Sandra Farris
Los Angeles
Summary
Caring, Caregiver Specialist dedicated to aiding youth and caregiver community members. More than twenty-five years of assisting career, educational and social development of people. Works with caregivers even youth of diverse backgrounds and histories. Encourages achievement among future community leaders.
Successful experience with young adults and caregivers. Recognized consistently for performance, excellence and contributions to success in the foster care industry. Strengths in networking within the community, providing resource, parent/ youth advocate and navigation, backed by training in MCART Child Abuse, Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting, Train For Trainer, Monitored Visitation, Mental health First Aid, Financial Literacy, DCFS Mandated Reporter, Trauma Informed Care, Data input Category, Data Collecting, Cultural Proficient, Communication & Boundaries, Child Welfare Dependency, Overview of Dependency Child Welfare Regulations, 4-Pillars of Stability Professional Engagement, Extended Foster Care Support AB12, Building Mentoring Relationships & Engagement, Mentoring Strategies for Success, Trauma Inform Training, Submitting Referrals and First Aid & CPR.
Focused on providing highest quality services to youths & caregivers of all communities. Good communication skills.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Care Service Specialist
Fostering Unity Foundation
Acton
08.2020 - Current
- In partnerships with California Foster Youth Initiative AmeriCorps Program, The Alliance for Children's Rights Expectant Parenting Youth Program, and The Department of Children & Family Services through Fostering Unity Foundation, I provide supportive services to caregivers, foster youth in out of home care, and biological families reunifying.
- Delivered to caregivers and youth transitional assistance with culturally diverse backgrounds in areas of education, life skills, career development, employment, coordinate and case management, assist with navigating through welfare and government systems, maintain comprehensive records keeping, collect and input program data, provide supportive services in crisis prevention or intervention, coordinate and submit referrals to directly support caregiver or clients need, resource in housing, food distribution, employment, mental health services, caregiver skill development training, events, self-care, and support groups, connection to faith base and government organizations, assistance in health care enrollment.
- Attend ongoing supportive training, community outreach engagement, special events, planning, coordination, and participation, travel between sites and offsite events.
Voluntary Worker
AmeriCorps Child Abuse Prevention Center
North Hills
08.2020 - Current
- Volunteered with AmeriCorps Foster Youth Initiative Program to mentor youth currently placed in the foster care system. Providing each youth mentorship tools towards gaining or improving transitional life skills, career goals, financial budgeting, administering Casey life skills assessment pre, mid, and post, assistance with school enrollment, obtaining high school diploma or higher education, tutoring, managing calendar, set telephone and virtual appointments, develop a monthly schedule, maintained records keeping Casey Data Entry, volunteer recruitment, success stories, monthly service activity and updated data information for the organization on youth mentee on excel spreadsheet, community outreach engagement, special events planning coordinating and participation, along with continuous program training.
Foster Care Provider
Department Of Children And Family Services
Los Angeles
01.2003 - 04.2020
- State licensed foster parent, provided temporary shelter or permanent housing in caring, nurturing therapeutic family home environment, to children placed in out of care, by The Department of Children and Family Services with expectations of reunifying with their biological families.
- Duties included, built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs, documented data and completed accurate updates to case records, case management, recommend services and participate in Child and Family Therapy, organized activities for birth parents and in-home support counselors, Increased youth participation in pro-social activities collaboration with therapist, wrap-around team, case social worker, children's attorney, court system and community resources, reported child abuse in accordance with legal standards of mandatory reporters, identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems, worked flexible hours; night, weekend, and holidays around the clock method, develop maintain courteous respectful and effective working relationships with everyone, transporting children to family visitation, medical and dental visits, children's court appearance, activities, school and sometimes faith-based organizations.
- Participate in completing a home welfare check and inspection to align with state and children services program guidelines. Collaborated with the departments' case social worker, child family team, children's court system, and schools to achieve the highest outcome for children and their families.
Foster Care Provider
Institute For Black Parenting
Carson
02.1994 - 03.2003
- Fostering youth placed into the foster care system, in out of home care through a Foster Family Agency.
- Description of duties; organized activities for birth parents and in-home support counselors, case planning and documentation, Interviewed individuals and families to assess needs and provide informational resources, promoted and managed teen workshops on assisting children in attaining academic success, collaborated with community program leaders and advocates to make resources accessible to those in need, complete all paperwork, recognizing any discrepancies and addressing them in a timely fashion, initiate medical and dental to ensure children's health, provide transportation to and from court, monitor family visitation, built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs, organize children and family activities, work with case social workers, teach youth life skills, participate in home welfare checks to align with the state of california, children's services and foster family agency program guidelines.
Education
No Degree - Clinical Psychology
Los Angeles Southwest College
Los Angeles, CAAssociate of Arts - Cognitive Psychology
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA02.1985
Cosmetology License - Cosmetology Education
Marinello School of Beauty - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA09.1984
High School Diploma -
John Charles Fremont High School
Los Angeles, CA06.1983
Skills
- Client Home Visits
- Active Listening
- Case Management
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Client Needs Assessments
- Client Assistance Referrals
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Client and Family Interviews
- Maintaining Client Records
- Implementing Client Care Plans
- Report Preparation
- Relationship Building
- Crisis Intervention
- Problem Solving
- Group and Individual Counseling
- Client Screening
- Case File Management
- Academic Advisement
- Microsoft Office
- Client Intakes
- Scheduling and Appointment Setting
- Housing Navigation
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Data Collection and Entry
- Client Advocacy
- Life Skills Development
- Positive Reinforcement Methods
- Workflow Management
- Community Resource Navigation
- Supportive Counseling Techniques
- Community Outreach Programs
- Mental Health Crisis Response
- Educational Programs
Timeline
Care Service Specialist
Fostering Unity Foundation
08.2020 - Current
Voluntary Worker
AmeriCorps Child Abuse Prevention Center
08.2020 - Current
Foster Care Provider
Department Of Children And Family Services
01.2003 - 04.2020
Foster Care Provider
Institute For Black Parenting
02.1994 - 03.2003
No Degree - Clinical Psychology
Los Angeles Southwest College
Associate of Arts - Cognitive Psychology
Santa Monica College
Cosmetology License - Cosmetology Education
Marinello School of Beauty - Los Angeles
High School Diploma -
John Charles Fremont High School
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