Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Tara Lawrance

Minden Hills

Summary

I have dedicated over 20 years to supporting children, youth, and families in need of assistance in accessing and navigating mental health service providers and the broader community systems. Currently, I serve as an Educational Assistant at a school in Minden while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus on Social Development Studies. After completing my degree (in December of 2025), I aspire to further my education by obtaining a Bachelor of Social Work degree. I am deeply committed to supporting and uplifting members of my community and aspire to continue fostering initiatives that contribute to the overall betterment of everyone involved.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Educational Assistant

Trillium Lakelands District School Board
01.2022 - Current
  • Enforced administrative policies on behaviour and social interactions in accordance with internal and regulatory guidelines.
  • Assisted in managing classroom behaviour, and addressing conflicts
  • Collaborated with teachers and staff to create a cohesive learning environment.
  • Developed strategies to accommodate diverse learning needs, reinforcing my analytical skills
  • Acted as a mentor for students, fostering a sense of responsibility and leadership

Crisis and Intake Worker

Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness
01.2019 - 01.2022
  • Provided phone, virtual and in person support to those who were experience significant crisis.
  • Provided information to those seeking information to other services and resources within the community.
  • Advocated for families, while empowering them through engagement as partners of the treatment team.
  • Supported families through the child and welfare services to ensure all polices and well-beings were being adhered to.
  • Conducted effective follow-ups with clients after initial intake appointments, ensuring ongoing support and addressing any emerging needs or concerns.
  • Managed high-pressure situations effectively while working under tight deadlines during busy periods in the intake department, prioritizing tasks efficiently without compromising quality of service.
  • Advocated for clients' needs within community resources and services network.
  • Built safety plans to lower risk of crisis and intervened in specific manners outlined by procedures.
  • Established strong professional relationships with community partners, ensuring seamless referrals and access to appropriate resources for clients in need.
  • Conducted in-depth assessments to understand individual needs, facilitating tailored support plans for effective crisis resolution.

Live in Child and Youth Worker

Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness
01.2005 - 01.2019
  • Facilitated therapeutic conversations with youth, helping them express their feelings and develop coping strategies. This experience honed my communication skills
  • Managed crises involving emotional outbursts or conflicts among the youth.
  • Worked alongside multidisciplinary teams, collaborated with therapists, educators, and medical professionals to develop and implement tailored care plans for each child.
  • Responsible for ensuring the physical and emotional safety of the youth in my care. This included conducting regular safety checks and following protocols to prevent incidents.
  • Conducted intakes and worked in tandem with Child's Welfare workers to complete assessments.
  • Promoted positive behavior change in young clients by utilizing evidence-based therapeutic techniques.
  • Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current with trends, theories, and best practices within the field of child and youth work.
  • Facilitated skill-building sessions to promote independence and self-sufficiency in young clients.
  • Assisted families in navigating the social services system, including applying for benefits, accessing resources and connecting with other family support services.
  • Documented data and completed accurate updates to case records.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Social Development Studies

University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON
12-2025

Child and Youth Worker Program - undefined

Fanshawe College
London, ON
01.2005

Skills

  • Strong leadership skills and the willingness to take initiative
  • Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
  • Growing knowledge and understanding of the law and required legal standards for child welfare
  • Demonstrate ability to work effectively in crisis situations and making decisive timely decisions
  • Efficient planning and organization skills
  • Outgoing personality with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and or within a multi disciplinary team
  • Ability to facilitate educational programs / groups both in person and virtually

Certification

  • Understanding Complex / developmental Trauma (2022)
  • St.John’s Frist Aid and CPR
  • Registered Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator (2021)
  • Post - Vention: Suicide Completion Community Response (2020)
  • Infant Mental Health (June 2020)
  • TAPP - C Assessment Training (2020)
  • ASIST (2019)

Timeline

Educational Assistant

Trillium Lakelands District School Board
01.2022 - Current

Crisis and Intake Worker

Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness
01.2019 - 01.2022

Live in Child and Youth Worker

Vanier Children’s Mental Wellness
01.2005 - 01.2019

Child and Youth Worker Program - undefined

Fanshawe College

Bachelor of Arts - Social Development Studies

University of Waterloo

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Tara Lawrance