Tia Quinerly
Joliet,IL
Summary
Compassionate Mental Health Professional and Community Activist with over 10+ years of experience in mental health and social services. Dedicated to positively impacting program operations and client success with diligent support. Well trained in case management and housing support services with dedication to continuously enhancing strategies and optimizing services provided. Proven ability to build rapport and maintain positive relationships with clients. Strong skills in crisis intervention, case management, and community outreach have been honed through work in diverse environments. Notable impact includes promoting mental health awareness within communities and being the voice of the community.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Community Activist
Joliet Community
Joliet, Illinois
10.2025 - Current
- Initiated a petition addressing a community issue, securing over 6000 signatures from local residents and neighboring communities.
- Organized community events to raise awareness on local issues.
- Collaborated with local organizations to promote community engagement initiatives.
- Advocated for policy changes by mobilizing community members and stakeholders.
- Developed informational materials to inform the public about community programs.
- Engaged with diverse groups to gather input on community needs and priorities.
- Led discussions on social justice topics to foster inclusivity and understanding.
- Implemented community outreach and engagement plans to reach vulnerable communities.
- Established positive relationships with community groups, stakeholders, and volunteers to coordinate strategic efforts.
- Researched and advocated for policy changes related to social justice initiatives.
- Engaged media outlets as an effective way to raise awareness about social justice issues facing the community.
- Organized and facilitated community meetings to discuss local issues.
- Maintained relationships with elected officials and community leaders to ensure support for initiatives.
- Collaborated with other activists from diverse backgrounds to create unified campaigns that addressed multiple issues at once.
- Advocated on behalf of vulnerable populations by engaging in lobbying activities at the local, state, or federal level.
Case Manager of Community Housing
Cornerstone Services Inc
Joliet, IL
04.2022 - Current
- Provides housing supports, case management, and mental health services to individuals served in the agency's Permanent Supportive Housing program. Oversees the provision of all individuals' housing and services on the caseload. The population of focus is homeless adults with a serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorder.
- Provides assertive engagement, case management, and housing support services in individuals' homes and communities in accordance with an evidence-based Housing First model.
- Completes start-up shopping for new individuals in the PSH program, ensuring that individuals have adequate supplies/furniture/utilities before move-in; ensuring individuals are familiar with their new environment and that all aspects of the lease and ways to contact the landlord/crisis line after-hours are reiterated; and adhering to Engagement of New Housing Participants protocol.
- Makes regular home visits to individuals (once per month at minimum) and completes the following housing activities: Home inspections to assess for safety, habitability, and adequate food supply
Applicable Landlord Reporting Forms for community units or Work Orders for CSI-owned homes, ensuring regular follow-up and close-outs as indicated in program protocols.
- Supports and provides assistance needed to maintain housing or acquire new housing. Provides assistance with relocation, as approved, including initiating move request forms, VAWA requests, packing belongings, coordinating moves, physically moving clients' belongings and furniture with assistance from agency staff, and ensuring residents' homes are in good order at move-out.
- Participates in evidence-based practices training (i.e. Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction Techniques, etc.) and utilize the learning to engage individuals and keep them safely housed.
- Assists individuals with applying for Medicaid/insurance/SNAP and disability benefits and provide ongoing assistance to assure retention of these benefits.
- Provides supervision and guidance to the assigned Community Mental Health Worker(s), ensuring delivery of supportive housing services in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- Interviews, hires, trains, evaluates, and disciplines staff in accordance with personnel policies and procedures.
- Provides written documentation of services in sufficient detail and quantity in accordance with MRO requirements, individual program plans, agency quotas, and requirements of any other funding or accreditation source.
- Meets or exceeds assigned MRO weekly billing quota as determined by the Director.
- Oversees electronic budget planning process with residents, educating individuals on the most effective ways to manage their finances in order to ensure that rent and utilities are paid, and to assist them in meeting their personal financial and discharge goals.
- Ensures individuals' incomes are updated in the electronic case record each time they change for HMIS reporting purposes.
- Adheres to representative payee protocols as applicable to individuals served on assigned caseload.
- Serves as primary liaison and lead advocacy efforts in situations with or on behalf of individuals served that involve legal/court proceedings, hospital meetings, and correspondence with jails, guardians, coroners, police, and other community entities, as applicable.
- Completes hospitalization reports and upload medical documentation in accordance with agency policy.
- Maintains awareness of residents' health and activity levels, assuring that each resident receives prompt medical treatment as needed from community providers within the bounds of available resources.
- Escalates concerns regarding residents' well-being and/or lack of contacts to supervisors in a timely manner.
- Completes monthly caseload checklists and frequently escalate any issues to supervisor, including but not limited to failure to pay rent, refused home visits, etc.
- Completes weekly tracking documentation as required by an individual's funding source (e.g. DMH 220).
- Communicates on a regular basis with other program staff to assure consistency in training, treatment, and facilitation of the integrated Individual Treatment and Recovery Plan.
- Participates in monthly clinical supervision meetings; seek ongoing clinical supervision from supervisors; and participate in continuing education to maintain applicable licenses/certifications.
- Participates in all agency and department trainings, monthly department meetings, and any additionally recommended trainings or meetings as required by supervisor(s).
- Provides telephonic-only crisis intervention services in accordance with the staff rotation on the weekly crisis line schedule. Maximum of two weekly rotations per year. Crisis phone provided.
- Completes any other related duties as assigned by the supervisors.
Residential Homeless Services Case Worker
Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet
Joliet, IL
10.2020 - Current
- Provides outreach to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) candidates and daily support and monitoring to existing PSH residents.
- Provides initial intake and assessment, crisis intervention, and assistance to those seeking shelter.
- Provides assistance to case managers to support ongoing case management functions.
- Operates as a member of the Community Services Division team.
- Coordinates services and meals for participants, including intake and crisis intervention.
- Maintains safety and security through bag checks and operation of metal detectors, locker searches, and monitoring.
- Responds to emergencies with immediacy using established guidelines.
- Provides screening, assessment, crisis intervention, referral, and linkage.
- Communicates policies and regulations to participants and ensures compliance.
- Registers participants and volunteers; maintains statistical records and documents.
- Assists volunteers with meals, hospitality, and program assistance.
- Enters accurate documentation into the HMIS system and supports client progress.
- Provides outreach and daily support as needed to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) residents.
- Other duties as assigned within the guidelines of this position.
Community Mental Health Worker
Cornerstone Services Inc
Joliet, IL
11.2021 - 04.2022
- Provided case management and housing support services in accordance with an evidence-based Housing First model.
- Made regular home visits to individuals (once per month at minimum) per HUD policy.
- Participated in evidence-based practices training (i.e., Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction Techniques, etc.) and utilizes the learning to engage individuals and keep them safely housed.
- Maintained awareness of clients' health and activity levels, communicating needs/status to the case manager daily.
- Recorded the process and results of services within established timeframes and in sufficient detail to meet DMH Rule 132 and/or other insurance billing requirements.
- Participated in monthly clinical supervision meetings to receive clinical supervision from supervisors.
- Provided crisis intervention and support during mental health emergencies for clients.
- Facilitated support groups to promote coping skills and community engagement among clients.
- Monitored client progress and documented changes in behavior or condition regularly.
- Educated clients on available community resources and coping strategies for mental wellness.
- Collaborated with healthcare providers to coordinate care and treatment for clients.
- Advocated for client needs within the community to enhance access to services and support.
- Participated in weekly staff meetings to discuss caseloads, treatment plans, and any potential safety concerns related to clients.
Independent Living Coach
Trinity Services, Inc.
New Lenox, IL
12.2017 - 10.2020
- Completed data entries in charts and log books to document clients' progress with accuracy.
- Developed strong and trusting rapport with each client to facilitate best care possible.
- Demonstrated leadership by making improvements to work processes and helping to train others.
- Transported client to doctor’s appointments and to complete other related errands.
Warehouse Associate
Geodis Logistics
Romeoville, Illinois
08.2017 - 11.2017
- Fulfilled orders in a timely manner to accomplish challenging daily objectives.
- Selected items from bins, scanned tags with a radio frequency gun, and loaded onto a cart.
- Operated TELNET tracking system on a radio frequency scanner to view open orders and review directions to storage locations.
- Packed items into boxes by size of order.
- Complied with the safety standards of OSHA with a 0% incident rate.
- Loaded and unloaded shipments, ensuring accurate placement of goods.
- Assisted in training new employees on warehouse procedures and equipment use.
- Utilized warehouse management systems to track inventory movements effectively.
- Packed and labeled merchandise to prepare for loading and shipment to customers.
- Communicated effectively with team members on matters related to work assignments.
- Used pallet jacks to move items to and from warehouse locations.
- Unloaded materials from trucks using forklifts and pallet jacks.
- Operated a variety of material handling equipment, including electric pallet jacks, hand-held scanners, shrink wrap machines, and conveyor systems.
- Assisted coworkers with special projects to learn new tasks while gaining additional responsibilities.
Cashier
Menards
Joliet, IL
04.2015 - 08.2017
- Operated cash register with proficiency.
- Answered customer questions, provided store information, and escorted them to desired store areas.
- Assessed customer requirements for loading assistance and ensured that they are fulfilled by calling in extra hands.
- Kept the register terminal area and store clean and orderly.
- Worked with customer service to resolve issues.
- Handled the cash register and oversaw credit and debit card, personal check, and cash transactions.
- Maintained gift certificate documentation.
- Greeted customers with a smile and offered them immediate and enthusiastic service.
- Ensured picking tickets and special orders were accurate and paid for immediately.
- Processed customer transactions using point-of-sale systems efficiently.
- Maintained an accurate cash register and balanced the cash drawer daily.
- Assisted customers with product inquiries and provided friendly service.
- Stocked shelves and organized merchandise for easy access by customers.
- Collaborated with team members to ensure smooth store operations.
- Handled customer returns and exchanges following store policies.
- Monitored inventory levels and reported discrepancies to management.
- Trained new cashiers on store procedures and customer service standards.
- Operated cash register efficiently and accurately, processing payments by cash, check, credit card, gift card, or automatic debit.
- Accepted cash and credit card payments, issued receipts, and provided change.
- Collected payments and provided accurate change.
- Greeted customers and answered any questions they had about the store's products and services.
- Performed other duties as assigned by management.
- Stocked shelves with merchandise when needed.
- Helped customers find specific products, answered questions, and offered product advice.
- Maintained cleanliness of the checkout area, including countertops, registers, windowsills, and floors.
- Issued receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers.
- Answered customer questions and provided store information.
- Delivered a high level of customer service to patrons using active listening and engagement skills.
- Worked closely with front-end staff to assist customers.
- Completed daily recovery tasks to keep areas clean and neat for maximum productivity.
Cashier and Rewards Specialist
Sears Holdings Corporation-Kmart
Joliet, Illinois
10.2012 - 12.2014
- Worked flexible schedule to accommodate changing customer levels.
- Provided expert product and service information.
- Trained all new sales employees on effective techniques.
- Developed and executed sales promotions.
- Operated a cash register to process cash, check, and credit card transactions.
- Maintained knowledge of current promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
- Listened to customer needs and preferences to provide accurate advice.
- Processed customer transactions efficiently and accurately at Kmart checkout counters.
- Assisted customers with product inquiries and provided exceptional service.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of the checkout area and surrounding displays.
- Handled cash, credit, and gift card transactions while ensuring security protocols were followed.
- Collaborated with team members to restock merchandise on sales floor as needed.
- Resolved customer complaints professionally to enhance satisfaction and loyalty.
- Operated point-of-sale systems while adhering to operational procedures effectively.
- Supported promotional campaigns by setting up displays according to company guidelines.
- Operated cash register efficiently and accurately, processing payments by cash, check, credit card, gift card, or automatic debit.
- Accepted cash and credit card payments, issued receipts, and provided change.
- Greeted customers and answered any questions they had about the store's products and services.
- Operated cash register or POS system to receive payment by cash, check, and credit card.
- Stocked shelves with merchandise when needed.
- Maintained cleanliness of the checkout area, including countertops, registers, windowsills, and floors.
- Helped customers find specific products, answered questions, and offered product advice.
- Worked closely with front-end staff to assist customers.
- Delivered a high level of customer service to patrons using active listening and engagement skills.
- Answered customer inquiries regarding store policies and procedures.
- Preserved the appearance of the store by arranging and replenishing displays and merchandise racks.
- Assisted customers over the phone regarding store operations, product information, and order placement.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal And Social Justice
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL05-2024
Associate of Arts - General Studies
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL12-2020
Skills
- Conflict resolution/crisis intervention
- Friendly, positive attitude
- Critical thinking
- Client relationship management
- Active listening
- Documentation skills
- Case documentation
- Housing support
- Crisis intervention
- Motivational interviewing
- Client advocacy
- Community resources
- Team collaboration
- Safety assessments
- Effective communication
- Problem solving
- Evidence-based practices
- Emotional intelligence
- Conflict resolution
- Time management
- Positive attitude
- Documentation and reporting
- Benefit assistance
- Case management
- Community engagement
Certification
- Licensed Paraprofessional Educator, Illinois State Board of Education - June 2021
References
Christie Lucas
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet
Residential Support Supervisor
815-774-4663 ext.3127
cLucas@cc-doj.org
Jeri Dining
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet
Permanent Supportive Housing Supervisor
815-212-3179
815-774-4668 ext. 3168
jdining@cc-doj.org
Pamela McField
Department of Child and Family Services
Office Worker
708-256-7552
pmcfield@cc-doj.org
Trenda Wells-Hampton
Franciscan Village of Lemont
Dining Services
815-955-7893
trenda.wells@yahoo.com
Timeline
Community Activist
Joliet Community
10.2025 - Current
Case Manager of Community Housing
Cornerstone Services Inc
04.2022 - Current
Community Mental Health Worker
Cornerstone Services Inc
11.2021 - 04.2022
Residential Homeless Services Case Worker
Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet
10.2020 - Current
Independent Living Coach
Trinity Services, Inc.
12.2017 - 10.2020
Warehouse Associate
Geodis Logistics
08.2017 - 11.2017
Cashier
Menards
04.2015 - 08.2017
Cashier and Rewards Specialist
Sears Holdings Corporation-Kmart
10.2012 - 12.2014
Associate of Arts - General Studies
Joliet Junior College
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal And Social Justice
Lewis University