SHARON TAYLOR
Athens,GA
Summary
Self-motivated Peer Mentor delivering program initiatives focused on increasing visibility and community involvement. Committed to providing support for issues related to social, academic, financial and general well-being. Excellent communication and relationship-building skills. Seasoned CPS-AD, CPS-MH with multiple years of leadership/management skills offering 17 years of related experience. Spearhead successful peer initiatives, prevention strategies and educational approaches to mitigate effects of various peer related challenges in vulnerable populations. Excellent case management skills, documentation and crisis intervention strategies. Help individuals dealing with both MH and SA challenges by providing individual and peer group counseling sessions focused on understanding and coping with challenges to improve wellbeing. Advocate for peers to build support networks and obtain necessary resources. Skilled in program planning and community outreach. Hardworking and reliable individual with strong ability in advocacy, inclusion and diversity. Highly organized, proactive and punctual with a team approach. Results-focused CPS professional with strength in advocating and the ability to lead with a "team" approach. I believe everyone has something to bring to the table. Proactive and humble leader with strengths in communication and collaboration. Proficient in leveraging health and wellness knowledge to promote recovery and positive outcomes. CPS with talent for advocating and promoting recovery. Communicative and team-oriented to meet team, individual and management objectives.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Mobile Crisis Second Responder
Behavioral Health Link
Atlanta
04.2023 - Current
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services.
- Understood and followed oral and written directions.
- Promoted high customer satisfaction by resolving problems with knowledgeable and friendly service.
- Devised community-based programs focused on combating specific problems.
- Modified treatment plans to support client goals and status.
- Developed and optimized treatment plans to help clients continue to progress.
- Compiled community resources for housing to assist patients with mental health or substance abuse recovery.
- Educated family members and helped each support clients by improving coping techniques.
- Connected patients to trained workers to handle advanced mental health issues.
- Helped clients deal with substance abuse, mental illness and other concerns by delivering personalized counseling support.
- Notified law enforcement of threats to self-harm or harm others to help coordinate appropriate responses.
- Educated clients about the importance of maintaining healthy coping skills during times of stress.
- Provided referrals, resources, and follow-up care as needed for clients in need of additional services.
- Assessed and evaluated client needs and developed individualized treatment plans.
- Advised families on how to best support their loved ones during times of crisis.
- Demonstrated cultural competency when working with diverse populations from various backgrounds.
- Attended weekly team meetings to discuss cases, review protocols, and share best practices.
- Coordinated with community organizations, schools, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders involved in providing crisis services.
- Collaborated with other mental health professionals to develop effective strategies for addressing crises.
- Researched current evidence-based interventions to ensure best practice standards are met.
- Responded quickly and effectively to emergency calls involving potential suicidal behavior or self-harm risks.
- Provided crisis intervention services to individuals experiencing emotional distress.
- Responded to crisis situations when severe mental health and behavioral issues arose.
- Engaged in continuous professional development to keep abreast of advances in mental health care and crisis intervention techniques.
- Developed and implemented personalized crisis intervention plans, tailored to each client's specific needs.
- Coordinated with healthcare providers, law enforcement, and other agencies to ensure comprehensive support for clients.
- Responded to emergency situations with professionalism and adherence to ethical guidelines.
- Participated in community outreach programs to raise awareness about mental health and available support services.
- Implemented suicide prevention strategies and conducted risk assessments to prevent self-harm.
- Developed safety plans to minimize crisis risk and intervene with specific procedures.
Forensic Peer Mentor/Asst. Statewide Coordinator
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network/Athens DRC
Tucker, GA
01.2015 - Current
- Administered pre- and post-surveys to evaluate program and submit to review board
- Planned service activities, including fund raising events to promote community interaction
- Implemented opportunities for joint collaborative projects to generate interest among peers
- Collaborated with peer mentoring program members to devise new methods to generate interest and participation
- Utilized social media sites to communicate upcoming initiatives with community
- Assist peers to deal with substance abuse challenges, mental illness challenges and other concerns by delivering personalized peer support
- Developed and individualized treatment plans to help peers continue to progress
- Facilitated weekly group sessions focused on various issues to help groups and individuals
- Compiled community resources for housing to assist peers with mental health or substance abuse recovery
- Demonstrated leadership by making improvements to work processes and helping to train others
- Modified treatment plans to support peer self- directed goals and status.
Program Director
Sacred Roots Farm
Gainesville, GA
12.2021 - 02.2023
- Managed program operations and provided strategic leadership for workers.
- Facilitated staff meetings and educational work sessions to strengthen staff competencies.
- Oversaw administrative support staff to facilitate day-to-day program activities.
- Established strategy for program using evaluation outcomes and research to set goals and direction.
- Fostered community connections and networks, driving collaborations with local organizations and businesses.
- Devised evaluation strategies to monitor performance and determine need for improvements.
- Wrote proposals and reports for general and specific program support.
- Supervised program and project managers to provide feedback and resolve complex problems.
- Coordinated with program managers and other stakeholders to create detailed implementation plans, milestones and risk mitigation protocols.
- Created and implemented new programming ideas to keep station relevant and growing.
- Logged program activities and maintained official station records for internal use and government review.
- Incorporated information about coverage goals, available time and viewer demographics to optimize schedule programming.
Executive Director
People Living In Recovery
Athens, GA
07.2018 - 07.2019
- Organized successful team and peer related events to drive engagement, satisfaction and loyalty in the Athens community
- Managed $380K budget and utilized innovative financial controls tools, resulting in improved accuracy and better accountability for all line items listed on budget sheets
- Balanced organizational and employee needs when developing fair and equitable human resources policies
- Directed training improvements to reduce knowledge gaps and eliminate workforce performance inefficiencies
- Organized a referral spreadsheet by remaining active within the community, establishing referral networks and resources for peers to utilize
- Planned and implemented strategies to increase funding through various approaches (fundraising and donations)
- Implemented successful strategies to improve employee management, improve revenue growth, and expense control to assure quality customer service
- Cultivated positive image across the Athens community and surrounding counties by developing partnerships with media, business and community groups.
Client Support Worker Supervisor/SST 2
Advantage Behavioral Health Systems
Athens, GA
04.2005 - 03.2015
- Developed and implemented physical, mental and social activities
- Counseled clients to help each understand and overcome personal, social and behavioral problems
- Engaged peers in physical and mental activities to sustain quality of life
- Provided updated client information, including contact data to all key stakeholders
- Observed regulatory standards, including weekly staff meetings and daily check ins with employees, to maintain confidentiality
- Delivered high level of service to peers in effort to build upon relationships for future
- Researched, identified, and responded to peer inquiries expeditiously, providing reactive and proactive peer support
- Provided exceptional peer experience through peers support and sharing my lived experience
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary team of mental health case managers and substance abuse counselors to produce self directed SMART goals
- Produced referrals for various community resources, housing and transportation services
- Coordinated care for medically-complex peers experiencing difficulties obtaining social services
- Interviewed peers individually and in family groups to determine services to best address specific needs
- Liaised (Court Liaison for Athens Clarke County Dependency Treatment Court/DFCS) between clients and community agencies to arrange assistance in housing, education and child care for clients
- Developed discharge plans for peers who were completing the program
- Arranged and facilitated support groups, life skills education programs and supportive counseling for peers by coordinating appropriate trained and license service providers.
Community Resource Coordinator
Avita/Mountain Resources
Clarkesville, GA
03.2004 - 04.2005
- Advocated for peers into community-based treatment settings
- Managed delivery of social services for 15 Mental Health/Substance Abuse residents in need of treatment and housing assistance
- Partnered with similar organizations to meet greater needs, preventing duplication of services and optimizing available resources
- Coordinated referrals to community services by advocating for individual needs and addressing roadblocks
- Collaborated with team members to identify and accomplish agency objectives.
Education
High School Diploma -
Clarke Central High School
01.1989
Athens Technical College
Skills
- Peer goal planning
- Leadership
- Confidential records
- Team building
- Microsoft Office
- Reliable and trust
- Budget
- Customer service
- Documentation
- Fundraising
- Employee management
- Meetings
- Mental Health
- Mentoring
- Networks
- Organizational Skills
- Policies
- Quality Customer Service
- Tracking peer progress
- Skill development
- Conflict resolution
- Decision-making
Accomplishments
- Recognized as Employee of the Year three consecutive years for outstanding performance and team contributions
- Developed relationships with multiple community activists
- Promoted from Client Support Worker (CSW) to CSW Supervisor, in less than 12-months
- Consistently maintained high customer satisfaction ratings
- Activities and Honors
- I have over 17 years of lived experience in the recovery field
- I believe everyone should have the opportunity to get well and stay well
- I was the Master Documentation Trainer the Georgia Counsel on Substance Abuse
- I always exceeded expected productivity every quarter and as a result, I received the max monetary bonus incentive every quarter
- I was nominated Employee of the Year for three consecutive years.
Certification
- I am a certified Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Whole Health Action Management (WHAM), Well Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Science of Addiction and Recovery (SOAR) and Trauma Informed Care (TIC) facilitator.
- Certified Peer Specialist/AD (CPS/AD)
- Certified Peer Specialist/MH (CPS/MH)
- Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR) Certificate
Interests
I was promoted supervisor at Advantage Behavioral Health Systems and the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network in less than 12 months. I'm big on diversity, inclusion and equality for all.
Timeline
Mobile Crisis Second Responder
Behavioral Health Link
04.2023 - Current
Program Director
Sacred Roots Farm
12.2021 - 02.2023
Executive Director
People Living In Recovery
07.2018 - 07.2019
Forensic Peer Mentor/Asst. Statewide Coordinator
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network/Athens DRC
01.2015 - Current
Client Support Worker Supervisor/SST 2
Advantage Behavioral Health Systems
04.2005 - 03.2015
Community Resource Coordinator
Avita/Mountain Resources
03.2004 - 04.2005
High School Diploma -
Clarke Central High School
Athens Technical College
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