Veronica Silva Stalis

Provide professional-level counseling and education services to clients, including screenings and assessments, preparation of court and client reports, and case management. Facilitation of groups and individual counseling sessions. Perform assessment interviews, evaluate potential clients, including criminal justice referrals, in various locations, and recommend appropriate placement for clients. Initiate and maintain a variety of progress notes in client tracking and management systems, service records, and other required documentation in standard form and language, and in compliance with state, federal, and programmatic guidelines. Assess client recovery needs, goals, and general condition to develop the treatment/service plan. Provide consultation, information, and education to community groups and individuals with substance use disorders. Manage caseloads and monitor the progress of clients during the term of treatment. Prepare client progress reports for the courts and the probation department. Conduct alcohol/drug testing. Attends professional and staff meetings to stay abreast of current trends or methods of effective substance use disorder assessment, case management, and treatment. Participate in diagnostic and evaluation staff meetings for cooperative planning and treatment. Make appointments, gather data, keep records, write reports, and maintain all appropriate case documentation, following all state, federal, and programmatic guidelines. Participate in community organization activities, establish and maintain contact with community agencies, and may serve on committees regarding the community’s needs or individual clients. Respond to inquiries regarding program services and client activity records when appropriate.

Actively engage consumers and their families to determine what services and support will assist in navigating their personal recovery goals, considering the unique needs and preferences of the consumers and their families. Coordination and consumer linkage to community-based resources to maximize support systems, promote wellness and recovery, and minimize the risk of hospitalization or homelessness. Ensure that consumers attend therapy and important medication management appointments as outlined in their care plans, provide reminders, and help with access to transportation. Conduct and document assessments, medication management, and present updates to the multi-disciplinary treatment team. Assist consumers in the development, implementation, and monitoring of treatment plans, with the aim of improving their level of functioning within the individual family and community. Build rapport with consumers by using motivational interviewing techniques. Develop and carry out preventive community outreach services in collaboration with community partner agencies, and contractors. Provide simple instructions and coaching/training related to medication management, public transportation, continuing education, budgeting, housing, and other subjects related to successful independent living and other life skills. Provide consumer support in obtaining, maintaining, and managing outside resources for financial support. Act as an advocate for the consumer and family, and in partnership with them, be a liaison with the family, legal entities, various community groups, and others as required. Maintain accurate, complete, and legible field notes and activity logs of all consumer contact and support provided. Assist consumers in finding and maintaining housing. Assist consumers in developing budgeting, personal grooming, hygiene, and general housekeeping skills as part of their activities of daily living.

Interview consumers to ascertain the nature of their problems, to determine social services needs, by using motivational interviewing techniques. Assist consumers with utilizing available resources in the community based on their needs. Act as a consumer's advocate by providing feedback to medical, mental health, and other community agency staff. Refer and/or schedule the consumer with an on-site therapist for counseling sessions or PCP medical appointments. Monitor the six-month moderate to severe BH Screening report to provide case management services to consumers by checking in with them via face-to-face meetings, phone calls, or letters. During the absence of the OAHS Office Assistant, I fill in with daily data entry activities, verify consumers' eligibility for BH Screening by comparing the PCP schedule from Centricity to the OAHS Access Database, and administer the BH Screening tool, scoring accordingly. Create new consumer profiles as needed in the OAHS Access Database, and review and maintain OAHS case records. If the consumer scores moderate to severe, I refer the consumer to the on-site therapist for a risk assessment. If the on-site therapist or unit manager is not available, I conduct the consumer’s risk assessment and refer to the appropriate staff or agency. Interpret in Spanish for the therapist. Conduct home visits in connection with casework assignments. Assist consumers in accessing available resources and linkages in the community. Transport consumers to their appointments. Assist the consumer with completing forms. Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with various agency staff, community groups, and resource agencies. Maintain the Resource Rolodex on the MHSA 'M' drive. Prepare written program reports concisely, and clearly. Prepare and provide quarterly and yearly reports to management. Participate in training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of the case management processes.

Assess and enroll applicants for alcohol and drug treatment services. Provide ongoing case management support for clients, which may include recommendations and referrals. Interpret and explain rules, regulations, and policies to clients and the general public. Prepare and maintain case records, eligibility, process documents, case narratives, self-sufficiency plans, memos, and correspondence. Maintain the confidentiality of all business information. Plan, develop, and conduct presentations of ancillary services to overcome barriers such as parenting education, managing their finances, child care resources, nutrition education, housing resources, emergency food and shelter resources, and transportation services. Develop, implement, and monitor individual service plans to prepare families for self-sufficiency. Maintain communication and correspondence with community agencies (i.e., Special Needs Unit, CWS, Probation, Parole, Mental Health, etc.). To update the client's participation status. Act as a lead worker by training and supervising new employees in office and department procedures, respective to their job description.

Assist clients with understanding and completing forms, including Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, Presumptive Eligibility, Medi-Cal Managed Care, and California Kids applications. Perform outreach services, including transporting clients, giving public presentations, contacting various groups of people by letter, telephone, or home visits to inform them of the need and availability of preventative health services, operating a health fair booth, and assisting with T.B. clinic. Assist patients in obtaining needed follow-up by scheduling appointments, arranging transportation, and childcare. Provide educational classes, including fetal development, hospital procedures, parenting of the newborn, caring for the newborn, infant feeding, family planning, health and safety, and labor and delivery. Interpret (English/Spanish) for public health nurses on various health-related home visits. Provide counseling regarding the Perinatal Program. Conduct postpartum assessments. Review and verify health problems, financial status, and eligibility for medical services. Document, generate referrals, and maintain case records of patients and families. Establish and maintain files of persons referred for follow-up, treatment, transportation, and further services. Prepare reports on the status of the Perinatal Program.

Gather and organize materials for presentation sessions. Conduct nutrition and health-related educational sessions for the promotion of positive health and meal planning. Teach basic nutritional concepts to clients, including food preparation and dietary needs, to improve their nutritional status. Present educational materials such as exhibits, posters, displays, pamphlets, overhead projectors, and videos. Conduct health education interviews. Issue W.I.C. Vouchers are to be given to participants. Keep inventory of educational materials, and order replacement materials as needed. Review and update participant records to ensure eligibility.