
  • Improved tenant satisfaction by addressing housing concerns promptly and efficiently.
  • Connected clients to emergency shelters or transitional housing programs when appropriate, providing a safe space during times of crisis.
  • Connected clients with supportive services, such as mental health counseling or job training programs, to promote self-sufficiency and stable housing situations.
  • Assisted families in securing affordable housing by providing guidance on available resources and programs.
  • Conducted thorough assessments of client needs to develop tailored plans aimed at achieving long-term housing stability.
  • Maintained detailed records of client interactions, case progress, and outcomes to ensure accurate reporting and evaluation of program effectiveness.
  • Reduced eviction rates by offering mediation services between tenants and landlords to resolve disputes amicably.
  • Developed strong relationships with landlords and property managers, resulting in increased housing options for clients.
  • Streamlined the application process for rental assistance programs by assisting clients with paperwork completion and submission.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with community organizations and agencies.
  • Successfully negotiated rent reduction agreements between clients facing financial hardships and their landlords, preventing evictions in several cases.
  • Educated clients about their rights as tenants under state law, empowering them to advocate for themselves effectively when necessary.
  • Assisted in conducting needs assessments to identify key areas of service needs.
  • Monitored progress towards service plan goals.
  • Developed and maintained accurate records of programs and services.
  • Facilitated outreach activities to build community awareness.
  • Improved clients' coping with routine life activities such as food budgeting and rental payments.
  • Assisted in developing grant proposals to support social service initiatives.

Child Advocate

Voices Against Violence
09.2019 - Current
  • Improved communication between parents and school staff by facilitating regular meetings and providing updates on children''s progress.
  • Contributed to policy development within the organization by advocating for changes that would better serve the best interests of the children under our care.
  • Coordinated with social workers, therapists, and medical professionals to address any mental health or physical health concerns affecting a child''s wellbeing.
  • Provided emotional support to children facing difficult situations, helping them develop coping skills and resilience.
  • Ensured child safety by closely monitoring high-risk cases and collaborating with law enforcement agencies when necessary.
  • Collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams to create holistic support plans for at-risk youth in need of intervention or assistance.
  • Educated parents on their rights and responsibilities regarding their children''s education, empowering them to make informed decisions on behalf of their kids.
  • Advocated for children''s best interests during court proceedings, ensuring their voices were heard and considered in decision-making processes.
  • Strengthened relationships between children, families, and schools through effective collaboration with teachers, counselors, and administrators.
  • Established trust with children by maintaining confidentiality and providing a safe space for them to express their thoughts and feelings openly.
  • Evaluated children's needs through regular meetings with parents, teachers, counselors, and other stakeholders to ensure that proper support was provided.
  • Supported families in crisis by connecting them with appropriate resources and services within the community.
  • Built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs.
  • Documented data and completed accurate updates to case records.
  • Assisted families in navigating the social services system, including applying for benefits, accessing resources and connecting with other family support services.
  • Intervened in crisis situations and counseled children experiencing emergencies and disruptive incidents.
  • Completed comprehensive assessments of families to identify needs and develop treatment plans.
  • Collaborated with school personnel, parents and mental health providers to maintain comprehensive and integrated approach to student services.
  • Conducted outreach to families and other community partners to identify ways to address social, emotional and behavioral needs.
  • Facilitated family meetings to ensure communication and collaboration between family members.
  • Contributed to court proceedings, advocating for family's best interests and recommending balanced solutions.
  • Provide crisis intervention, advocacy, and follow up support at hospitals, child advocacy centers, schools, and court.
  • Work with area court personnel, school, police, DCYF, CAC, social service agencies.
  • Acted as the liaison between DCYF, CAC, and survivors

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate

Voices Against Violence
09.2019 - Current
  • Developed partnerships with other community organizations to expand available resources for domestic violence victims, enhancing their access to comprehensive support services.
  • Provided crisis intervention services, offering immediate support and guidance to individuals experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault situations.
  • Participated in ongoing professional development activities, enhancing knowledge base related to best practices in domestic violence/sexual assault prevention and response efforts.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic services for sexual assault survivors.
  • Collaborated with law enforcement and district attorneys, to improve services for victims.
  • Provided emotional support to secondary victims, aiding in their understanding of the trauma and healing process.
  • Provided tailored referrals for counseling services, facilitating healing processes for numerous survivors.
  • Developed comprehensive safety plans with survivors, resulting in increased feelings of security and empowerment.
  • Collaborated with law enforcement agencies, medical professionals, and other community partners to ensure comprehensive care for all survivors.
  • Improved survivor support by providing crisis intervention and emotional assistance during medical exams and law enforcement interviews.
  • Supported survivors throughout court proceedings, easing anxiety related to navigating the legal system.
  • Managed confidential case files meticulously, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance with grant requirements.
  • Bridged communication gaps between non-English speaking survivors and service providers through proficient interpretation skills.
  • Maintained up-to-date knowledge on relevant state statutes as well as local resources available to better serve clients effectively.
  • Assisted in obtaining protective orders for survivors, ensuring their safety and wellbeing.
  • Offered guidance on legal rights and options to empower survivors in making informed decisions about reporting and pursuing justice.
  • Accompanied clients to court to clarify processes and procedures.
  • Supported victims and family members through law enforcement, healthcare and social services.
  • Developed safety plans to meet victims' assessment of need.
  • Provided crisis counseling and intervention services to clients in emergency situations.
  • Collected statistical data and updated documentation to maintain client records.
  • Attended interagency meetings and networked to create community partnerships.
  • Constructed referral list of agencies and community resources for victims' to provide aftercare services.
  • Advocated on behalf of clients during multi-disciplinary team meetings, ensuring that all relevant agencies were informed about their needs and concerns.
  • Built strong relationships with local shelters, increasing the availability of safe housing options for clients in need.
  • Referred clients to other specialists, institutions or support services as necessary.
  • Helped clients obtain outside specialist services by coordinating referrals and advising on options.
  • Developed and maintained strong relationships with community resources for successful referrals.

Care Manager

Time Doc Health
04.2019 - Current
  • Phone calls, emails, and messaging with the patient and caregiver
  • Lab, report, and image review
  • Care plan creation, revision, and review
  • Medication reconciliation, overseeing patient self-management of medication
  • Chart documentation
  • Medication refills
  • Remote monitoring of physiological data
  • Referring to and consulting with other providers
  • Post-discharge follow-up.

Per diem LNA

Pemi Baker Community Health
06.2017 - 03.2019
  • Providing palliative care to the terminally ill clients
  • Treating symptoms and managing pain of the patients
  • Providing up-to-date and accurate medical report of the patient to the doctor
  • Measuring and recording vital statistics (such as, temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, etc.) of the patient
  • Taking care of nutritional needs of the patients
  • Cleaning soiled sheets and emptying bedpans
  • Administering medications
  • Taking care of sanitation and personal hygiene of the client
  • Helping patients in performing their routine activities
  • Comforting and providing emotional aid to sorrowful family members of the patient
  • Wound care.

Ignite Program Assistant

Mid-State Health Center
03.2016 - 03.2019
  • Assists with the identification of patients who meet the criteria for the program
  • Performs and documents into the Electronic Health Record (EHR) vital signs (such as blood pressure if patient would like) and updates medication/allergy list
  • Reviews, updates, and completes the Health Summary of the chart as necessary
  • Incorporates the Medical Home model of care into daily practice
  • Enters patient information into the Logbook and assists in tracking the patients in the Ignite program
  • Manages phone calls, collaborating with Nurse Care Manager and Clinicians as appropriate
  • Work in collaboration with clinical and hall teams, meeting regularly to review schedules and discuss pre and post visit planning or information from follow-up phone calls
  • Performs other duties including Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) as requested or assigned
  • Demonstrates appropriate behavior along with the ability to seek guidance and support from appropriate resources
  • Proficient in creating documents in Word, Excel and Power Point
  • Program development
  • Advanced directives counseling
  • Supports patients and families in successfully following a comprehensive plan of care and the achievement of goals
  • Serves as a patient advocate
  • Collaborates as needed with appropriate internal and external resources and agencies in care planning
  • Offer support to assist patients with self-care
  • Care coordination- arrange transportation, appointments, medication assistance, local resource’s
  • Proficient in Medicaid application assistance along with fuel assistance and sliding scale applications
  • Development of program for seasonal affective disorder, “Welcoming Winter”
  • Co-author for Welcoming Winter article in Aging Today Magazine
  • Lead/organize a diabetes support group
  • Create monthly flyers for the diabetes support group.

LNA

Comfort Keepers
10.2016 - 05.2017
  • Preparing meals
  • Performing light housekeeping
  • Transporting clients to and from appointments and social events
  • Running errands
  • Helping with bathing, dressing, and hygiene
  • Reminding the client to take their medication on time
  • Helping with feeding and other everyday tasks
  • Tracking the client’s condition and reporting changes to my supervisor
  • Assisting with Alzheimer’s or dementia care
  • Offering respite care to relieve family caregivers
  • Providing emotional support and more.

Patient Services

Mid-State Health Center
07.2015 - 03.2016
  • Responsible for greeting, check in and directing flow of patients
  • Manage incoming phone calls and resolved patient inquiries and referred calls to appropriate departments
  • Obtain and enter demographic, clinical, financial information into the computer system
  • Understand the importance of dealing with confidential information
  • Scheduled and rescheduled appointments in person and via phone
  • Performed cash, check, and credit transactions for the patient's visit
  • Responsible for checking patient's out of appointments, including creating lab, radiology, rehabilitation orders, as well as referral letters.

LNA

Lakes Region General Hospital
01.2015 - 09.2015
  • Well versed in taking vital signs, temperature, blood pressure, pulses and respirations
  • Able to utilize restorative measures in patient care
  • Highly skilled to give compassionate care to patients
  • Competent at ensuring the personal hygiene and nutrition standards
  • Proven record of collecting accurate specimen
  • Proficiency in performing EKG's and application of heart monitors
  • Ensured the accurate, timely flow of information by maintaining thorough patient records and updating healthcare team on patient's status
  • Complied with HIPAA standards in all patient documentation and interactions
  • Medical terminology knowledge.

Patient Services

Lakes Region General Hospital
01.2015 - 07.2015
  • Highly skilled in greeting patients
  • Ability to collect payment for the visit and diagnostic studies
  • Verify all information and existing charts with patients
  • Registering patients in convenient and perfect manor
  • Schedule and confirm patient appointments
  • Performed basic administrative functions such as faxing, sending emails, filing, organizing of facilities schedules
  • Prioritized patients’ needs.

LNA

Belknap County Nursing Home
01.2013 - 01.2015
  • Assisted with activities of daily living which included personal hygiene, daily exercise routines and meal preparation
  • Performed healthcare related tasks which included monitoring and recording vital signs and medications under the direction of a registered nurse
  • Cared for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation
  • Provide emotional support to residents and family members
  • Turn residents in bed according to schedule
  • Transfer patients from bed to wheelchair.

Activity Director

Forestview Manor
01.2011 - 01.2012
  • Implemented program plans which involved overseeing staff members
  • Planned daily activities, scheduled entertainment, placed orders for needed materials, scheduled guest speakers and reserved space for organized events
  • Scheduled special events such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, and retreats along with other administrative details
  • Identify and recruit potential volunteer workers
  • Transported residents to appointments, visited congregational members’ homes to arrange for pastoral visits and to provide information/resources on religious education programs
  • Publicized programs in news publications, bulletins and mailings
  • Performed budget analysis to determine program priorities.

Caregiver/LNA/Floor Supervisor

Forestview Manor
01.2007 - 01.2011
  • Cared for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence
  • Performed healthcare related tasks which included changes of non-sterile dressings, monitor and record vital signs, skin assessments, and medications under the direction of a registered nurse
  • Administered personal care such as ambulation and personal hygiene
  • Prepared and maintained records of client progress and services performed, reported changes of client conditions to manager/supervisor
  • Supervision of building, overseeing staff and work responsibilities
  • Assisted with activities of daily living which included exercise routines and meal preparation
  • Performed housekeeping duties: cooked, cleaned, washed dishes and laundered clothes
  • Instructed or advised clients on matters of household sanitation, personal hygiene, nutrition.

Education

Associates in Human Services -

New England College
Henniker
05.2019

Certificate in Integrative Mental Health -

Plymouth State University
Plymouth, NH
10.2016

Some College (No Degree) - Liberal Arts Program, Specific Study in Nursing

Lakes Region Community College
Laconia, NH

Skills

  • Shelter Operations
  • Compassionate communication
  • Crisis Management
  • Positive Attitude
  • Teamwork and Collaboration
  • Problem-Solving
  • Time Management
  • Attention to Detail
  • Multitasking Abilities
  • Reliability
  • Organizational Skills
  • Adaptability and Flexibility

Certifications

  • Certified Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Case Manager
  • Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist
  • Certificate in Integrative Mental Health
  • POLST Certified
  • Certificate in Motivational Interviewing

Timeline

Shelter Manager

Voices Against Violence
05.2023 - Current

Housing Advocate

Voices Against Violence
09.2019 - Current

Child Advocate

Voices Against Violence
09.2019 - Current

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate

Voices Against Violence
09.2019 - Current

Care Manager

Time Doc Health
04.2019 - Current

Per diem LNA

Pemi Baker Community Health
06.2017 - 03.2019

LNA

Comfort Keepers
10.2016 - 05.2017

Ignite Program Assistant

Mid-State Health Center
03.2016 - 03.2019

Patient Services

Mid-State Health Center
07.2015 - 03.2016

LNA

Lakes Region General Hospital
01.2015 - 09.2015

Patient Services

Lakes Region General Hospital
01.2015 - 07.2015

LNA

Belknap County Nursing Home
01.2013 - 01.2015

Activity Director

Forestview Manor
01.2011 - 01.2012

Caregiver/LNA/Floor Supervisor

Forestview Manor
01.2007 - 01.2011

Associates in Human Services -

New England College

Certificate in Integrative Mental Health -

Plymouth State University

Some College (No Degree) - Liberal Arts Program, Specific Study in Nursing

Lakes Region Community College

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Sara Meier