Skills
Summary
Work History
Education
Affiliations
Training
Community Service
Generic

Amber White

Halifax,Canada

Skills

  • Strategic planning
  • Partnerships and alliances
  • Decision-making
  • Team management
  • Change management
  • Program management
  • Relationship building

Summary

Strengths in building and maintaining relationships with diverse range of stakeholders to enhance outcomes for clients. Demonstrated leadership and problem solver, dedicated to program improvements and mentoring team members to meet and exceed department goals.

Work History

Director, Service Delivery, Child, and Youth Caring Programs

Department Of Opportunities and Social Development
Halifax, N.S
01.2021 - Current
  • Responsibilities include provision of strategic leadership and oversight for child and youth caring programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and provincial policies. Lead multi-disciplinary team in delivering trauma informed, culturally responsive care to children and youth in treatment and community-based settings. Develop, implement and evaluate program policies, procedures and treatment models to enhance quality of care and operational efficiency. Collaborate with inter government departments and external agencies to advocate for the needs of children and families and improved service delivery. Manage budgets, staffing and resource allocation to support sustainable program growth and licensing compliance. Support staff development through coaching, training and performance management initiatives. Respond to critical incidents to ensure safety, adherence to processes and with intended results for system and program improvements.
  • Select Accomplishments
  • Supported and provided oversight to nine separate child and youth caring programs across Nova Scotia that operate on a 24/7 basis 365 days of the year.
  • Provided leadership and support to a team of seven managers in all regions of the Province of Nova Scotia, building a collaborative and effective environment.
  • Expansion of outreach services for children transitioning to alternative care arrangements.
  • Completed executive leadership training.
  • Increased stakeholder engagement to improve system efficiencies. These groups include policing services in numerous communities across the province, local regional centres for education, other government departments and non- profit community partners.
  • Addressed complex program issues and introduced effective solutions for sustained improvements.
  • Initiated the development and delivery of educational tools for teams pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Participated in review and feedback on the newly introduced Child and Family Wellbeing Practice Framework.
  • Continued advocacy for the needs of children, youth and families connected to child and youth caring programs.
  • Arranged for the Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) Model to be introduced to child and youth caring treatment programs.
  • Participated in targeted recruitment and retention strategies for child and youth care workers and social workers.
  • Prioritized attendance management to reduce disruptions to operations.
  • Partnered with identified Human Resource Business Partner (HRBP) on numerous challenges pertaining to performance expectations.
  • Continuous reference and interpretation of the Civil Service Agreement.
  • Successfully supported managers in navigating work refusals.
  • Regular collaboration with Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency to ensure repairs are completed and buildings maintained as required by licensing services.
  • Two year Department of Opportunities and Social Development United Way Co-Lead 2024 and 2025.

Provincial Coordinator, Child and Youth Caring Programs

Department of Opportunities and Social Development
Halifax, N.S
01.2017 - 01.2021
  • Responsibilities include ongoing evaluation and monitoring of policies, procedures and standards for child and family wellbeing programming, throughout the Province of Nova Scotia, responsible for designations from the Minister of Opportunities and Social Development, pursuant to the Children and Family Services Act. This includes authority to evaluate licensed and approved child and youth caring facilities in the Province; develop, recommend and evaluate program standards, protocols and specific actions with respect to any child and family wellbeing facilities; ensure compliance with the approved child and youth caring program standards and legislation; budgetary recommendations; ensuring employee training programs are in place; ensuring the rights of children in licensed or approved child-caring facilities are safeguarded; and developing strategies for the placement continuum.
  • Select Accomplishments
  • Received the Premier’s Award of Excellence.
  • Received Minister’s award for Engagement and Innovation.
  • Participated in and co-led transformation project work with Department of Opportunities and Social Development.
  • Collaborated and contributed to the revision of the Children and Family Services Act and Regulations.
  • Conducted audits and provincial program reviews in collaboration with Service Delivery.
  • Chair of the Nova Scotia Community College Curriculum Committee.
  • Provided oversight and direction for child and youth caring programs across the province.
  • Contributed to provincial training on sexual exploitation in consultation with RCMP and HPD and other service providers.
  • Provided direction and evaluation of models of practice in child and youth caring programs.
  • Reviewed and gathered best practice models nationally in child and youth caring programs.
  • Co-lead of program redesign project for a program for sexually exploited youth.
  • Collaborated with Licensing Services to streamline licensing requirements for approved and licensed child caring facilities.
  • Provided guidance and consultation when needed for complex case reviews.
  • Collaborated with Human Resources, LAE and NSCC to expand hiring criteria to support child and youth caring facilities to increase graduate options for students.
  • Involvement with the Department of Opportunities and Social Development Social Worker Symposium as a committee member.
  • Reviewed and contributed to Service-Level Agreements for non-government organizations.
  • Currently working with the Department of Opportunities and Social Development training unit to finish fundamental training for our provincial child and youth caring programs.

Care Coordinator

HomeBridge Youth Society (HBYS)
07.2011 - 01.2017
  • Responsible for ensuring that the needs of the children are met in areas of service delivery by consulting with other professionals, while maintaining the highest level of respect and confidentiality for service users
  • Ensure the highest standards of care, as per the Child Welfare Policy Manual and the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, are adhered to, by providing advocacy and services to children in care, their social workers and their families
  • Provided consultation and collaboration to the Youth Care team and other child welfare facilities that include intake and discharge planning
  • Oversee that all areas of care planning including health, education, behavior and permanency planning for children served are attended to
  • Work collaboratively with Department of Opportunities and Social Development, Department of Justice, Department of Health, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Department of Labor and Advanced Education
  • Successfully manage a substantial and challenging caseload of children in care who reside in child caring programs
  • Work with young people from diverse communities across the province of Nova Scotia which allows for knowledge of available services in several regions
  • Supervision of students from School of Social Work- Dalhousie University
  • Member of Concurrent Disorder Advisory Committee
  • Member of the Department of Opportunities and Social Development, Sexual Exploitation Committee
  • Master Level, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Trainer, provides training to all employees at HBYS and review of the Use of Restraint Forms

Teaching Assistant/ Researcher

Dalhousie School of Social Work
09.2013 - 08.2017
  • Supported faculty in preparing course materials and resources for effective learning.
  • Assisted in grading assignments, ensuring timely feedback for students.
  • Coordinated study groups to foster collaborative learning among peers.
  • Facilitated classroom discussions, enhancing student engagement and participation.

Youth Care Worker

IWK Health Centre
01.2009 - 07.2015
  • Responsible for the daily supervision of children, between the ages of 6-12 years of age, with varying levels of behavioral and emotional concerns.
  • Facilitated therapeutic activities to support emotional and social development of youth.
  • Monitored behavioral patterns to ensure safety and compliance with care plans.

Youth Care Worker

HomeBridge Youth Society
11.1994 - 07.2011
  • Responsible for the daily supervision of both male and female youth, ages 12-19 with varying levels of behavioral and emotional concerns
  • Acted as an advocate on behalf of young people and their families
  • Organized and contributed information to youth plans of care, facilitated daily programs, organized and implemented groups and authored numerous internal and external reports

Social Work Intern

Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services
04.2011 - 06.2011
  • Provided individual sessions and treatment planning services to diverse population seeking services for their harmful involvement with gambling and substance misuse
  • Co-lead a mindfulness meditation group for women harmfully involved with substances and gambling on a weekly basis
  • Capital District Health Authority

Home Run Worker

IWK Health Centre
04.1998 - 03.2003
  • Facilitated changes in youth and with their families who are experiencing a range of issues with mental health, the justice system, emotional, behavioral, social, and learning challenges and assisted in the development of behavioral management strategies.

Education

Master of Social Work -

Dalhousie University

Bachelor of Social Work -

University of Manitoba

Bachelor of Child And Youth Studies -

Mount Saint Vincent University

Affiliations

Nova Scotia College of Social Workers

Training

  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Person Brain Model Trauma Training
  • Understanding Jordan’s Principle
  • Pathways to Resilience
  • Improving Services to Multi-Challenged Families
  • Mental Health First Aid

Community Service

  • Uniacke District Home & School - Secretary
  • Co-Chair United Way
  • Student Advisory Committee Chair

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Amber White