Savannah Howell
Tacoma
Summary
Dedicated child welfare professional with nearly six years at DCYF and experience as a CFWS Specialist, Court Worker, BRS Adoptions Specialist and Family Reconciliation Services Specialist. Currently serving as a Meeting Program Consultant with a focus on legally free programs. Formerly a BRS foster parent, I am motivated by the belief that every young person deserves to have their voice and wishes heard. I am eager to advocate and leverage my passion for youth as a Specialized Adoption Recruiter.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Meeting Program Consultant
Department of Children, Youth & Families
Tacoma, WA
12.2024 - Current
- Facilitated meetings to empower families and participants in making informed decisions regarding least restrictive placements.
- Directed regional professional social services staff in implementing strength-based identified model activities.
- Identified safety threats and assessed strengths and needs during meetings. Supported development of protective factors and conditions for safe return home. Collaborated with team members to address safety concerns effectively.
- Ensured cases in the local offices complied with timelines and agency requirements.
- Utilized the Safety Framework to support placement decision-making before filing dependency petitions to keep children safely at home with their parents or to establish clear conditions for return home.
- Prepared families for the decision-making meeting, and supported the family's ideas for the meeting plan.
- Communicated program and agency updates to staff.
- Actively engaged social service specialists and supervisors in identifying, scheduling, and staffing cases.
- Supported and encouraged active participation of children and youth, family members, and others who have relationships with the child and family (collectively the "Family Team") in the meeting process offering times and places accessible for all members of the Family Team.
- Completed thorough and timely data collection for individual and regional program reporting.
- Networked and developed relationships with community partners to support the caregivers and biological families who work with DCYF.
Family Reconciliation Services Specialist
Department of Children, Youth & Families
Tacoma, WA
11.2022 - 12.2024
- Met with families to complete Family Assessments, suggest and refer for services aimed at mitigating family crises and stabilizing households.
- Attended court hearings and work with probation, youth attorneys and other court members as necessary to provide services for At Risk Youth.
- Facilitated in-home family meetings to engage and resolve crises within the family unit.
- Completed monthly health and safety visits on each child per policy and assess for safety and child wellbeing.
- Have expert knowledge of available community resources. Assist and refer for mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, family therapy, WISe services.
- Assisted and partnered with youth in finding safe, alternate housing when reconciliation is not feasible. Engage youth and connect with state systems of care.
- Collaborated with Juvenile Probation when youth had no available parent to be released to.
- Collaborated and networked with community agencies that serve our youth.
- Held a limited CFWS caseload to assist in getting specific cases to permanency. Filed two Guardianships and two termination petitions on cases that had exceeded statutory timelines.
BRS Adoptions & Permanency Specialist
Department of Children, Youth & Families
Lakewood, WA
08.2022 - 11.2022
- Facilitated successful identification of permanent placements for legally free youth through proactive outreach. Established contact with relatives, kin, and other potential placements to enhance placement opportunities.
- Coordinated with Specialized Adoption Recruiters and NWAE to create profiles that capture the youth’s wishes and individuality in an effort to identify adoptive homes.
- Completed adoptions, identify barriers to finalizing the permanent plan, and explore solutions as well as ensure families are informed of the adoption process per policy and law, focus on permanency outcomes that are in the child’s best interest.
- Completed monthly health and safety visits on each child per policy and assess for safety, child wellbeing, and barriers to permanency for the child.
- Wrote court reports, declarations, or other required written documents and filing with the courts within the required time frames.
- Provided crisis response and intervention to children and their placements and coordinate and monitor appropriate placement in the least restrictive setting.
- Provided support services such as problem resolution, guidance, and referrals to professional services, advocacy programs, and other systems as needed.
- Evaluated the progress of children by soliciting and assessing verbal and written reports from therapists, counselors, caregivers, school personnel, family members, and other significant individuals.
Court Work Specialist
Department of Children, Youth & Families
Tacoma, WA
02.2022 - 08.2022
- Assessed delivery of services and permanency planning that is inclusive of immediate family, extended family, kin, and children.
- Identified and developed community supports and resources for children, youth, and families.
- Drafted dependency petitions, initial court reports, and court orders prior to 75 day hearings.
- Prepared cases for court presentation for shelter care, dependency fact finding, and dispositional hearings.
- Attended court proceedings and hearings to include shelter care, contested shelter care, and settlement conferences.
- Located and served parents with legal documents and explained the dependency court process to guardians, parents, and caregivers.
- Scheduled and facilitated case conferences and provided support to parents applying for an attorney.
- Provided families with information regarding the court process and resources needed prior to shelter care.
- Submitted interim visitation referrals based on ordered visits at time of shelter care, and assist with covering initial visitation.
- Submitted parent service referrals prior to dependency requests.
Child Family Welfare Services Specialist
Department of Children, Youth & Families
Lakewood, WA
06.2020 - 02.2022
- Met all casework management directives required by law, policy, and other mandates.
- Assessed delivery of services and permanency planning that is inclusive of immediate family, extended family, kin, and children.
- Performed advanced-level work in the investigation of child abuse and neglect allegations and specialized case management.
- Provided permanency planning case management for children in out-of-home placement, which included guardianship, adoption, long-term foster care or other arrangements as indicated.
- Investigated allegations, assessed complex family situations, and developed plans to protect children either in their own homes or out of home care through the intervention of the court system.
- Conducted referrals for psychological, psychiatric and/or medical evaluations and treatment with other community resources and monitor progress and effectiveness of services provided.
- Prepared and presented testimony and statements at hearings.
- Focused on understanding and respecting the strengths of families including their heritage, cultural beliefs and values, communication and learning styles.
- Developed strengths-based and client-involved service plans that were culturally-relevant, ADA-sensitive, and individualized.
- Assessed resource needs of children, birth parents, and caregivers and provided placement and placement stabilization support.
- Utilized FamLink to document case activities, maintain case records and initiated payments for placement and family services.
- Coordinated and arranged placements for children in foster care.
Child Safety Specialist
Arizona Department of Child Safety, Mesa, AZ
Mesa, AZ
06.2019 - 06.2020
- Apply child welfare practice principles, laws, rules, and policy in assessing and intervening on assigned intakes or cases to protect children and deliver needed services to families referred to DCS.
- Investigate allegations of child abuse timely and effectively.
- Provide task-centered, and time-limited crisis counseling and intervention to children and families.
- Evaluate the progress of children and their families by assessing verbal and written reports from therapists, counselors, caregivers, school personnel, family members, and other significant individuals.
- Prepare required legal documents for court, placement, and service delivery.
Mental Health Technician
Spring Mountain Treatment Center, Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
11.2015 - 09.2019
- Supported patient care initiatives through direct guidance and by demonstrating positive behaviors to encourage best practices.
- Orchestrated planning, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of treatment activities and groups.
- Supported healthcare team in administering medications to enhance patient care.
- Evaluated patient conditions and delivered actionable insights to medical professionals.
Group Home Foster Parent
Bountiful Family Foster Care Agency, Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
04.2015 - 11.2015
- Created opportunities for youth to flourish in nurturing home environments, promoting readiness for less restrictive placements.
- Attended all court hearings, CFT meetings, IEP sessions, visitations, and therapy appointments for children in care.
- Coordinated medication administration and engaged with case managers to ensure children in care receive necessary resources for success.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Family And Human Development
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ05-2019
Timeline
Meeting Program Consultant
Department of Children, Youth & Families
12.2024 - Current
Family Reconciliation Services Specialist
Department of Children, Youth & Families
11.2022 - 12.2024
BRS Adoptions & Permanency Specialist
Department of Children, Youth & Families
08.2022 - 11.2022
Court Work Specialist
Department of Children, Youth & Families
02.2022 - 08.2022
Child Family Welfare Services Specialist
Department of Children, Youth & Families
06.2020 - 02.2022
Child Safety Specialist
Arizona Department of Child Safety, Mesa, AZ
06.2019 - 06.2020
Mental Health Technician
Spring Mountain Treatment Center, Las Vegas, NV
11.2015 - 09.2019
Group Home Foster Parent
Bountiful Family Foster Care Agency, Las Vegas, NV
04.2015 - 11.2015
Bachelor of Science - Family And Human Development
Arizona State University