Valerie Gedeon

• Initiate or conduct various types of investigations, including child welfare assessments or abuse and/or neglect referrals in problematic, high-risk family situations, in-home supervision, residential placement; and/or conduct assessment, recruitment, and placement in resource family/foster homes, adoption related work, and placement supervision
• Refer families for services; and/or utilizes community resources; maintains cooperative relationships with public and private agencies; identifies service limitations.
• Prepares for and facilitates Family Team Meetings in accordance with the case practice model.
• Collect, record, and analyze significant facts, draw conclusions, and determine appropriate action; prepares forms and reports and other required paperwork.
• Gathers evidence of abuse and neglect, prepares affidavits and depositions, takes or obtains pictures, medical reports, and other documentation, and contacts the local police or prosecutor's office when necessary.

As a trainee and productive worker:

• Led investigations into child abuse or neglect allegations, ensuring timely responses within 24 or 72 hours. Facilitated interviews with children and their families, as well as collateral contacts to gather comprehensive information. Initiated appropriate legal actions or police involvement to protect children from harmful situations in compliance with statutory requirements.
• Performed regular assessments in assigned region to collect critical social and economic information for strategic planning.
• Facilitated acquisition of essential medical care and services for clients.
• Cultivated collaborative relationships with clients and family members to enhance support systems. Provided strategic guidance to clients addressing educational, financial, health, and relational challenges. Engaged with schools, clinics, hospitals, and social services to gather critical data for case assessments and interventions.
• Useful in diverse electronic and manual information management systems to optimize agency operations.