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
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
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
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
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)
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)
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
- 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
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