Shanequa Abbott
Poughkeepsie
Summary
Detail-oriented individual with exceptional communication and management skills. Proven ability to handle multiple tasks effectively and efficiently in fast-paced environments. Recognized for taking proactive approach to identifying and addressing issues, with focus on optimizing processes and supporting team objectives.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Direct Support Assistant
Taconic DDSO
01.2025 - Current
- Supported daily hygiene needs of patients by assisting with bathing, dressing, dental care and personal grooming.
- Entrusted to handle confidential and sensitive situations in professional matter.
- Assisted with daily living activities, running errands, and household chores.
- Assisted with crisis intervention to de-escalate challenging behavior and maintain peaceful encounters.
- Monitored clients to assess and report physical and behavioral changes to supervisors.
- Encouraged and supported clients to participate in recreational and leisure activities to promote social interactions and reduce loneliness.
- Assisted disabled clients to support independence and well-being.
Direct Support Professional/Rec. Coordinator
New Horizon Resources
03.2014 - 06.2025
- Support groups of individuals with disabilities with personal care and daily routines, and in achieving outcomes from personalized development plans.
- Ensure and work diligently to integrated individuals with the community by ensuring that they are included, respected, valued and have a variety of preferred relationships in the community of their choice.
- Assure safe transport and accompany individuals as needed to events, job sites, and medical appointments, utilizing company vehicles.
- Assist in providing activities of daily living support to individuals who receive semi-independent living services.
- Ensure proper use of individual and agency resources including, but not limited to consumer funds, vehicles, buildings, utilities, telephones, money, equipment, food, and supplies.
- Teach and create fresh ideas and or tasks to do so, such as activities of daily living skills and other personal skills that work toward achieving independence.
- Oversee storage and administration of medications, including transcribing prescriptions onto medication administration records.
- Keeps individuals neat and clean with as much assistance from individuals as possible.
- Create and facilitate rec. activities in and outside of residence.
IRA Program Manager
Gateway Hudson Valley
10.2022 - 12.2024
- Manage the day-to-day operations of fifteen apartments within two programs including organization and implementation of direct supports, person-centered planning, and implementation, health care, advocacy, regulatory compliance, recruiting, retention, staffing, training, safety, financial management, and maintenance of the physical environment.
- Ensuring personal growth and independence of service recipients through initial and on-going support and training of staff.
- Advocates for service recipients in all situations.
- Manage program staff members including performance evaluations, scheduling and orientation.
- Assures quality and timelines of all documentation.
- Manage the implementation of program planning; monitor delivery of supports; ensure services are consistent, engaging and relevant to the individuals served.
- Attend and maintain current mandated training.
- Purchases and allocates resources within budgetary guidelines.
- Available on-call to support clients, staff, find coverage or cover shifts as needed.
IRA Coordinator
In Flight Inc
01.2022 - 10.2022
- Ensure residents receive appropriate support and supervision necessary in acquiring functional daily living needs as specified in the residential habilitation plan. Including: personal hygiene, socialization, safety awareness, and money management.
- Ensure residents are supported in learning and making informed choices regarding their interests and goals in life.
- Assist residents with self-advocacy and help to communicate preferences to appropriate service providers.
- Communicate effectively with all staff of residences including Program Nurses, making certain all proper medical needs or concerns are addressed and care is provided. This includes assisting with OPWDD regulatory compliance.
- Assist with screening, selection, training, and evaluation of program staff including completing: OPWDD initial and Annual Core Competency Evaluations for direct reports.
- Coordinate staff schedules, fill vacancies and always maintain adequate levels of staffing in programs.
- Review and approve staff timesheets including use of benefit time.
- Disburse resident monies for wants and needs and maintain accurate documentation safeguarding resident funds.
- Participate in the maintenance of materials inventories necessary to carry out program functions including food, clothing purchases, household, and program supplies.
- Ensure compliance with all billing, OPWDD regulations, law, and other requirements as it relates to paperwork and program operations; including, but not limited to Res Hab billing, Monthly Summaries, Medication Administration, Incident Reports, monthly Maintenance Checklist, and Vehicle Logs.
- Maintain required trainings and certifications.
- Provide on-call coverage for assigned residences.
Assistant Program Manager
Center For Disabilities Services
03.2020 - 09.2021
- Support individuals with developmental disabilities with daily living: meal preparation, dining, hygiene care, toileting and medication administration.
- Advocate for individuals and support them in active participation in their community.
- Supervise residential program and its functions, which include overseeing regulatory compliance, ensuring satisfaction of the individuals supported, communicating with families, keeping a positive community image, and adhering to program budgets.
- Assist Program Manager to supervise Direct Support Staff assigned to residence by ensuring adequate staffing ratios, performance appraisals and services are delivered to individuals served with quality and excellence.
- Act as Program manager in manager’s absence (8 months).
- Responsible for maintaining personal allowances and other consumer financial records, and ensure the program and individuals supported have their needs, wants and services provided in the highest quality and manner.
- Ensure monthly REHAB documentation packets are completed.
- Attend monthly clinical, manager and residential meetings, ISP and Life plan meetings.
- As well as staying up to date on any trainings.
Financial Service Associate
CAP COM FCU
01.2018 - 03.2020
- Providing exceptional member services including: greeting, supporting and assisting members.
- Accurately and proficiently processing all financial service transactions.
- Utilizing fraud prevention trainings to prevent fraudulent activities within the organization.
- Support front desk and member service functions providing coverage as needed.
- Providing training, coaching and mentoring for new hires with continued support.
- Proven sales leader and product expert.
- Perform staff work and cash audits.
- Actively looking for efficiencies to and new ideas to meet goals and optimize performance.
- Act independently and take ownership, using appropriate judgment when making independent decisions with minimal or no follow up from branch manager.
- Motivates branch team to take action instilling confidence in achieving goals.
Residential Coach
Abilities First Inc.
04.2013 - 06.2014
- Encourages and involves members with developmental disabilities in recreational activities available at home or in the community during leisure time.
- Communicating (verbal and/or written), reads, writes and follows directions.
- Implements ISP programs and strategies, collects and records data.
- Administering, ordering and storing medications of members according to doctor's orders.
- Prepares, cooks, sets up, serves and assists members with developmental disabilities in eating meals; encourages member participation in meal-time process and ensures nutritional requirements are met.
- Completes general housekeeping duties as assigned.
- Theories of teaching daily living or vocational career skills,basic principles of normalization.
- Knowledge of Individual Program Plans and the application.
- Planning activities designed to meet specific needs of individual members.
- Act compassionately with respect of the rights of the member.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
SUNY At Albany
Albany, New York, NY05-2027
Associate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice
Hudson Valley Community College
Troy, New York, NY08-2018
Skills
- Management
- Behavioral support
- Patient care
- Safety awareness
- Time Management
- Conflict Resolution
- Promptness
- Reliability
Timeline
Direct Support Assistant
Taconic DDSO
01.2025 - Current
IRA Program Manager
Gateway Hudson Valley
10.2022 - 12.2024
IRA Coordinator
In Flight Inc
01.2022 - 10.2022
Assistant Program Manager
Center For Disabilities Services
03.2020 - 09.2021
Financial Service Associate
CAP COM FCU
01.2018 - 03.2020
Direct Support Professional/Rec. Coordinator
New Horizon Resources
03.2014 - 06.2025
Residential Coach
Abilities First Inc.
04.2013 - 06.2014
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
SUNY At Albany
Associate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice
Hudson Valley Community College