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Certified School Social Worker/Crisis Intervention Specialist/Student Mental Health & Family Service Professional

Talent

Ridgefield ParkMember since July 13, 2026

School Social Work ServicesCrisis Intervention & Behavioral HealthStudent Mental HealthChild & Adolescent DevelopmentCrisis Prevention & De-escalationSuicide Risk Assessment & Safety PlanningPsychosocial AssessmentsTruancy Prevention & Attendance ImprovementSchool Refusal InterventionParent-Child Conflict ResolutionRunaway Youth InterventionFamily SystemsTrauma-Informed CareEducational AdvocacyChild Study Team CollaborationIEP & Section 504 CollaborationMTSSIndividual & Family CounselingFoster Court ProceedingsJuvenile justice CollaborationLaw Enforcement CollaborationMandated ReportingCommunity Resource CoordinationCase ManagementMultidisciplinary Team LeadershipCrisis StabilizationRestorative PracticesClinical DocumentationCPR-AED CertificationCrisis Intervention

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School Social Work ServicesCrisis Intervention & Behavioral HealthStudent Mental HealthChild & Adolescent DevelopmentCrisis Prevention & De-escalation

About

Dynamic, compassionate, and results-oriented Certified School Social Worker with more than 18 years of progressive experience providing crisis intervention, behavioral health services, child welfare, foster care supervision, educational advocacy, case management, and family-centered services for children, adolescents, and families. Extensive experience collaborating with school districts, Child Study Teams, hospitals, law enforcement, Family Court, juvenile justice agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations to improve student safety, attendance, behavioral health, and academic success. Recognized for exceptional leadership, sound clinical judgement, crisis response expertise, and the ability to build trusting relationships with students, families, educators, administrations, and community partners.

Experienced in working with high-risk youth presenting with trauma, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm, aggression, substance use, chronic absenteeism, school refusal, runaway behavior, parent-child conflict, and complex family dynamics. Passionate about fostering safe, equitable, trauma-informed learning environments while advocating for every student's academic, emotional, behavioral, and social success.

Experience

Crisis Intervention Specialist - Bergen County Family Guidance - Hackensack, New Jersey

(2022-01)

Provide mobile crisis intervention and behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and families experiencing psychiatric, behavioral, emotional, and family crises.

Conduct comprehensive psychosocial, behavioral health, suicide, and risk assessments.
Respond to school-based and community behavioral health emergencies involving anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm, suicidal ideation, aggression, substance use, school refusal, chronic truancy, parent-child conflict, and runaway behavior.
Collaborate extensively with school administrators, Child Study Teams, school counselors, law enforcement, hospitals, emergency departments, mobile outreach teams, and community agencies.
Coordinate with Family Court, juvenile justice agencies, and child-serving systems when appropriate.
Complete mandated reporting involving suspected abuse, neglect, and child safety concerns.
Develop crisis stabilization plans, safety plans, and treatment recommendations.
Facilitate family crisis meetings utilizing conflict resolution and family systems interventions.
Connect families to community resources, behavioral health services, intensive in-community programs, and substance use treatment.
Maintain detailed clinical documentation while utilizing trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.

Mental Health Associate (MHA) - Bergen New Bridge Medical Center - Paramus, New Jersey

(2024-01)

Provide direct therapeutic support and supervision to children, adolescents, adults and geriatric patients receiving inpatient behavioral health treatment.

Maintained a safe and therapeutic treatment environment through continuous patient observation, behavioral monitoring and suicide precautions.
Utilized crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques to safely manage psychiatric and behavioral emergencies while reducing the use of restrictive interventions.
Collaborated with psychiatrists, registered nurses, social workers, psychologists, and interdisciplinary treatment teams to implement individualized treatment plans and support patient recovery.
Conducted one-to-one therapeutic observation for patients identified as high risk due to suicidal ideation, self-injurious behaviors, aggression, psychosis, or elopement risk.
Documented patient behaviors, clinical observations, treatment progress, and significant events in accordance with hospital policies and regulatory standards.
Assisted patients with activities of daily living while promoting dignity, independence and recovery-oriented care.
Supported patients experiencing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, trauma-related disorders, and co-occurring behavioral health conditions.
Responded to psychiatric emergencies involving aggressive behavior, emotional dysregulation, and acute mental health crises using therapeutic communication and evidence-based de-escalation strategies.
Partnered with families and the interdisciplinary team to support treatment goals, discharge planning, and continuity of care.
Demonstrated professionalism, compassion, cultural sensitivity, and patient advocacy while maintaining HIPPA compliance and patient confidentiality.

Social Worker/Discharge Planner (MSW) - Bright Side Manor Assisted Living Facility - Teaneck, New Jersey

(2020-01 - 2022-12)