Teaira Washington, MSW
Los Angeles
Summary
Program management professional with strong track record of driving successful projects and initiatives. Skilled in strategic planning, budget management, and stakeholder engagement. Known for fostering team collaboration and adapting to evolving project requirements, ensuring consistent achievement of objectives. Proven ability in leadership, problem-solving, and delivering impactful results.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Program Director
Bruin Guardian Scholars (BGS) / McKinney-Vento Scholar
Los Angeles, California
12.2021 - Current
- Program Development, Implementation, and Evaluation: Developed, implemented, and evaluated programs aligned with the BGS & BRC mission and values, ensuring these initiatives contributed to the empowerment and well-being of students. This included designing program structures, setting measurable goals, and regularly assessing program impact and outcome supporting a student population of over 250 students.
- Event Coordination and Fundraising: Plan, coordinate, and execute a diverse array of student focus events and community engagement from small community gatherings to large-scale events, effectively engaging the student population with the campus culture to empower the voices and student experiences of foster youth across campus.
- Program Evaluation Tools: Developed and implemented comprehensive program evaluation tools to accurately measure program effectiveness, utilizing data-driven insights to make informed decisions and continuously improve program quality and impact.
- Program Budget Management: Developed and managed program budgets and tools for the BGS & MKV programs, ensuring financial sustainability through careful planning, monitoring, and reporting of expenditures, and aligning financial resources with programmatic needs and priorities.
- Grant and Fundraising Opportunities: Identified and pursued grant and fundraising opportunities to support program growth and expansion, successfully proposing new initiatives that aligned with the programs’ goals and mission, resulting in increased student funding and student resources.
- Partnership Building: Built and maintained strategic partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders, including on campus partner departments, organizations, volunteers, and other local groups or communities, fostering collaboration.
- Staff Supervision and Training: Supervised programs student interns, externs, and Masters of Social work interns, providing ongoing training and support to enhance their skills and performance, and conducting regular performance evaluations to ensure high standards of service delivery and staff development.
- Public Representation and Community Outreach: Represented the university/department through public speaking engagements and community outreach efforts, effectively communicating the Bruin Resource Center’s mission, programs, and impact to diverse audiences and stakeholders.
- Strategic Planning Collaboration: Collaborated with the BRC executive team to develop strategic plans and objectives, contributing to the overall direction and growth of the program by providing insights and recommendations based on programmatic experiences and community needs.
- Strategic Team Growth & Development: Expanded team from two to over fifteen employees (professional and student) by leading strategic recruitment, training, and professional development initiatives to support the programs’ increasing needs driven by incoming grants and program expansions.
- Resource Information and Referrals: Provided trauma-informed case management and crisis intervention. Provided resource information and referrals to on and off campus-programs as necessary, connecting residents with additional services and support to meet their needs.
- The Bruin Guardian Scholars (BGS) Program serves students who have experienced foster care, guardianship or kinship care, probation, or who are homelessness. BGS mission is to build a welcoming community that promotes student wellness, belonging, and academic success. BGS support students through monthly community-building events, workshops, and life-skills development opportunities that help them navigate UCLA and thrive both on campus and beyond.
Master of Social Welfare Practicum Instructor
Luskin School of Public Affairs University of California
Los Angeles, California
12.2022 - 06.2025
- Supervise 2-3 MSW students in field placements per academic year
- Provide training and feedback in trauma-informed practice and youth engagement.
- Collaborate closely with agency partners, university faculty, and field education staff to ensure students are gaining meaningful experience aligned with program competencies.
- Provide weekly supervision, evaluating student performance, facilitating learning contracts, and fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment that prepares students to excel in diverse social service settings.
- The Master of Social Welfare Practicum Instructor provides graduate social work students with high-quality field education, mentorship, and professional development. This role includes supervising MSW students during their practicum placements, guiding them in applying classroom learning to real-world practice, and supporting their growth as ethical, culturally responsive, and client-centered social workers.
Program Committee Member
Happy Trails for Kids
Santa Monica, California
05.2017 - 05.2022
- Help coordinate, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Camp Director and other planning meeting committee members, programming opportunities for the children served by Happy Trails, including communicating directly with prospective facilitators or community partners.
- Provide input and recommendations regarding program development that would provide campers with a diverse range of experiences that align with the spirit and goals of Happy Trails.
- Assist in planning and providing support to activities and events hosted by Happy Trails for Kids on a year-round basis serving well over 300 youth across Los Angeles county.
- Attend and participate in planning meetings and other logistical matters in order to effectively implement an event, workshop or camp experience. Attend and facilitate training and meetings as assigned.
- Provides support to the Program Director/Camp Director for the day-to-day program. activities, with specific focus to programming under the Happy Hangout Initiative including community outreach activities for programs.
- Facilitated strategic planning sessions to align organizational goals with community needs.
- Coordinated volunteer training sessions, ensuring alignment with organizational mission and values.
- Attended committee meetings to propose, discuss and advance management and investment ideas.
Mental Health Therapist
Tessie Cleveland Community Services
Los Angeles, CA
01.2019 - 12.2021
- Conducted ongoing mental health assessments of well over 50 clients by interviewing clients and their families to obtain family, social, employment, medical and mental health history.
- Developed and implemented individualized treatment plans; and conduct regular therapy sessions to address clients’ needs.
- Work with multidisciplinary teams to address barriers to treatment, provide advocacy for linkages and coordinate with support services to link clients to resources to ensure continuity of care.
- Implemented evidence-based practices to inform treatment in working with clients and families.
Child Care Residential Counselor
Dimondale Adolescent Care Facility
Gardena, CA
09.2017 - 09.2018
- Maintained disciplinary and behavioral over-site of residents by conducting frequent observations to detect problematic behavior.
- Supervised residents’ (ages 14-18) engagement and participation in facility programs.
- Facilitated daily activities tailored to each child’s individual needs in regards to education, employment, housing, budgeting, helping them form a reliable network of people from the community they can seek out for counsel.
Clinical Social Worker Intern
Green Dot Charter
Los Angeles, CA
01.2018 - 06.2018
- Provided individual and/or group evidence-based therapy for students and balanced an individual caseload of 8.
- Co-Facilitated ‘Girls Empowerment Group’ and ‘Anxiety and Social Skills Group’ with an average of 10 students for each group.
- Interviewed and completed psycho-social assessments, including initial and triennial evaluations, manifest determination, functional analysis, social-emotional evaluation, and others as needed.
Youth Source Center, Intern
Brotherhood Crusade, Youth Source Center
Los Angeles, CA
08.2017 - 12.2017
- Assisted well over 30 young adults, adults, and groups on a short-term intervention level through case management through grief and loss counseling, Psychotherapy and other Evidence Based Practice Models.
- Provided resource support that facilitated opportunities for a better quality of life and improved health and wellness in the areas of academic success, social, and economic growth.
- Engaged young adults in community-based youth development and innovative social work practices on macro and micro level.
Education
Master of Social Work - Children, Youth, and Families
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 05-2018
Bachelor of Arts - Gender, Ethnicity, and Multicultural Studies
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona06-2016
Skills
- Relationship building
- Effective leader
- Program leadership
- Staff development
- Organizational leadership
- Strategic leadership
- Budgeting and financial management
Certification
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, California [LCSW – expected November 2026] Board of Behavioral Sciences
- Associate Clinical Social Worker, California [ACSW – 84694] Board of Behavioral Sciences
TRAININGS & CERTIFICATIONS
Psychological & Mental Health First Aid Crisis Intervention
Biopsychosocial Intake Assessment Problem Solving Therapy (PST) Motivational Interviewing (MI) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Trauma Focused Therapy (TF-CBT)
MAP Certified Therapist
Systems & Software
Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Social Media Platforms, Communication Tools
Affiliations
- National Association of Black Social Workers, Greater Los Angeles Chapter
- National Association of Student Affairs Administrators (NASPA)
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
Accomplishments
University of California, Los Angeles STAR AWARD- 2024
University of California, Los Angeles STAR AWARD -2025
Happy Trials for Kids- Staff Superstar Award recipient & keynote speaker
Timeline
Master of Social Welfare Practicum Instructor
Luskin School of Public Affairs University of California
12.2022 - 06.2025
Program Director
Bruin Guardian Scholars (BGS) / McKinney-Vento Scholar
12.2021 - Current
Mental Health Therapist
Tessie Cleveland Community Services
01.2019 - 12.2021
Clinical Social Worker Intern
Green Dot Charter
01.2018 - 06.2018
Child Care Residential Counselor
Dimondale Adolescent Care Facility
09.2017 - 09.2018
Youth Source Center, Intern
Brotherhood Crusade, Youth Source Center
08.2017 - 12.2017
Program Committee Member
Happy Trails for Kids
05.2017 - 05.2022
Master of Social Work - Children, Youth, and Families
University of Southern California
Bachelor of Arts - Gender, Ethnicity, and Multicultural Studies
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona