Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Languages
Timeline
Generic

DENISE BRAÑES

San Diego

Summary

Experienced with direct client support, crisis intervention, and advocacy. Utilizes effective communication and empathy to build trust and provide guidance. Strong focus on team collaboration, child safety, achieving impactful outcomes and being adaptable to evolving circumstances.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Protective Services Worker

Health & Human Serv Agcy
12.2021 - Current
  • Investigating and evaluating allegations of child abuse or neglect.
  • Creating safety and/or recommending protective program placement.
  • Conducted safety and risk assessments to identify safety concerns and implement protective measures.
  • Collaborated with families and multidisciplinary teams to develop individualized plans for families.
  • Monitored family progress and adjusted interventions based on observed outcomes, needs and feedback.
  • Advocated for family needs within community resources, enhancing support networks available to families in need.
  • Collaborated with mental health professionals to provide crisis intervention services for individuals experiencing emotional distress or exhibiting harmful behaviors towards themselves or others.
  • Deescalate and stabilizes crisis situations within family units.
  • Built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to create safety.

Case Manager/Group Facilitator

Second Chance Inc
09.2020 - 11.2021
  • Conducted thorough assessments of clients'' situations, identifying issues, goals, and necessary interventions.
  • Creating comprehensive care plans for diverse client populations, addressing individual needs and preferences.
  • Maintained accurate documentation on all cases, ensuring compliance with regulations and confidentiality requirements.
  • Monitored ongoing cases closely, adjusting case management strategies as needed based on evolving circumstances or new information.
  • Advocated for clients within community resources, enhancing access to essential services and support programs.
  • Educated clients on available programs, benefits, and services, empowering them to make informed decisions about their care needs.
  • Assisted clients in navigating housing, legal services and public benefits to gain access to valuable resources.
  • Advocated for client rights when interacting with external agencies or institutions, ensuring fair treatment at all times.
  • Contributed to team discussions and case conferences actively, sharing insights and expertise with colleagues to optimize client support strategies.
  • Coordinated services with other agencies, community-based organizations, and healthcare professionals to provide useful benefits to clients.
  • Strengthened relationships with community organizations to increase access to supportive resources for clients in need.
  • Facilitated workshops on life skills, contributing to improved self-sufficiency of clients.
  • Facilitated individual and group sessions to promote positive behavior change for clients.
  • Facilitated communication between clients, families, and service providers to ensure effective support.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance service delivery and client outcomes through effective communication.
  • Monitored progress towards goals, adjusting care plans based on client feedback and changing circumstances.

BSW Behavioral Coach

Mental Health Systems
01.2019 - 08.2019
  • Design, structure, model, and support one-to-one interventions to modify target behaviors of concern and/or teach appropriate alternative behaviors.
  • Case Management services to clients and family
  • Facilitate and organize client groups
  • Facilitate, supervise and run client outings.
  • De Escalate and respond to crisis situations and assess needs for possible higher level treatment
  • Create and input casenotes to Cerner for billing

Resource family

Department of Child and Family Services
09.2013 - 04.2018
  • Provide for the child's basic physical and emotional needs as if the child were a biological child
  • Provide a safe and comfortable home for the child to live in with a separate bed and place for his/her belongings
  • Help the child through the grieving and adjustment process that accompanies removal from his/her own home and placement
  • Help the child maintain a realistic relationship with his/her family through cooperation with visitation plans and active consideration to his/her feelings
  • Keep confidential any information regarding the foster child and the child's family that is given by the social worker, biological parent or foster child, unless the child would be in immediate harm
  • Participate in Administrative Reviews and Court Hearings regarding the child
  • Worked with special needs foster children with diagnosis of PTSD, depression, anxiety, autism, high risk behaviors, addiction, dissociative identity disorder and personality disorders

Social Work Intern

Morena Activity Center
10.2016 - 01.2018
  • Assist with the development of appropriate linkages with other community agencies, clinical services, government departments and other relevant programs
  • Work closely with other staff, members and community agencies to develop services that are responsive to the needs of clients and their families
  • Assess, evaluate, diagnose and intervene in crisis situations while maintaining professional demeanor
  • Advocate for and assist members in accessing immediate needs, entitlements and community resources
  • Provide outreach to establish supportive relationships and to assist members in transitioning from the hospital, or their home to the clubhouse
  • Provided supervision and care for client’s special needs family members and children, while clients receive services
  • Worked with special need clients with diagnosis of PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder depression, anxiety, high risk behaviors, addiction, dissociative identity disorder and personality disorders

Project manager for Lunchtime Library

Parent Teacher Association
09.2007 - 05.2009
  • Responsible for recruiting volunteers, bookkeeping, budgeting and ordering of age appropriate supplies
  • Facilitated anti-bully, parenting and social skills groups
  • Assisted clients in finding appropriate reading materials and provided outside resources when needed
  • Worked closely with outside businesses and school PTA members
  • Fundraising
  • Provided supervision, safety and security for students during all recess’ and after school
  • Helped playground staff supervise children during recess’ and the after school program

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Social Work

San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
08.2017

Skills

  • Strong communication and presentation skills and ability to communicate with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds, styles, cultures and socio-economics
  • Organized, detail-oriented, solid time management skills, resilient and able to work in a high stressful, uncertain, unpredictable, emotionally unstable and difficult situation
  • Proficient in NASW, Code Of Ethics, HIPAA and mandating reporting laws
  • The ability to be empathetic and create rapport with clients
  • Knowledge of Child and Youth Development ,Youth engagement, behavioral de-escalation, Safety Organized Practice (SOP),Safety Enhanced Together (SET), HEART and Cultural Humility
  • Knowledge of laws, rules regulations, policy, procedures pertaining to Child Welfare
  • Knowledge of Juvenile and Family Court proceedings
  • Driven to excel and a team player

Certification

  • CPR Certified, Health & Human Services Agency June 2024
  • Trauma Informed Pre-Service, Health & Human Services Agency January 2017
  • Cerner training, Health & Human services November 2017
  • Mental Health First Aid February 2019
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training March 2019
  • Positive Discipline Certified April 2019
  • Future Leaders Series Graduate April 2025

Languages

English, Proficient
Spanish, semi-bilingual

Timeline

Protective Services Worker

Health & Human Serv Agcy
12.2021 - Current

Case Manager/Group Facilitator

Second Chance Inc
09.2020 - 11.2021

BSW Behavioral Coach

Mental Health Systems
01.2019 - 08.2019

Social Work Intern

Morena Activity Center
10.2016 - 01.2018

Resource family

Department of Child and Family Services
09.2013 - 04.2018

Project manager for Lunchtime Library

Parent Teacher Association
09.2007 - 05.2009

Bachelor of Arts - Social Work

San Diego State University

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