Frankie LAFRANCE
Summary
Registered social worker with 10+ years of experience working with Indigenous communities. Experienced in frontline healthcare, post-secondary education and social service sector. Passion for improving population health through community-based education and prevention strategies. Special interest in resource development and capacity building for First Nations communities.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Indigenous Academic Advisor
Carleton University
Ottawa, ON
08.2023 - Current
- Improved Indigenous student retention rate from previous years by providing personalized guidance including resource referrals, counselling, and developing comprehensive academic plans.
- Maintain up to 25 student files using case management skills; documenting progress and key developments.
- Assist students in identifying career goals and aligning them with appropriate academic programs and inform of degree requirements.
- Evaluate transfer credit and degree requirements, streamlining the process for incoming transfer students.
- Respond to student inquiries addressing problems related to degree requirements, and information seeking as needed.
- Organized and facilitated weekly student seminar complete with specific learning objectives and activities related to student wellness.
- Coordinate with various departments and external organizations in Ottawa for event planning i.e. Odawa Native Friendship Centre, Wabano Health Centre, and Independent contractors.
- Logistics coordinating for larger campus events including Youth Powwow, Educational Symposium, Round Dance, IESP student orientation.
- Liaise between students, faculty, staff, and administration to address concerns or conflicts that arose during course of study.
- Team lead for Student Mentorship program- pairing upper year and incoming students. Maintain ongoing communication with mentors, providing guidance and resources to address various student concerns.
Medical Social Liaison Worker
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
Akwesasne, QC
01.2020 - Current
- Develop care plans using multidisciplinary collaboration.
- Liaise with health care providers, patients, and families to coordinate client care.
- Facilitate family meetings to address client care needs.
- Educate clients and families on home health and safety issues.
- Document case notes daily and coordinate follow-up for seamless case management.
- Organize clinical documentation, care plans, and referrals.
- Provide counseling to patients and families around disease process.
- Coordinate individualized discharge plans to manage safe transition from hospital to home.
- Coordinate program referrals for community-based resources.
- Complete psychosocial evaluations and needs assessments.
- Assist with forms completion and systems navigation.
- Collect and review patient information to assess program and/or funding eligibility.
- Advise patients on available resources to allow for informed decision-making.
Youth Programs Coordinator
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health
05.2019 - 12.2019
- Developed and facilitated programs for Urban Indigenous youth ages 8-24 yo. (e.g. educational, cultural, social)
- Coordinated logistics for meals, transportation and program delivery.
- Organized special events and activities to foster engagement with Indigenous and at-risk youth.
- Conducted community outreach to promote Wabano youth services and programs throughout City of Ottawa.
- Partnered with businesses, schools and nonprofits to expand youth program outreach and impact.
- Referred youth to relevant team members, programs and external agencies to meet psychosocial needs.
- Worked collaboratively to establish clear policies for handling emergency, behavioural, illness, and injury incidents.
Program Support Worker
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health
Ottawa , Ontario
05.2018 - 03.2019
- Assisted clients with completing registration and service agreements.
- Completed intake assessment forms and inputted in health management system.
- Frequently updated patient histories/health information while coordinating follow-up appointments.
- Collected client socio-demographic indicators to fulfill funding requirements.
- Offered compassionate and attentive guidance to patients during moments of crisis.
- Communicated with external care providers including hospitals, pharmacies and specialists regarding client care needs.
- Referred clients to appropriate program/department and staff to address specific psychosocial needs.
- Conducted in-person interviews with Mohawks of Akwesasne for research on racism and discrimination in healthcare.
Placement Student
Social Planning Council of Ottawa
09.2017 - 12.2017
- Developed resources to assist immigrant seniors in accessing social supports in the city of Ottawa.
- Interviewed immigrant seniors on social isolation and barriers within the city of Ottawa.
- Collected research data on challenges faced by new immigrant seniors.
- Co-produced digital sketches to educate community stakeholders on social isolation and barriers of immigrant seniors.
- Documented "meeting minutes" for the Social Planning Council's meetings with city council members.
- Facilitated monthly meetings with multiple seniors groups to identify community goals and determine funding initiatives.
- Co-assisted with project development and strategic planning to address issues identified by various senior groups.
Student Employment Experience Coordinator
Akwesasne Area Management Board
Akwesasne, QC
04.2017 - 08.2017
- Networked with local high schools and performed outreach to recruit students for the summer student employment program.
- Conducted intake and screening of applications to best match students with employers based on relevant skills and work requirements.
- Conducted ongoing monitoring of students in their place of work throughout duration of program to ensure a quality experience for both employees and employers.
- Collaborated with managers to identify and address employee relations issues.
- Improved organizational filing system for confidential employee records resulting in improved accessibility and efficiency.
- Surveyed employers and employees at the end of the program to identify future areas for improvement.
- Produced final report for organizational director to highlight program strengths, identify areas for improvement, provide participant feedback.
Child Protection Worker
Akwesasne Child And Family Services
03.2015 - 08.2016
- Assessed and categorized intakes according to provincial standards and regulations.
- Responded to alleged abuse, neglect and abandonment of children to determine abusive or unsafe conditions.
- Assessed home conditions to protect children from environmental and social harm.
- Collected information through observation and interviews with children, parents, and relatives.
- Interviewed individuals and families to assess needs and link to appropriate resources.
- Built trusting rapport with children and families to meet case needs.
- Facilitated circle of care meetings to strengthen family unit and develop care plans for at-risk youth.
- Assisted in planning, coordination and implementation of summer programming to promote child wellness.
- Networked with external agencies to deliver educational programming for youth and families.
- Planned and facilitated community outreach events to promote ACFS programs.
Communications Coordinator
Centre For Aboriginal Culture And Education (CACE)
Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
09.2015 - 04.2018
- Took photographs and videos during special events for promotional materials and social media pages.
- Planned, produced and executed weekly email blasts, special event flyers and social media campaigns.
- Wrote, copyedited and formatted Minwadjimowin- CACE's weekly newsletter and distributed to subscribed email list.
- Managed and maintained Ojigkwanong's social media presence and website.
- Responded to internal and external requests for content features in Minwadijmowin newsletter and on social media platforms.
Placement Student
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre; Adult Day Program
09.2013 - 06.2014
- Conducted new client intakes; collected pertinent health information.
- Co-assessed using InterRAI Community Health Assessment to identify changes in client's cognition in line with program mandate.
- Documented functional and/or behavioural changes associated with client disease progress; reported to supervisor.
- Researched, planned and organized mentally stimulating activities for seniors with various types of dementia.
- Engaged participants in recreational activities within group and one-on-one setting.
- Conducted wellness calls with caregivers to discuss client changes and offer support. (e.g. therapeutic listening, educational resources, support groups)
- Co-facilitated monthly support groups for caregivers of dementia.
IT/Communications Worker
Akwesasne Mohawk Board of Education (AMBE)
Akwesasne, Ontario
10.2014 - 02.2015
- Copyedited and proofread print materials and AMBE press releases before dispersal.
- Assisted in planning, producing and executing email blasts, special event flyers and social media campaigns.
- Created content for AMBE website, email list, special event flyers and social media campaigns,
- Generated and copyedited clear and concise verbiage for operations-related content.
- Photographed special events used in promotional materials.
Education
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario11.2019
Diploma - Social Service Worker
Algonquin College
Ottawa, ON04.2014
Skills
- Resource Coordination
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Program Planning
- Documentation Management
- Individual and Community Advocacy
- Strategic Problem-Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Policy Analysis
- Communications
Affiliations
- Canadian Association for Social Workers (CASW)
- Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
Certification
- Resource Development [Wilfred Laurier University]- February 3, 2023
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy [CTRI] - November 25, 2022
- Engaging Individuals and Their Support Network in Navigating the MAID Journey [NICE] - November 15, 2021
- Introduction to Restorative Practices- August 2021
- Mastery in Mental Health Documentation & Medical Necessity: Comprehensive Clinical Documentation for Psychotherapists [PESI]- November 2, 2020
- Advanced Care Planning: Goals of Care and Consent [HPCO] June 3, 2020
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), 2020
Additional Information
- Neh Kanikonriio (Good Mind) Council : Community Board that utilizes a restorative justice approach to provide recommendations for youth diversions, section 84 (CCRA) referrals, and adult minor offenses.
- BeeFit Fitness : Women's boxing instructor
Timeline
Indigenous Academic Advisor
Carleton University
08.2023 - Current
Medical Social Liaison Worker
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
01.2020 - Current
Youth Programs Coordinator
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health
05.2019 - 12.2019
Program Support Worker
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health
05.2018 - 03.2019
Placement Student
Social Planning Council of Ottawa
09.2017 - 12.2017
Student Employment Experience Coordinator
Akwesasne Area Management Board
04.2017 - 08.2017
Communications Coordinator
Centre For Aboriginal Culture And Education (CACE)
09.2015 - 04.2018
Child Protection Worker
Akwesasne Child And Family Services
03.2015 - 08.2016
IT/Communications Worker
Akwesasne Mohawk Board of Education (AMBE)
10.2014 - 02.2015
Placement Student
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre; Adult Day Program
09.2013 - 06.2014
Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work
Carleton University
Diploma - Social Service Worker
Algonquin College