Janelle Sicairos
Atwater
Summary
Driven and adaptable professional with a multidisciplinary background spanning social work, public administration, and legislative policy. Experienced in direct client advocacy, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care through nonprofit roles serving diverse and underserved populations. Gained strategic insight into political processes, policy research, and constituent needs through a California State Assembly internship, supporting legislative staff with briefings, community engagement, and issue analysis. Skilled in boundary setting, time management, and navigating complex systems with empathy and integrity. Currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration. Passionate about building systems rooted in equity, strategy, and sustainable impact, combining inner work, intellectual rigor, and practical execution to drive meaningful change.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Legislative Intern
California State Assembly-Through the Maddy Institute
05.2025 - 08.2025
- Assisted in constituent relations by responding to inquiries, addressing concerns, and providing information on legislative matters.
- Identified, researched and tracked legislative issues relevant to current public issues.
- Updated databases for tracking legislation movement to ensure accuracy of information provided to staff members.
- Prioritized tasks to complete on time or ahead of schedule.
- Conduct policy research and prepare briefs on active legislation and district concerns.
- Attend hearings, briefings, and committee meetings on behalf of staff.
- Gain exposure to the legislative process.
- Brief the member on bills for the committees she sat on.
- Supported policy development by conducting comprehensive background research on various issues.
- Offered strategic recommendations for updates to institutional programs and policies, factoring in current political climate and trends.
- Greeted visitors entering office and asked questions to ascertain how to provide assistance.
- Enhanced legislative research by analyzing bills, tracking their progress, and preparing detailed reports.
THP- NMD Social Worker
Creative Alternatives, Inc.
04.2024 - 05.2025
- Develop and appraisal needs and service plans for each client
- Prepare quarterly reports for each client
- Assist in maintenance and development of the THP NMD program
- Participate and assist in daily function of the THP NMD program, ensuring proper documentation is maintained and enforcing program guidelines
- Assist clients in enrolling in school and financial aid
- Assist clients in job research
- Assist and collaborate with the program director in providing supportive services to the THP-NMD clients
- Conduct individual and group instruction in emancipation skills for THP-NMD clients and track their participation for the emancipation plan
- Maintain records, files, and documentation pertinent to the THP-NMD program in GEERS
- Collaborate and assist in the development of Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP) when necessary
- Teach budgeting skills to clients including financial resources
- Conduct home inspections of clients
- Provide support and guidance toward independent adult living
- Take THP-NMD clients grocery shopping to teach purchasing skills
- Facilitate field trips in the areas of education and job training
- Provide appropriate resources to the client for their specific needs in areas of academic, mental health, medical, etc
Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist / Case Manager
Elite Family Systems
09.2022 - 04.2024
- Provides mental health rehabilitation support and crisis management
- Communicate ongoing mental health objectives to direct care staff
- Facilitate daily therapeutic group meetings among residents
- Provide 1:1 supportive resident interaction
- Fulfilling daily documentation and billing requirements
- Advocates for the best interest of the client
- Creative individualized needs and service plans for the residents
- Collaborate with multiple parties to ensure effective care
Substitute Teacher
Modesto City School District
02.2022 - 01.2023
- Following the curriculum and lesson plan
- Preparing educational materials
- Grading classwork and homework
- Apply various techniques (including interactive methods and game-based activities) to encourage participation and facilitate learning
- Prepare educational materials, such as notes, exercises, and additional resources
- Assign classwork and homework
- Keep track of the student's progress and write down information that'll be useful to the regular teacher
- Report any incidents regarding students' behavior in and out of the classroom
- Maintain a safe environment for students
Youth care Professional II
Aspiranet
09.2020 - 01.2023
- Responsible for providing care and supervision to youth
- Help youth stabilize and achieve their goals
- Works as a team with staff to help maintain a safe, stable, welcoming and trauma-informed environment in the cottage where youth reside
- Engaging with youth individually and in groups as part of daily routines and rituals that include meals, school, and activities, and supporting therapeutic and crisis interventions
- This allows you to do something you're passionate about while gaining real-world experience in the social services arena
Facility Manager
Elite Family Systems
02.2022 - 09.2022
- Direct supervision and monitoring through following the structure of the home and maintaining the client's daily routines
- Assists clients in the development of independent living skills, such as management of money, care of clothing, personal hygiene, household chores, making and keeping appointments and job seeking
- Coordinates with the treatment team, implementing approved service plans and utilizing treatment techniques and interventions to assist clients in achieving their goals
- Encourages and uplifts clients towards success
- When needed, manages the behavior of clients through the use of approved behavioral management techniques and interventions
- Plans and implements the constructive use of leisure time through therapeutic activities
- Fosters positive group experiences and helps in the development of sound social skills
- Dispenses and records all prescribed medications in accordance with approved procedures
- Assists in medical, dental and psychiatric appointments and needs
- Keeps proper documentation and reports
- Develops professional skills by attending all trainings, facility meetings and by being open to supervision
- Assists in the cleanliness and maintenance of the facility, ground and vehicles
Special Treatment Program Counselor
Crestwood Manor
09.2021 - 02.2022
- Facilitating mental health education groups
- Carry a caseload of 11 or 12 residents
- Document progress made in resident's medical record
- Communicate with team members
- Contribute to the resident's plan of care
- Assisted in developing behavior modification strategies designed to reduce symptoms associated with mental illnesses.
- Assessed patient conditions, monitored behaviors and updated supervising physicians with observations and concerns.
- Counseled clients on healthy lifestyle choices such as nutrition, exercise and stress management techniques.
- Planned and implemented individualized care plans to meet the physical, emotional, and mental health needs of clients.
- Maintained accurate patient records according to HIPAA guidelines while adhering to quality standards established by the organization.
- Evaluated client responses to interventions in order to modify treatment plan accordingly.
- Created therapeutic relationships with clients through empathetic listening skills and active engagement during counseling sessions.
Facility Manager
Elite Family Systems
04.2021 - 09.2021
- Direct supervision and monitoring through following the structure of the home and maintaining the client's daily routines
- Assists clients in the development of independent living skills, such as management of money, care of clothing, personal hygiene, household chores, making and keeping appointments and job seeking
- Coordinates with the treatment team, implementing approved service plans and utilizing treatment techniques and interventions to assist clients in achieving their goals
- Encourages and uplifts clients towards success
- When needed, manages the behavior of clients through the use of approved behavioral management techniques and interventions
- Plans and implements the constructive use of leisure time through therapeutic activities
- Fosters positive group experiences and helps in the development of sound social skills
- Dispenses and records all prescribed medications in accordance with approved procedures
- Assists in medical, dental and psychiatric appointments and needs
- Keeps proper documentation and reports
- Develops professional skills by attending all trainings, facility meetings and by being open to supervision
- Assists in the cleanliness and maintenance of the facility, ground and vehicles
Substitute Paraprofessional
Modesto City School District
01.2020 - 08.2021
- Understanding the daily schedule and what tasks will be completed
- Preparing the classroom for activities by rearranging furniture, gathering supplies and performing other tasks
- Providing assistance and extra instruction to individual students and small groups to reinforce lessons
- Intervening when students exhibit problem behaviors and modeling good behavior for the entire class
- Supervising students during activities such as recess and lunch
- Assisting with clerical tasks, such as taking attendance and calculating grades
- Aiding therapists who work with students in school settings
- Collecting data and compiling reports
Activities Assistant
California Psychiatric Transitions
03.2020 - 07.2020
- Develop and implement creative, expressive, educational, psychosocial, recreational, and activity-based groups that will effectively engage residents and support their treatment plans
Assistant Manager
Wingstop
04.2019 - 01.2020
- Promoted high customer satisfaction by resolving problems with knowledgeable and friendly service.
- Managed time effectively to ensure tasks were completed on schedule and deadlines were met.
- Provided excellent service and attention to customers when face-to-face or through phone conversations.
- Identified needs of customers promptly and efficiently.
- Managed inventory and supplies to ensure materials were available when needed.
- Provided support and guidance to colleagues to maintain a collaborative work environment.
- Worked effectively in team environments to make the workplace more productive.
- Prioritized and organized tasks to efficiently accomplish service goals.
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services.
- Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills, resolving issues efficiently and effectively.
Education
Master of Public Administration - Public Administration
California State University, Stanislaus
Turlock, CA05-2026
Bachelor's Degree - Psychology
California State University, Stanislaus
Turlock, CA12.2017
Associate's Degree - Psychology
Merced College
Merced, CA05.2015
High School Diploma -
John H Pitman High School
Turlock, CA05.2012
Skills
- Reliable
- Integrity
- Leadership
- Empathy
- Time Management
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Customer Service
- Trauma-informed care
- Boundary setting
- Social services
- Case management
- Client advocacy
- Crisis intervention techniques
- Constituent services
- Legislative research
- Standard office practices
- Bill tracking
- Policy briefs
- Problem-solving abilities
- Active listening
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Creative and critical thinking
- Relationship building
- Interpersonal skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Nonprofit experience
- Data entry
- Public administration
- Issue advocacy
- Political strategy
- Policy analysis
- Attention to detail
- Organizational skills
- Decision-making
- Verbal and written communication
- Task prioritization
- Staff supervision
- Continuous improvement
- Effective multitasking
Awards
- Employee of the Month
- Dean's List
Timeline
Legislative Intern
California State Assembly-Through the Maddy Institute
05.2025 - 08.2025
THP- NMD Social Worker
Creative Alternatives, Inc.
04.2024 - 05.2025
Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist / Case Manager
Elite Family Systems
09.2022 - 04.2024
Substitute Teacher
Modesto City School District
02.2022 - 01.2023
Facility Manager
Elite Family Systems
02.2022 - 09.2022
Special Treatment Program Counselor
Crestwood Manor
09.2021 - 02.2022
Facility Manager
Elite Family Systems
04.2021 - 09.2021
Youth care Professional II
Aspiranet
09.2020 - 01.2023
Activities Assistant
California Psychiatric Transitions
03.2020 - 07.2020
Substitute Paraprofessional
Modesto City School District
01.2020 - 08.2021
Assistant Manager
Wingstop
04.2019 - 01.2020
Bachelor's Degree - Psychology
California State University, Stanislaus
Associate's Degree - Psychology
Merced College
High School Diploma -
John H Pitman High School
Master of Public Administration - Public Administration
California State University, Stanislaus
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