Victoria Wel
Garfield
Summary
Dynamic professional with a focus on rapid adaptation to challenges. Exceptional problem-solving skills complemented by a history of building strong client and team relationships. Aims to drive team success and deliver measurable outcomes.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Legal Advocate
Alternatives to Domestic Violence Bergen County
Hackensack
05.2024 - Current
- Provides immediate support and referrals, collaborating with local shelters, legal services, and other support networks to address client needs.
- Counseled individuals and families to resolve conflicts, preventing potential formal criminal complaints.
- Analyzed relationships among individuals and families to develop solutions for domestic and social behavioral issues.
- Through counseling techniques, attempts to assist individuals/families to determine the cause of disagreement.
- Participates in group sessions where parties involved try to resolve problems through open, frank discussions.
- Established and maintained collaborative relationships with neighborhood organizations to enhance community support.
Supervising Prevention Consultant
NJCDC-NJ4S
Paterson
08.2023 - 05.2024
- Supervise a team of prevention consultants who provide training and workshops to the community and youth
- Provide consultation, guidance, and technical assistance to community organizations and school districts on prevention-related issues
- Plan and implement programs for schools and communities
- Establish alliances with organizations that have similar goals: school boards, law enforcement, healthcare providers, community centers, and other community service providers
- Assist in the programmatic data collection, reporting, continuous quality improvement processes, and evaluation of services to the target population
- Participated in events and meetings to support prevention and community services.
- Serve as a customer service role model to ensure a positive relationship with interactions with all program participants
Implement evidence-based prevention services with fidelity curricula
Program Coordinator
Rutgers University
Newark
09.2022 - 04.2023
- Implements and manages the programmatic component
- Plan and implement programs for schools and communities
- Led a team of prevention consultants to achieve program goals.
- Facilitates effective behavioral interventions
- Assessed health education needs of community, analyzing knowledge, interactions, beliefs, and practices to identify at-risk populations for HIV infection and barriers to health education.
- Applies the CDC's Social Network Strategy utilized to recruit clients for program participation and referrals for HIV testing.
- Ensures that HIV testing is provided, on the Mobile Unit and On-Site, on a confidential basis in accordance with the standards and procedures established by the Division of HIV
- Oversaw team of prevention consultants delivering training and workshops to community and youth.
- Consulted and provided technical assistance to community organizations and school districts on prevention-related issues to enhance program effectiveness.
- Established alliances with school boards, law enforcement, healthcare providers, community centers, and other service providers to strengthen community prevention efforts.
- Implement evidence-based prevention services with fidelity curricula
- Scheduled and assisted program collaborators on best practices related to prevention science for Hub participants.
HIV Counselor
Trinitas Regional Medical Center-EIP Clinic
Elizabeth
10.2020 - 09.2022
- Provides HIV Counseling and Testing
- Conducted post-test follow-up to engage and support nonreturning clients.
- Ensured accurate data entry into HIV database and EPIC to maintain compliance and support client tracking.
- Maintains client records confidentially and in compliance with the standards set by DHAS.
- Reviews and completes Ryan White Reports
- Facilitated collaboration with community agencies to enhance resource sharing.
- Demonstrated understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues
- Attended team meetings to discuss project updates and strategies.
- Creates weekly staff schedules
Linkage to Care Coordinator
Trinitas Regional Medical Center-EIP Clinic
Elizabeth
04.2019 - 09.2020
- Conducted HIV education services for individuals of all risk levels, promoting awareness and prevention strategies
- Provided PrEP referrals to individuals at high risk for HIV infection
- Facilitated client referrals and connections to medical and essential support services, ensuring comprehensive care access
- Delivered culturally relevant services to LGBTQIA+ community, enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in care
- Documented client contacts and services for accurate record-keeping.
- Collect and process blood (finger-stick and venipuncture) and prepare specimens for laboratory processing
Prevention Team Leader
Coalition on AIDS in Passaic County INC.
Paterson
09.2017 - 08.2018
- Guided HIV Prevention Project staff and peer leaders/educators to enhance program effectiveness and community outreach.
- Implemented and ensured compliance with standards outlined in the HIV Prevention Project Quality Assurance Program.
- Promote HIV treatment as a prevention strategy
- Promoted testing as a prevention strategy to reduce new HIV infections within targeted populations.
- Provide coordinated follow-up services to individuals who received prevention services
- Deliver interventions and services in the community and at off-site locations as assigned
- Assisted in hiring new staff for the HIV Prevention Program.
- Provide linkage to care of any HIV+ newly diagnosed
- Provide linkage to care of any known HIV+ resistant to access care
- Re-engage any known HIV+ who were previously in care and are currently out of care
- Provide counseling and health education on HIV transmission, risk, and harm reduction options
- Assess and screen client's eligibility for referrals to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Counseling
- Provide support to the LGBTQ community
- Perform Rapid-Rapid testing at the site for any walk-ins
- Developed collaborations and partnerships within Union County and state agencies to strengthen HIV prevention efforts.
- Develop collaborative partnerships within Union County to target different populations
- Risk Reduction Counseling
- Provided referrals for case management services to assist clients in accessing necessary resources.
- Biopsychosocial Assessment
Education
Master of Public Health -
St. Elizabeth University
Morristown, NJ05-2023
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ05-2014
Associate of Arts - Psychology
Passaic County Community College
Paterson, NJ05-2012
Skills
- Criminal justice knowledge
- Client advocacy
- Case management
- Counseling & Testing
- Conflict Resolution
- Community Outreach
- Public Speaking
- Workshop Presentation
- Staff Training/ Development
- Detail-oriented
- Cultural Competency
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Active listening
Certification
• Counseling & Testing, 2015
• Client Center Counseling, 2015
• Risk Reduction Counseling, 2015
• HIV Basic Facts, 2015
• Healthy Relationships, 2015
• CLEAR, 2015
• Human Services Generalist, 2016
• Addictions, 2016
• Mental Health, 2016
• Stigma, 2016
• Effective Facilitation Skills (EFS), 2016
• Social Networks Strategy, 2016
• Completed Educational Hours towards CADC, 2016
• Team Building, 2017
• Team Leadership, 2017
• Leadership Skills, 2017
• Women in Leadership, 2018
• Mental Health First Aid, 2018
• HIV Testing, 2019
• Domestic Violence Victim Advocate, 2024
• Client Center Counseling, 2015
• Risk Reduction Counseling, 2015
• HIV Basic Facts, 2015
• Healthy Relationships, 2015
• CLEAR, 2015
• Human Services Generalist, 2016
• Addictions, 2016
• Mental Health, 2016
• Stigma, 2016
• Effective Facilitation Skills (EFS), 2016
• Social Networks Strategy, 2016
• Completed Educational Hours towards CADC, 2016
• Team Building, 2017
• Team Leadership, 2017
• Leadership Skills, 2017
• Women in Leadership, 2018
• Mental Health First Aid, 2018
• HIV Testing, 2019
• Domestic Violence Victim Advocate, 2024
Awards
EOF Distinguished Alumni, Passaic County Community College, 2016
Languages
- Spanish
- English
Timeline
Legal Advocate
Alternatives to Domestic Violence Bergen County
05.2024 - Current
Supervising Prevention Consultant
NJCDC-NJ4S
08.2023 - 05.2024
Program Coordinator
Rutgers University
09.2022 - 04.2023
HIV Counselor
Trinitas Regional Medical Center-EIP Clinic
10.2020 - 09.2022
Linkage to Care Coordinator
Trinitas Regional Medical Center-EIP Clinic
04.2019 - 09.2020
Prevention Team Leader
Coalition on AIDS in Passaic County INC.
09.2017 - 08.2018
Master of Public Health -
St. Elizabeth University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Rutgers University
Associate of Arts - Psychology
Passaic County Community College