Alba D. Lopez
Chula Vista,CA
Summary
Dynamic and detail-oriented professional seeking a part-time or per diem position to leverage extensive knowledge and skills in supporting daily operations. Committed to enhancing organizational effectiveness through efficient processes and collaborative teamwork. Proven ability to adapt quickly to new challenges while maintaining a focus on delivering high-quality results. Eager to contribute positively to a team-oriented environment and drive success within the organization.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Social Worker III
County of San Diego
San Diego
04.2020 - Current
- I am a Social Worker III assigned to Continuing Services unit for Child Family Well Being (CFWB). In this role, I am responsible for investigating and evaluating allegations of abuse or neglect, recommending protective program placement, and providing casework services to children placed in a protective services program. While being a continuing services worker I also multitask and provide support for East Region and North Central offices. I am the Subject Matter Expert (SME) in all Presumptive Transfers (PT), Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC), Interagency Placement Committee Meeting (IPC). I am responsible for interpreting policy and procedures for all programs, gathering all of the documents, complete all of the necessary forms and execute them with accuracy and in a timely manner as directed by the dependency court. As a SWIII, I created and implemented a training module for both the PT and ICPC’s and cross-trained my entire unit, balancing out responsibilities and training our staff. I will be conducting the same training module region wide, including the providing the training to all supervisors. I am also responsible for assisting the Placement Unit complete background checks for individuals interested in becoming Resource Families. I am the social worker assigned to gather all the documents and send all the required paperwork to the states for potential out of state placement. Furthermore, I support Protective Services Workers (PSW) in doing the family findings for each child that has to be removed from his/her family. I also maintain a Quality Parent Initiative (QPI) caseload where I am responsible to provide regular support to our Resource Families, which include reviews for extended, summer camp referrals, respite care assistance and any other assistance to ensure a stable placement for the dependent children in their care.
- Assessed client needs and developed individualized service plans to enhance well-being.
- Facilitated crisis intervention sessions, providing immediate support and resources.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive care for clients.
- Trained and mentored new social workers on case management procedures and best practices.
- Advocated for client rights within legal frameworks, ensuring access to necessary resources.
- Updated client documentation for accurate, compliant and current records.
- Interviewed clients, families, or groups to assess situations, limitations and issues and implement services to address needs.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure appropriate care coordination and resource allocation for clients.
- Educated families on available community resources, connecting them with essential services such as housing assistance, financial aid, or healthcare providers.
- Supported clients and families with empathy and compassion during difficult times.
- De-escalated stressful situations through individual and family crisis interventions.
- Maintained accurate case documentation, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and facilitating informed decision-making by team members.
- Improved client well-being by conducting comprehensive assessments and developing tailored intervention plans.
- Maintained regular contact with clients by calling and visiting clients' homes.
- Conducted home visits to assess living environment and facilitate access to necessary resources.
- Monitored clients' progress and adapted treatment plans to meet changing needs.
- Assisted clients with navigating and accessing social services such as housing and medical care.
- Conducted home visits to assess family dynamics, providing guidance on effective communication strategies and conflict resolution techniques.
- Increased client engagement in treatment plans by building trusting relationships through empathetic listening and consistent support.
- Provided crisis intervention services for clients experiencing acute mental health or substance abuse issues.
- Collaborated with schools to address students'' social-emotional needs, working closely with teachers and administrators to create supportive learning environments.
- Assisted clients in navigating the legal system, attending court hearings as needed and providing support throughout the process.
- Improved client access to community resources with thorough needs assessments and effective referral processes.
- Enhanced protective measures for children and vulnerable adults with thorough investigations and interventions.
Human Service Specialist
County of San Diego
San Diego
10.2008 - 04.2020
- I began as a Medi-Cal Mail-In intake worker at SRFRC. By 2009 I was a combo (MediCal and CalFresh) intake worker. I then transferred to ACCESS to work in the County of SD Call Center. While at ACCESS I received CalWorks training and my job entailed receiving phone calls from applicants that needed assistance with their benefits. I also was responsible for curing sanctions that were erroneously imposed. After 2 years, I transferred back to SRFRC where I was a bilingual multi-program worker CalWORKs (CW), MediCAL (MX), CalFresh (CF) and General Relief (GR). I was then assigned the CalFresh group intake where it was my responsibility to process 40 CF intakes per week. I am currently a CW/MX/CF/GR intake worker processing 17 intakes per week. I am also currently out stationed 2 times per week at Child Welfare Services assisting Protective Services Workers either processing applications or obtaining information.
- Coordinated client assessments to determine eligibility for various human services programs.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address complex client situations effectively.
- Advocated for clients' needs within community organizations and government agencies for optimal service delivery.
- Processed applications and followed strict procedures to keep sensitive data confidential.
- Met with clients to conduct assessments of current situations and establish what needs to address.
- Maintained accurate case documentation, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and agency policies.
- Provided crisis intervention services, deescalating tense situations and connecting individuals to appropriate support systems.
- Worked with others to manage numerous competing interests simultaneously and delegate accordingly to maximize productivity.
- Conducted outreach activities to raise awareness of available programs and services within the community.
- Adhered to strict client confidentiality laws and site-specific procedures to uphold privacy and provide best experience possible.
- Interviewed applicants for services and supported application completion as necessary.
Substance Abuse Counselor
Mental Health Systems
San Diego, CA
10.2006 - 10.2008
- In addition to conducting intakes, screenings, assessments, and the development of treatment plans, my experience includes individual counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention, client education, referrals to multiple agencies and very effective interaction within different county agencies, Medi-Cal Title-22 standard file maintenance, case management, and clinical writing.
- Developed personalized treatment plans based on client assessments and needs.
- Developed relapse prevention strategies for clients transitioning out of treatment programs, empowering them to maintain long-term sobriety.
- Supported aftercare planning for continued recovery after treatment.
- Developed individual treatment goals based on history and diagnosis.
- Provided comprehensive case management services, created treatment plans, and connected clients and families to appropriate resources.
- Supported and assessed clients struggling with addiction or relationship issues and devised strategies based on client needs.
- Established trusting relationships with clients, creating an open dialogue about their experiences and challenges related to substance abuse.
Education
Bachelors Degree - Sociology
San Diego State University
San Diego06.2008
Associates Degree - Behavioral Science
San Diego City College
San Diego, CA06.2005
Skills
- Efficient under pressure
- Attention to detail
- Multidisciplinary team collaboration
- Crisis intervention
- Risk assessment
- Case documentation
- Client confidentiality
- Assessment of client needs
- Empathy building
- Crisis assessment
- Client documentation
- Crisis intervention techniques
- Confidential case documentation
- Child welfare expertise
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Social Worker III
County of San Diego
04.2020 - Current
Human Service Specialist
County of San Diego
10.2008 - 04.2020
Substance Abuse Counselor
Mental Health Systems
10.2006 - 10.2008
Bachelors Degree - Sociology
San Diego State University
Associates Degree - Behavioral Science
San Diego City College