Karen Blanco

Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 6+ years of experience in integrated behavioral health, child welfare, and community-based settings. Skilled in psychosocial assessment, care coordination, and evidence-based interventions for diverse children and adult populations. Experienced in crisis intervention, group facilitation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Committed to trauma-informed, culturally responsive care and advancing health equity utilizing evidence-based interventions.

Behavioral Health Clinician at St. Anthony Foundation - Medical Clinic (2024-05 – Present)

Collaborate within an integrated primary care and behavioral health setting to deliver patient-centered care across clinic and residential addiction recovery programs. Provide care coordination, case management, and therapeutic services to pediatric and adult clients while supporting interdisciplinary workflows and program effectiveness.

• Manage a caseload of 30 clients, delivering care coordination, case management, and behavioral health services in outpatient and residential settings.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments and developed individualized treatment plans, providing individual and group therapy using evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches.
• Coordinate care across multidisciplinary teams, serving as a behavioral health consultant within an integrated primary care (PCMH) model.
• Facilitate care transitions, referrals, and warm handoffs to improve continuity of care and patient engagement.
• Contribute to case reviews and interdisciplinary meetings, supporting care planning, service delivery, and program operations.
• Advocate for patients by addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and maintaining accurate, compliant documentation in EPIC.

Bilingual Clinician at Safe & Sound (2022-09 – 2024-05)

Collaborate with educators, community partners, and service providers to deliver trauma-informed mental health services to children and families in compliance with Medi-Cal/EPSDT standards.

• Delivered mental health services with a focus on child-based interventions and bilingual support to a diverse caseload of 12 clients.
• Leveraged evidence-based treatment methods to successfully address the unique needs of each client, ensuring culturally sensitive and effective interventions.
• Developed and implemented a psychosocial group curriculum, engaging 8 at-risk youth and fostering significant improvements in their behavioral and emotional well-being.
• Maintained consistent client engagement and retention through effective bilingual communication, building trust and rapport with clients and their families.

MSW Intern at UNICEF (2021-09 – 2022-05)

• Successfully translated the Youth 2030 Scorecard into Spanish, ensuring accurate and accessible performance measurement tools for international stakeholders.
• Authored detailed summary reports for Member State Briefings, effectively communicating key outcomes to over 80 participants.
• Analyzed policies and data to develop reports and briefs supporting global health initiatives and Sustainable Development Goals.

MSW Intern/Case Manager at Catholic Charities Community Services (2020-09 – 2021-04)

• Delivered comprehensive case management services to an average of 60 unaccompanied minors monthly, ensuring efficient and compassionate psychosocial assessments, follow-ups, and support.
• Completed all assigned home study and post-release reports with 100% accuracy, demonstrating a strong commitment to compliance and detail.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies to coordinate care across states.

On-Call Talk line Supervisor at Safe & Sound (2021-02 – 2022-01)

• Supervised and coached a team of 12 volunteer counselors to ensure adherence to established protocols and delivery of high-quality support services.
• Served as a liaison between counselors and organizational leadership to facilitate communication and address any emerging issues.
• Cultivated a learning environment that encouraged continuous improvement and professional development among volunteers.

Bilingual Clinical Care Coordinator at Safe & Sound (2017-02 – 2020-09)

• Provided case management, assessments, and care coordination for families in community-based settings.
• Developed and monitored service plans using standardized assessment tools.
• Supervised and delegated responsibilities to graduate student interns, optimizing team productivity and providing educational guidance.
• Organized a community event focused on enhancing the Five Protective Factors, engaging with approximately 100 participants to foster parental skills and resilience.

Master of Science in Social Work – Columbia University School of Social Work (2022)