Summary of Qualifications

· Coordinator of an educational and family support group for families of children and youth with developmental disabilities and special health care needs. Organizing family and community events to promote family cohesiveness and inclusion. Position requires parental experience, leadership and oversight, and management abilities. Extensive collaboration, technical assistance, and monitoring.

· Coordinator of The University’s Community Partnership Advisory Council. Selection of council members of diverse agencies/programs, self advocates, individuals, caregivers, and family members. Serve as a resource and advocate for individuals with disabilities and family members. Disseminate policy information regarding changes on state, local, and national levels.

· Case manager, counselor, and advocate for children and adults with developmental disabilities and special health care needs with extensive experience in assessments, interviewing, and providing education on benefits and services as well as general and individualized treatment programs. Provide information and assistance with admissions and service applications.

· Adjunct Instructor for The University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work.

· Experienced in interpreting and explaining Medicaid insurance benefits and SSI benefits and eligibility qualifications to parents, caregivers, and support staff.

· Extensive work in coordinating resources for children and adults with special health care needs and disabilities in group and individual settings according to state and federal laws and regulations.

· Extensive case management in disaster recovery programs sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for families and adults with special health care needs and disabilities. Interpreting federal guidelines for housing programs and assistance and appropriate referrals for services.

· Highly developed public relations and interpersonal skills as a result of working with special populations and advocating publicly on their behalf with legal, educational, and general publics.

· Strong communication and presentation skills for advocacy and partnership building.

· Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office 2010

Professional Experience

Coordinator, University of Southern Mississippi Institute for Disability Studies

Hattiesburg, MS 2005 – Present

Coordinator of the Family to Family Health Information and Education Grant for Children with Special Health Care Needs and/or a disability throughout the state of Mississippi. Manage a state wide advisory council for self-advocates, parents of children & youth with a special health care need or a disability, conducts family and individual assessments for community programs and referrals; provide support services for individuals with a disability or household member with a disability affected by a natural disaster. Assist in supervising undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in social work or related fields. Implement educational training for individuals, facilitate small groups, serves as the designated point-of-contact for procedural issues for family support groups and one on one assistance, Coordinates with high school staff to provide technical training to youths with a disability transitioning from high school to postsecondary education, Coordinates and Facilitate the Youth Advisory Council, Coordinate youth activities, Provides in service training to postsecondary staff at local community colleges and the local university, represents agency in community with affected and interested individual/groups concerning specific projects, network with community resources to implement programs, and serve as a liaison. Collect, analysis, and track pertinent data for funding reporting. Adjunct Instructor for The University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work. Provide one on one assistance to families of children with special health care needs in a pediatric clinic setting.

Adjunct Instructor and Field Instructor at The University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work

Hattiesburg, MS Campus 2012 to Present

Educating undergraduate students at The University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work. Teaching Special Problems: Families and Children with Disabilities.

Senior Loan Advisor for Collections, Grand Bank for Savings, FSB 1999-2005

.Responsible for collecting on delinquent loans and other collection activities for Associates PMO and Citit Financial, prepare loans for foreclosure processing and work with loans removed from foreclosure status, collection of accounts 30 days and more delinquent, verbal and written payoff amounts, Initiates extensions and amendments agreements within prescribed guidelines of the company, promoted from the position of Loan Acquisition Processor where my responsibilities included pulling credit histories, posting customer payments, responsible for verifying documentation to prepare loan for closing, submitting loan packets to various lenders for approval.

Manager, Sonic Drive-In 1991-1999

Supervised operations of restaurant, hire of employees, prepared payroll and schedules of assistant managers and supporting crew members, completed store inventory, evaluation of crew members, trained employees, management teams, and trained crew for new stores in the state of Mississippi

Education

Doctor of Behavioral Health (January 2012 to Present) Arizona State University

Master of Social Work (December 2007), The University of Southern Mississippi – Hattiesburg, MS

Bachelor of Science in Social Work (May 2005), The University of Southern Mississippi – Hattiesburg, MS

Licenses & Certifications

MS Social Worker License # W5952

TN Social Work License #8320

NC Social Work License #P007842

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS/Presentations

Take Action for Positive Outcomes Parent Conference: What is a Medical Home? February 2012

Mississippi Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care Annual Conference: “Social Work: Meeting Today’s Dynamic Health Care Needs”, December 2011

NASW, Mississippi Chapter 2011 Annual Conference: Peace, Love and Social Work: Medical Home, Transition, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and/or Disabilities: A Call to Social Work, March 2011

Family Matters Parent and Professional Conference: The ABC’s of IEP’s and 504 Plans, December 2010

Medical Home & Transition: What Every Social Worker Should Know, PACE Head Start, September 2010

“Empowering Parents, Improving Outcomes” Gulf Coast Regional Parent Conference, August 2010

Presentation at the 2010 National Association of University Centers on Disabilities: The

Sustainability of Self Advocacy and Youth Voices with University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (November 1, 2010)

Nominee of Strong Woman Award for 2008 and 2009 (Wesley Medical Center of Hattiesburg)

Big Brother Big Sister Mentor Award for 2002-2003

Community Service

2012-Present Board Member for Family Voices of Mississippi, Incorporated (Treasurer)

2011-Present Mentor for the Oak Grove High School Civitan Club

2010-Present Coordinator for National Disability Mentor Day

2010-Present Board Member for Living Independence For Everyone (L.I.F.E)

2009-Present Proposal Review Committee Member for proposals and poster session for 2010 AUCD

Conference

2009-Present Committee Member for Strategic Planning Committee

2005-Present Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

2005-Present Parent Coordinator for the South MS Elite Special Olympics Cheer Team

2005-Present IDS Representative on the Association for University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)

Council on Community Advocacy

2005-2007 Board Member for Central Mississippi Down Syndrome Society

2004- Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity

2000-Present Licensed Foster/Adoptive Parent

2000-2009 Mentor of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Program (Hattiesburg, MS)

1997-Present Member of Association for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities

References available upon request.