Administrator of DCFS Office of Caregiver & Parent Support - Illinois Department of Children and Family Services - Springfield, IL 62701
(2022-02)
- Guide the work of the professional, paraprofessional and support staff of the office of caregiver and parent support
- Review program needs, consult with supervisor to make staff assignments, review work, and to prepare performance evaluations for staff
- Guide foster, adoptive, birth parents and others in development of programs, resources, and policies that affect families
- Oversee data collection and report composition
- Represent the office in Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) meetings internally and with the Federal Children Bureau
- Give PIP updates (as requested) and assure compliance of the Performance Improvement Plan
- Plan, develop, manage and implement regional trainings as well as any other trainings for caregivers
- Participate in statewide program planning, in which recommends new and revised methods and procedures necessary to develop and achieve goals/objectives
- Assist in the development, implementation, and improvement of foster care program innovations
- Administer the Foster Parent Support Specialist Program by serving as an administrative lead
- Consult with general leadership to professional groups for the planning and implementation of the Foster Care programs
- Establish the development of annual downstate partnering with parents summit by developing and supporting local PWP chapters across the state and the delivery of annual PWP training conferences in Chicago every June
- Develop and expand the formal mechanisms for providing parents with formal venues for the department in all Department of Children and Family Services regions
- Developed and manage annual parent information and resources
- Assist with the development of official brochures, products and signage for all parents work
- Assume leadership responsibility for special assignments as needed
- Serve as the lead administrator for the new adoption and guardianship support specialist program by directing rollout, operation, and statewide expansion
- Coordinate with the adoption supervisors, adoption teams, and functioning program regions
- Manage a budget and related billing properly for the new adoption and guardianship supports specialist program
APS Case Manager - Senior Services of Central Illinois - Springfield, IL 62702
(2021-11 - 2022-02)
An Adult Protective Services Case Manager supports the community in the promotion of elder adult independence in their compliance with protocols and policies authorized by the not-for-profit's Board of Directors and Illinois Department of Aging. The role involved investigating claims of mistreatment, exploitation, abandonment, and/or neglect of an adult.
Survivor Outreach Services Coordinator (Acting Branch Chief) - Illinois National Guard - CASOPS/Military Funeral Honors - Springfield, IL 62702
(2018-11 - 2019-11)
The position ensures the ARMY fulfills its covenant with Survivors through sustainment of a comprehensive multi-agency program that improves Soldier and Family preparedness in the event of a catastrophic loss, maximizes cooperative efforts within organizations and agencies, ensures Survivors receive all the benefits to which they are entitled, and encourages Survivors to remain an integral part of the ARMY Family for as long as they desire. The SOS Program provides financial counseling referral and long-term support to surviving family members, ensuring the surviving families' concerns are addressed expeditiously in a holistic approach. The ARMY SOS Support Coordinator provides the states and territories a subject matter expert supporting programs and services to Survivors of fallen Soldiers.
The SOS Coordinator will develop, administer, and coordinate SOS programs and services within the state. SOS Coordinator will travel to assist Families throughout the assigned area.
Social Services Supervisor/Director - Lewis Memorial Christian Village - Springfield, IL 62711
(2017-04 - 2018-02)
In addition to managing/overseeing Social Services Department and 3 other employees, attend meetings, distribute work within the department as evenly as possible, while also being a working supervisor (assisting them with the workload).
- Welcome new residents, explain & complete IL DNR (POLST) FORM/Bed Hold Policy within 24-48 hours of admission
- Set up meetings with resident and/or POA/family member to complete admission paperwork/CONTRACT for residents stay at facility
- Place information in computer and scanned in the Point Click Care system for all departments and Corporate to see & access
- Fax POLST form to the Physician's office to obtain Doctors signature and asked to fax back to SSD to add to the residents profile/documents
- Make copies to give to the nurse to add order into the system (Code or DNR) and extra copies (pink) to be given if resident has to go out to the hospital and/or doctor's office in the near future
- Attend meetings daily, talk with family members and community agencies, and SSA's with daily input of assessments of information collected from residents in order to assist in providing a safe discharge back into the community
Asst. Administrator & H R Director - Mosaic of Springfield (formally Capitol Care Center) - Springfield, IL 62702
(2015-01 - 2016-08)
- Act as Administrator in his/her absence
- Oversee all departments (except Nursing) as their Supervisor
- Sign invoices and submit them via email to Corporate Office for payment
- Maintain schedules of Van Drivers & Receptionists weekly
- Assist other departments when needed
- Process/Maintain record of State Reportable reports used for Abuse/Neglect and send them to IDPH
- Act as Backup Person for H.R. (ie. Payroll, Orientation, Time Sheets, etc.)
- Act as Backup Person for Business Office personnel when necessary (ie. Opening safe, giving residents their TRUST monies when requested, updating Census Reports & distributing them accordingly, etc.)
Social Services Director - Capitol Care & Rehabilitation Center - Springfield, IL 62702
(2008-10 - 2015-01)
- Is aware of the worth and uniqueness of each individual
- Treat each individual with respect
- Created an atmosphere of growth for the individual
- Adopts a holistic perspective by recognizing the dynamic interplay of social, psychological, physical and spiritual well-being
- Provides a physical environment that is supportive rather than challenging or crippling to the individual
- Fosters a positive self-image for the residents through continued social contact, decision making opportunities and independence
- Marketing and providing tours for potential residents and families
- Planning for pre-admission and discharge
- Providing psycho-social assessment and completion of relevant parts of the MDS (minimum data set) (particularly face sheets, sections A, B, C, D, E, Q, and sometimes S)
- Utilizing the minimum data set to guide the care plan
- Participating (as a member of an interdisciplinary team) in resident care planning
- Counseling residents and their families
- Contacting and utilizing community resources on the resident's behalf and serving as a link between the resident and these resource systems when necessary
- Advocating for and protecting resident's rights
- Ensuring the social and emotional needs of each resident are met
- Stimulating social contact and interaction
- Promoting the maximum level of independence of each resident
- Promoting volunteerism for the facility
Director of Social Services - Sangamon Care Center - Springfield, IL 62704
(2006-02 - 2008-07)
- Advocate residents' rights within facility between residents, families and staff
- Created reports after assessments for presentation to staff/corporate
- Established effective communication with residents, community resource, and service providers
- Helped residents with emotional, behavioral and psycho-social issues
- Juggled multiple residents on a daily basis, leveraging time management and prioritization skills to meet each residents' needs
- Maintained compliance with agency policies, HIPAA and local, state and federal regulatory guidelines
- Participated in weekly meetings to update cases and discuss policies affecting clients
- Performed comprehensive assessments for cognition, psychosocial and medical needs
- Referred residents to community resources and/or specialty mental health services
- Screened potential residents to determine level of need and facilitate access services
- Tracked residents' progress and initiated health/therapeutic interventions to guide residents towards benchmarks and goals
SOR Specialist - State of Illinois - Sex Offender Registration - Springfield, IL 62703
(2001-12 - 2005-12)
- Review and analyze all out-of-state, federal and military PLUS foreign Sex Offender records and criminal histories to determine if the sex offender has an equivalent qualifying sex offense(s), which would require registration for ten years and/or lifetime in the state of Illinois
- Respond to numerous phone calls/emails/documents from Law Enforcement Agencies
Teacher - St. Patrick's Grade School - Springfield, IL 62703
(1998-10 - 2001-08)
- Prepare and compare lesson plans for the elementary school student for ALL subjects of education
- Offer tutoring & mentoring to students before and after school (when/if needed)
- Provide home visits to students/parents if/when needed and upon request when ENCOURAGEMENT was warranted
