Jennifer Mercado
Victorville
Summary
Compassionate and trauma-informed Master of Social Work graduate with extensive school-based experience providing assessment, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, and multidisciplinary collaboration for children and adolescents in K–12 settings. Skilled in conducting psychosocial assessments, suicide risk evaluations, family engagement, behavioral interventions, and connecting students and families with community resources. Dedicated to promoting student well-being, behavioral success, and equitable access to mental health supports within educational environments.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Social Worker Intern
Snowline Unified School District
Phelan, California
09.2025 - 06.2026
- Provide Tier 2 and Tier 3 mental health interventions within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework.
- Support student social-emotional learning through individual counseling and small group interventions focused on emotional regulation, coping skills, and peer relationships.
- Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial-spiritual assessments evaluating emotional, behavioral, family, and environmental factors impacting student functioning and academic engagement.
- Administer screening tools including PHQ-9 and GAD-7 to assess student mental health needs.
- Conduct suicide risk assessments, threat assessments, and safety planning for students experiencing emotional crises.
- Respond to student mental health emergencies in collaboration with school personnel to ensure student safety.
- Participate in IEP and 504 meetings as part of multidisciplinary teams supporting student mental health and academic success.
- Conduct home visits to engage families and identify barriers affecting attendance and educational functioning.
- Connect students and families with community resources, including mental health services, housing support, and other social services.
- Collaborate with teachers, administrators, school psychologists, counselors, and support staff to address student behavioral and emotional concerns.
- Assist in identifying behavioral concerns and implementing intervention strategies to support positive student outcomes.
- Maintain clinical progress notes and document student services through service logs in the Aeries student information system.
- Co-developed curriculum for a girls social skills support group focused on emotional regulation, communication, and peer relationships.
- Facilitated a student grief support group helping students process loss and develop healthy coping skills.
Mental Health Clinician Intern
Central School District
Rancho Cucamonga, California
08.2025 - 09.2025
- Provided individual counseling to K–8 students experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges.
- Conducted crisis intervention and risk assessments for suicidal and homicidal ideation in collaboration with school staff.
- Completed classroom observations to assess behavioral functioning and environmental factors impacting learning.
- Conducted psychosocial interviews to inform intervention planning.
- Collaborated with teachers and school personnel to support student behavioral and academic success.
School Bus Driver
Victor Valley Union High School District
Victorville, California
09.2019 - 10.2024
- Safely transported middle and high school students throughout the High Desert region.
- Maintained compliance with district safety protocols and transportation regulations.
- Fostered positive interactions with students and school staff to support a safe and respectful environment.
Social Work Intern
Lian Dante Foundation
Houston, Texas
01.2024 - 03.2024
- Co-facilitated a Youth Empowerment Group serving adolescents from refugee families.
- Participated in training through the Texas After Violence Project supporting families impacted by incarceration and trauma.
- Assisted in the development of an online training program for Chamber of Commerce members.
- Participated in supervision and professional development related to trauma-informed care and family systems.
- Received training in grant writing and nonprofit program development.
Social Work Intern
Harmony Homes Foster Care Agency
Apple Valley, California
05.2023 - 10.2023
- Assisted with case management services for children placed in foster care.
- Conducted home visits to assess family dynamics, safety concerns, and placement stability.
- Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings reviewing case progress and service needs.
- Assisted in treatment planning and coordinated services with Wraparound providers.
- Supervised visitation between foster youth and biological parents while monitoring safety and emotional well-being.
Case Manager / Case Specialist
Child Care Resource Center
Victorville, California
02.2015 - 03.2017
- Managed a caseload of approximately 150–200 families receiving subsidized childcare services.
- Determined program eligibility using California Title 5 regulations.
- Prepared documentation for audits and eligibility appeal hearings.
- Connected families with community resources addressing housing, childcare, and financial needs.
Education
Master of Social Work (MSW) - Advanced Standing
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, California06-2026
Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) -
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Arcata, CA07-2026
Bachelor of Arts - Social Work
University of Massachusetts Global
Victorville, California03-2024
Associate of Arts - Social Science
Barstow Community College
Barstow, California07-2021
Skills
- Crisis Intervention
- Suicide Risk Assessment
- Psychosocial Assessment
- Individual Counseling
- Group Counseling
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Behavioral Intervention Strategies
- MTSS
- IEP Team Collaboration
- Family Engagement
- Case Management
- Community Resource Coordination
- CBT Techniques
- Clinical Documentation
- Crisis De-escalation
Group Facilitation Experience
- Girls Social Skills Support Group – Snowline Unified School District
- Student Grief Support Group – Snowline Unified School District
- Youth Empowerment Group for Refugee Adolescents – Lian Dante Foundation
Clinical Assessment Tools
- PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)
- GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7)
- Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
- Psychosocial Assessment
- Suicide Risk Assessment
- Threat Risk Assessment
- Safety Planning
Certification
- Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC), School Social Work and Child Welfare & Attendance (Expected July 2026)
- CPR / First Aid Certification
- Commercial Driver's License (Passenger and School Bus Endorsements)
- Valid California Driver's License
Affiliations
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – Member
- Phi Alpha Honor Society – Member
Accomplishments
- Recipient of the 2026 Professional Excellence & Achievement Award from Loma Linda University School of Social Work. Recognized for exceptional professionalism, leadership, and dedication to the social work profession throughout graduate education and field practice.
- Inducted into Phi Alpha Honor Society at both Loma Linda University and the University of Massachusetts Global.
- Graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work.
- Co-developed and facilitated school-based social skills and grief support groups serving K–12 students.
- Provided crisis intervention, suicide risk assessments, and multidisciplinary support to students in school settings.
Honors
Magna Cum Laude Graduate, Phi Alpha Honor Society
Relevant Graduate Coursework
- Crisis & Trauma Interventions
- Behavioral & Cognitive Therapies (CBT)
- Fundamentals of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- DSM: Diagnosis, Diversity, & Differential Diagnosis
- Psychodynamic Therapies
- Psychopharmacology in Clinical Practice
- Forensic Interviewing
Timeline
School Social Worker Intern
Snowline Unified School District
09.2025 - 06.2026
Mental Health Clinician Intern
Central School District
08.2025 - 09.2025
Social Work Intern
Lian Dante Foundation
01.2024 - 03.2024
Social Work Intern
Harmony Homes Foster Care Agency
05.2023 - 10.2023
School Bus Driver
Victor Valley Union High School District
09.2019 - 10.2024
Case Manager / Case Specialist
Child Care Resource Center
02.2015 - 03.2017
Master of Social Work (MSW) - Advanced Standing
Loma Linda University
Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) -
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Bachelor of Arts - Social Work
University of Massachusetts Global
Associate of Arts - Social Science
Barstow Community College