Tieshah Hawkins
Texas Department of Family and Protective Service
Lewisville,TX
1
Certification
10
years of professional experience
Advanced-degreed Social Services and Community Professional with over 8 years of experience in child welfare, case management, and counseling. Skilled in leadership, child welfare policy, and inter-agency collaboration, active listening, time management, teamwork, and ability to work in high-stress environments. Verbal and Written Communication Skills Collaborative and Open to Direction
Work History
Family Based Safety Services Worker
1 Year- Visiting homes to assess risk of child abuse/neglect, plan for child safety, and strengthen families so they can function without CPS intervention
- Responding quickly in crisis situations
- Talking with families about things such as income, money management, and personal relationships that they will probably consider personal and private
- Interacting objectively with people who have abused and/or neglected children in their care
- Working as part of a team, which involves helping other caseworkers with crisis situations, while following the directions of the courts and agency
- Providing services, resources, and community supports to achieve child safety
- Staying in contact with parents and children to achieve goals
- Educating parents to change previous behavior that led to child abuse and/or neglect and empower parents to make those changes
- Documenting casework activity
- Working under constant time pressure, prioritizing efforts, and working flexible hours
- Staying objective and empathetic with families living in stressful and crisis situations
Permanency Supervisor
1 Year 6 Months- Oversees and supports Permanency staff, ensuring case file accuracy and adherence to policies.
- Develops and implement Permanency Program policies and procedures.
- Develops and implements Permanency Program policies and procedures.
- Ensure timely and accurate court documentation and adherence to court orders.
- Facilitated family preparation for permanency through comprehensive assessments, home visits, and mentoring.
- Participate in strategic planning to establish and refine goals for permanency services.
- Provides ongoing support and crisis intervention as needed.
- Coordinate with public/private agencies and community resources for service delivery.
- Participates in program planning, budgeting, and goal setting.
- Conduct staff orientations and training to ensure competent program execution.
- Supervises, trains, and evaluates staff; promotes teamwork and cultural sensitivity.
Child Welfare Specialist
3 Years- Evaluated incoming reports of child abuse and neglect to determine the appropriate level of intervention required.
- Assessed and processed allegations by gathering comprehensive information, ensuring thorough documentation and effective follow-up.
- Provided immediate telephone counseling, directing individuals to appropriate resources during crisis situations.
- Managed data entry and retrieval of abuse/neglect reports, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.
Counselor
11 Months- Developed individualized treatment plans and conducted continued stay reviews to enhance patient care using research, clinical expertise, and patient history analyses.
- Coordinated case management and facilitated patient intake, executing aftercare planning alongside individual and group therapy sessions to support patient recovery.
- Maintained thorough and accurate patient records to ensure compliance with reporting requirements while delivering telehealth services in line with COVID-19 protocols.
Admissions Specialist
10 Months- Evaluated potential patients through phone prescreens to assess program eligibility, ensuring placements aligned with established criteria.
- Managed residential treatment admissions process, coordinating assessments, waitlist, and scheduling while providing patients with referrals for detox and alternative treatment facilities.
- Evaluated applicant eligibility based on criteria and documentation standards.
- Developed and maintained comprehensive knowledge of admission policies and procedures.
- Collaborated with internal teams to streamline the admissions process for prospective students.
Community Worker
1 Year 1 Month- Guided high school students and families through career and college planning, clarifying application and financial aid processes to enhance preparedness.
- Provided tailored mentoring for students across grades, supporting smooth transitions into high school and post-secondary education or career pathways.
Caseworker
1 Year 6 Months- Conducted regular visits to foster homes, communicating with foster children and biological parents to ensure compliance with child welfare standards.
- Participated in court hearings, advocating for child safety and reinforcing adherence to service plans during parental and significant other visitations.
- Fostered supportive relationships with children, providing guidance and clarity regarding placement circumstances through age-appropriate discussions.
Education
Master of Arts - Human Services
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Certification
Certified Domestic Violence Professional & Child Welfare Employee Licensure
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Individual & Group Counseling | Addiction Counseling | Case Planning & Management | Child Protective Services Procedures | Crisis Intervention | Treatment Planning | Safeguarding & Incident Reporting | Advocacy | Community Outreach | Task Execution | Team Leadership | Program Development | Process Implementation | Conflict Resolution | Child Welfare Policy & Procedures
COMPLIANCE/REGULATIONS
- State policies and Federal regulations related to SNAP, TANF, Medicaid
- CPS program, policies and procedures, applicable laws and regulations
Timeline
Family Based Safety Services Worker
Texas Department of Family and Protective Service
09.2025 - CurrentRead More
Permanency Supervisor
Texas Family Initiative
03.2024 - 09.2025Read More
Child Welfare Specialist
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
03.2021 - 03.2024Read More
Counselor
Family Guidance Center, Inc
04.2020 - 03.2021Read More
Admissions Specialist
Family Guidance Centers, Inc
06.2019 - 04.2020Read More
Community Worker
Illinois Student Assistance Commission
05.2018 - 06.2019Read More
Caseworker
Rutledge Youth Foundation
11.2016 - 05.2018Read More
University of Illinois at Springfield
Bachelor of Arts from Psychology
Read More
University of Illinois at Springfield
Master of Arts from Human Services
Read More