Sherry Cowan
Cookeville,TN
Summary
To obtain a challenging position to utilize my education and experience. Talented Case Manager adept at handling high caseloads without sacrificing quality of care. Operates in high-pressure environments while recommending best resources and courses of action to benefit patient needs and return each to optimal quality of life.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Interdependent Living Program Specialist
State of Tennessee Department of Children Services
08.2001 - Current
- Provide technical advice and interpretation of policy and procedure to the regional staff
- Facilitate the provision of Interdependent Living Services for eligible youth and young adults
- Identify and monitor young adults eligible for the Interdependent Living Allowance and IL Incentives
- Evaluate and monitor the young adult’s eligibility for Post-Secondary Ed Funding: Educational and Training Vouchers (ETV’s) and State Funded Scholarships (SFS)
- Submit monthly reports for assigned region related to Interdependent Living
- Enter Case Services for the DCS Educational Scholarship, IL Allowance and YV EFC Case Management
- Coordinate with DCS Legal and CWBC to manage the EFCS IV-E eligibility process
- Monitor the continuation of EFC Placement Service with DCS Regional Placement Unit
- Assist youth or young adults that have exited to Subsidized Permanent Guardianship, Adoption or Reunification after age 16 with application for available educational funding
- Provide technical assistance on all cases when the youth or young adult qualifies for transition into on-going adult services
- Meet with designated regional DCS staff and Youth Villages monthly to identify young adults ages seventeen (17) or older who are at risk of emancipating to adulthood from state custody
- Provide technical assistance to regional staff, private providers, resource parents, and young adults on appropriate planning, and provision of services
- Conduct training for field staff and licensed provider agencies on policy, procedure, or other casework practices pertaining to program delivery.
Specialty Case Manager
State of Tennessee Department of Children Services
- Provided case management services to resource families which included completing all fiscal procedures to ensure the resource parent received a resource home board payment via ChipFins; monitoring resource parent board payments by entering and ending contracts; confirming the contracts twice a month; updating and revising contracts for negotiated rates and special circumstance rates; and completing ChipFins adjustment form when needed
- Provided technical support by maintaining TNKids for child placements and approved resource homes; tracked the number of resource home studies contracted to outside providers; monitored the number of resource homes opened during the quarter and the number of resource home closures during that quarter; documented the number of respite days the resource parent used and the number training hours the resource parent completed; completed claim forms for resource parent respite and travel expense
- Provided placement services which included locating level 1 placement for children coming into custody and placement disruptions
- Evaluated DCS resource homes by completing quarterly home visits and yearly re-assessments
- Provided recruitment and training services by developing recruitment strategies for foster/adoptive homes in the community; facilitating PATH training to resource applicants interested in foster care, kinship care or adoption; completing resource home studies, expedited home studies, and ICPC home studies.
Adoption Case Manager
State of Tennessee Department of Children Services
- Provided residential case management services that included monitoring the services provided by the contracted residential treatment agency to ensure that contract terms were met; served as a liaison between the contract agency and the Department of Children’s Services to resolve problems or clarify contract terms
- Provided adoption team services which involved comparing the child’s needs to family’s capabilities to appropriately match a child with a family; completed all paperwork regarding adoption and foster care as mandated by federal and state laws; negotiated financial adoption assistance agreements; assisted child in preparing for an adoptive placement; monitored the adoptive and foster families to check the compatibility of the child with the family; resolved conflicts with the adoptive and foster placement to ensure permanency of placement
- Provided case management services for assigned children and families which includes obtaining information relevant to an assigned case; worked with the family to develop a plan that outlines the objectives to be accomplished by the child and family; communicated regularly with the family to discuss family/child progress or further actions needed to meet plan objectives; documented progress in observable and measurable terms; made recommendations for reunification or termination of parental rights; prepared reports for the Juvenile Courts and participated in the Court proceedings
- Served as a liaison between the Juvenile Courts and the Department of Children’s Services by attending court proceedings and conducting interviews with the child, family, attorneys, school employees or arresting officers.
Harold E. Williams, Certified Public Accountant
07.1997 - 08.2001
- Maintained the accounting records of 20 companies through the entire accounting cycle
- Reconciled the companies’ bank accounts
- Calculated timecards and prepared payroll checks
- Figured monthly payroll tax deposits
- Prepared the State and Federal Quarterly Payroll Reports
- Balanced income received on accounts against expenditures and prepared routine financial statements
- Checked and prepared tax returns using Superform Tax Software for Tax Professionals.
Counselor
Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency
06.1993 - 05.1994
- Counseled teenage girls.
Bank Teller
Union Planters Bank
09.1988 - 05.1989
- Responsible for the money involved in financial transactions and account reconciliation.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Accounting
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN05.2001
Skills
- TFACTS
- Edison
- MS Office
- Case Management
- Family Education
- Staff Education and Training
- Documentation and Reporting
- Community Outreach
- Budget Administration
- Performance Tracking
- Discharge Planning
- Care Coordination Notes
- Decision-Making
- Conflict Resolution
- Home Visits and Inspections
- Social Work
- Critical Thinking
- Creative Thinking
- Problem-Solving
- Annual Case Reviews
- Case Planning
- Records Management
- Intervention Plans
- Utilization Review
- Email and Telephone Etiquette
- Organization and Multitasking
- Time Management
References
- Ginger Harris, Youth Engagement Coordinator, Department of Children’s Services, 315 Deaderick Street, 9th Floor, Nashville, TN, 37243, 615-752-8073
- Dave Shonts, PO Box 42, Cottontown, TN, 37048, 615-445-5991
- Chrystalyn Reid, School Social Worker, Nashville Public Schools, 3357 Brome Lane, Nashville, TN, 37218, 615-879-7116
- Cherie Long, Health Advocate, Department of Children's Services, 600 Hearthwood Court, Cookeville, TN, 38506, 931-239-2398
- Amanda Cravens, Placement Services Division, Department of Children’s Services, 600 Hearthwood Court, Cookeville, TN, 38506, 931-319-5894
- Tracy Hetzel, Regional General Counsel, Department of Children’s Services, 600 Hearthwood Court, Cookeville, TN, 38506, 931-259-6747
- Raeann Painter, FCCR Field Customer Care Representative, Department of Children’s Services, 600 Hearthwood Court, Cookeville, TN, 38506, 423-902-3452
- Rachel Hickey, Permanency Specialist, Department of Children’s Services, 600 Hearthwood Court, Cookeville, TN, 38506, 391-303-3564
Timeline
Interdependent Living Program Specialist
State of Tennessee Department of Children Services
08.2001 - Current
Harold E. Williams, Certified Public Accountant
07.1997 - 08.2001
Counselor
Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency
06.1993 - 05.1994
Bank Teller
Union Planters Bank
09.1988 - 05.1989
Specialty Case Manager
State of Tennessee Department of Children Services
Adoption Case Manager
State of Tennessee Department of Children Services
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Accounting
Tennessee Technological University
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