Chardae Riles

Experienced Social Work professional with 10 years of experience providing behavioral health services, case management, counseling support, advocacy and client centered interventions across mental health, substance abuse, community and educational settings. Skilled in supporting individuals and families through crisis coordination, career development and life skills coaching. Currently serving as a School Social Worker, providing social-emotional support, student advocacy, family engagement and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

Passionate about empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and improving overall well being through evidence based and compassionate support.

School Social Worker - Broward County Public Schools - Fort Lauderdale, FL

(2023-01)

Assist staff at the schools to help students and families when they encounter barriers that impact a child's academic, emotional, and social development.

• Advocate on behalf of the students and families to help students achieve academic and social-emotional success by linking home, school and community
• Provide mental health counseling, crisis support, and intervention, addressing issues of non-attendance and truancy, psychosocial evaluations, and consultation
• Manage several district-wide programs that directly impact and support the academic achievement and high school graduation of the students
• Connect students with helpful resources and conducting home visits to provide additional support
• Developing and providing crisis intervention strategies to improve student success

Career Coach - Handy Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL

(2021-08 - 2022-11)

• Assist youth with obtaining job skills and work experience through internship program
• Assist youth with registering and enrolling in certification programs
• Act as a liaison between youth and collaborative agencies
• Conduct monthly checks of youth's attendance records. Schedule meetings as needed with school personnel and meet regularly with youth's teachers, guidance/BRACE counselors.

Life Coach - Handy Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL

(2019-05 - 2021-08)

Plans and conducts appropriate behavioral/mental health interventions to include short-term, solution-focused individual/group/family counseling services for youth ages 14-22 that are in care.

• Facilitate personal, social, emotional, and academic growth setting and attending youth school conferences to address and assist with the youth's educational needs.
• Acts as liaison between families and collaborative agencies with Behavioral Health Agreements, thereby ensuring the effective coordination of school services with those of the support agency as needed.
• Conduct monthly checks of youth's attendance records. Schedule meetings as needed with school personnel and meet regularly with youth's teachers, guidance/BRACE counselors.
• Expose youth within the program to high demand careers based on occupational data trends. Schedule and oversee youth program events, workshops, after school programs, career/job plans, and summer camps.
• Assist High School seniors and juniors with college selection and completing/submitting all necessary documents timely.

Transitional Case Manager - Henderson Behavioral Health - Lauderdale Lakes, FL

(2018-01 - 2019-05)

• Linked the client and family to community-based resources.
• Coordinated services for the client based on the clients' needs.
• Assists with crisis intervention services as part of the crisis support teams; includes conducting short-term crisis counseling, providing staff support, and conducting parent education activities.
• Created a crisis support plan to help the client recognize their triggers and prevent police involvement.
• Assists with the coordination of students entering and exiting behavioral and mental health recovery centers and programs; participates in the effective monitoring of the reintegration process into school-based activities and functions.

Master's Level Intern - Recovery First - Hollywood, FL

(2017-05 - 2017-12)

• Provide substance abuse counseling services in accordance with the state laws, licensing boards, and professional ethical guidelines.
• Maintain a full patient caseload.
• Provide intervention, assessments, treatment planning, and individual/group counseling.
• Initiate and provide family counseling services.
• Provide intervention, assessments, and group counseling.
• Facilitate therapeutic groups as assigned.
• Provide clinical services and assist when needed with patients as assigned by the clinical director.
• Provide clinical services to the outpatient and inpatient adult population.
• Participate in required clinical supervision, training, and staff meetings.
• Work as a larger interdisciplinary team along with other departments to ensure quality of care.
• Assists in monitoring and managing the patient community as a therapeutic milieu.
• Intervenes in crisis situations to deescalate and resolve crises.

Master's Level Intern - Henderson Behavioral Health - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

(2016-10 - 2017-04)

• Conducted intakes for clients who were referred to the counseling center that presented behavioral issues to determine their individual needs.
• Conducted safety plans for those adults who were in risk of harming themselves.
• Assisted clients with group activities and outings.
• Met with clients, and family members and other interested parties to exchange necessary information during the treatment process.
• Counseled clients individually and in group sessions by utilizing age appropriate and culturally sensitive intervention techniques.
• Referred patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary.

Administrative Assistant - Florida Memorial University - Miami Gardens, FL

(2012-08 - 2016-05)

• Assist the coordinator with the daily operations of the department.
• Assist with fall, spring, and summer registration.
• Assist with organizing and presenting financial aid workshops.
• Assist students with financial aid process

Master of Business Administration - Healthcare Administration - Barry University (2022-12)

Master of Social Work - Barry University (2017-12)

Bachelor of Criminal Justice - Florida Memorial University (2016-05)