Tamika Collins
Adjunct Professor
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About
I completed my undergraduate studies at Delaware State University and my graduate studies at Montclair State University where I earned a degree in Child Advocacy and Policy. Additionally, I earned certificates in Child Advocacy and Policy and Substance Abuse Disorder. I am also a proud of member of The National Society of Leadership and Success.
I have been working in the field of social services for 22+ years and throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of working for and with a diverse group of professionals, children, and families. Those interactions have taught me so much and they have helped me realize the importance of being culturally aware. As a supervisor working for New Jersey’s child protection agency, it is my responsibility to acknowledge, understand and embrace diversity, inclusiveness and belonging.
I wanted to share a little about who I am and why I am so passionate about the work that I do.
Experience
Union County College, December 2024-Present
Adjunct Professor-Introduction to Sociology (online)
- Review and grade course material in a timely manner.
- Track attendance, performance, and other supporting course related documents.
- Uphold academic policies, procedures, academic integrity, and student conduct policy.
- Design and create an online teaching environment that encourages active participation.
- Create a syllabus that clearly defines grading policy, expectations, assignments, and schedules.
- Prepare discussion questions, assignments, examinations, and projects that align with the course objectives.
Adjunct Professor-Cultural Awareness and Online Learning
- Implement new learning concepts and engagement strategies in the classroom.
- Provide academic support and mentoring to students through online platforms.
- Teach the course in alignment with learning objectives outlined by the department.
- Utilize a variety of instructional tools and techniques including multimedia resources.
- Create and actively participate in online discussions, learning and connecting the classroom through online learning.
Supervising Family Specialist II
- Manage, train, and mentor staff in delivery of family-centered services including intake, resource families, and permanency caseloads.
- Develop cohesive teaming by supervising field visits, conducting training on policies and procedures, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Engage in supervisory conferences, ongoing case reviews, and other quality improvement activities.
- Facilitate and implement strength-based family engagement, teaming, and individualized service plans.
- Supervise the delivery of social and protective services.
- Assist intake staff with working with families to identify problems and help resolve challenges.
- Utilize effective communication skills to deliver instruction to staff.
- Build collaborative groups focused on accomplishing specific goals.
- Provide ongoing training and complete performance evaluations.
- Conduct interviews for potential employees.
Family Service Specialist I-Permanency Worker
- Identified and implemented services for families based on their individual needs.
- Conducted needs assessments to determine appropriate services for children and families.
- Conducted monthly field visits with children and families to ensure continued safety and well-being.
- Worked directly with children and families to help with developing and monitoring specific case plans.
- Performed field visits and office activities involving the collection, assessing, and recording of specific facts.
- Partnered with community-based organizations to develop strength-based strategies to help families achieve desired outcomes.
- Assumed case management responsibilities for assigned clients including coordination of treatment, scheduling of services, and consulting with community agencies according to supervisory observation and record review.
Family Service Specialist I-Intake Worker
- Responded and investigated allegations of abuse and neglect using the Four Tier Model.
- Conducted assessments and assessed the safety of children and families to identify services to meet the family’s needs.
- Arranged services for children and families. Monitored compliance and obtained reports from outside community partners.
- Worked closely in conjunction with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and law enforcement regarding criminal cases involving extreme abuse and neglect of children.
- Coordinated with internal and external partners to improve effectiveness, accessibility, cultural competence, and overall quality of services.
Essex County Special Response Unit Mentor
- Demonstrated how to make independent decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of children and families.
- Explained and modeled ways to adhere to policies, rules and regulations governed by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency.
- Trained and developed new and less experienced staff members on how to effectively respond to after-hour allegations of abuse and neglect.
- Illustrated how to document reports accurately, proficiently, and effectively.
Family Service Specialist II-Intake Worker
- Arranged services with community partners and monitored compliance.
- Investigated allegations of abuse and neglect and conducted child welfare assessments.
- Provided in-home supervision to families to ensure safety, compliance, personal development, and growth.
- Performed field and office duties that involved collecting, analyzing, and recording significant facts pertaining to families.
Family Service Specialist II-Adolescent Worker
- Effectively managed a specialized caseload of adolescent clients.
- Performed field and office duties based on adolescents’ needs and well-being.
- Arranged independent living, group home, residential, treatment home and foster care placements.
- Developed and monitored appropriate case plans for adolescents which included helping to create and identify case goals and treatment needs.
- Actively participated in monthly adolescent meetings, Family Team Meetings, emancipation conferences and family group conferences.
SPRU Worker (Special Response Unit)
- Independently worked and made critical decisions with minimal supervision.
- Responded to after-hours, weekends and holiday child abuse and neglect referrals.
- Conducted assessments to ensure the immediate safety and well-being of children and families. Responsible for emergency intervention regarding after-hour allegations of abuse and neglect referrals.
- Conducted assessments and other field-related work after hours stemming from calls received from the State Central Registry.
Family Service Specialist II-Adolescent Worker
- Effectively managed a specialized caseload of adolescent clients.
- Performed field and office duties based on the adolescents’ needs and well-being.
- Investigated allegations of abuse and neglect and conducted child welfare assessments.
- Arranged placement in independent living settings, group homes, residential homes, and treatment homes.
- Developed and monitored appropriate case plans for adolescents which included helping to create and identify case goals and treatment needs.
- Provided in-home supervision to adolescent clients to ensure safety, compliance, personal growth, and development.
Family Service Specialist Trainee
- Investigated allegations of abuse and neglect.
- Attended comprehensive in-service training programs.
- Efficiently maintained and updated case records and databases.
- Prepared a variety of reports for court and community partners.
- Ensured safety, stability and wellbeing of children and families.
Education
Master of Arts- May 2022, Child Advocacy and Policy, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Bachelor of Science- May 1996, Business Administration, Delaware State University, Dover, DE
CERTIFICATIONS
Child Advocacy and Policy: Montclair State University-August 2021
Annual Challenging Racism Conference: A Call to Action-DCF, Rutgers School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education-June 2023
Substance Use Disorder Fellowship: A New Jersey Child Welfare Certification Program-December 2023
