Alitza Shoss Email & Phone Number

South Bethlehem, Ny, Us

Schenectady, New York, United States

Forest Hills, Ny

Westchester County, Ny

I supervise a team of six staff members, composed of both social workers and case managers. I provide weekly clinical and case management supervision to the my assigned staff and oversee service provision of roughly 35-40 youth in a residential treatment setting. I participate in weekly multi-disciplinary meetings to collaborate on and work towards permanency for the youth in foster care. I am responsible for reviewing all clinical materials, referrals and legal documents completed by those whom I supervise and offer constructive feedback and opportunities for professional development through routine correspondence. In this role, I serve to address the needs of the agency from an administrative standpoint as well as to support and advocate on behalf of the staff I supervise and the youth & families we serve.

Westchester County, Ny

Provision of weekly individual, group and family therapy with youth and their families both in a residential treatment setting as well as within the community. Completion of weekly documentation, making necessary community-based referrals and meeting DSS/ACS mandates for casework contact in the community are among the many tasks associated with this position. In a residential-treatment center I am also fortunate to participate in regular multi-disciplinary meetings for collaborative efforts and at times, may be called upon to attend family court/criminal court hearings for the clients served.

Regular contact with collateral sources and community based providers for referralsParticipate as part of a multi-disciplinary team to facilitate weekly medical roundsComplete psycho-social and mental health assessmentsHIV/AIDS education; harm reduction education; safer sex educationProvide supportive counseling

Caseload of 10-15 adolescent, female residentsProvide weekly individual, group and family counseling Proper documentation of sessions and service coordination contactsDischarge planning and referrals for continuity of care Completing Family Assessment Service Plans; attending treatment planning meetingsCoordinating with community-based services providers; legal representatives

Clinical Case Work Practitioner ICompleting psycho-social assessments upon patient's admission to the facilityRegular contact with collateral sources and community-based administrative agents to coordinate inpatient care as well as discharge and aftercare planningParticipate as part of a multi-disciplinary team to facilitate daily treatment planning, formulating and implementing interventions - utilizing diverse perspectivesEducational and supportive therapy as well as crisis intervention with patients and their familiesCenter for Women in Transition (CWIT) (August 2007-December 2007)MSW Practicum StudentProgram development for personal growth group for agency-housed clients & research to support evidence-based practice.Development of youth programming of clients children.Restructuring of the mental health portion of initial program application forms.Development of potential housing options for women transitioning from local workhouses and/or penitentiaries.

MSW Practicum Student Provided clinical therapy, case management & advocacy to elderly/disabled Americans as well as New Americans. Completed a quantitative research project with one of the clients (i.e. identifying dependent & independent variables, developing a measurement instrument and monitoring tool, and completing a data analysis and evaluation).Completed an agency demographic report to be used as resource for staff & administration.

Served as Case Manager, Supportive Outreach and Supportive Relocation ProgramsAssisted consumers in locating allied community resources and in finding affordable and sustainable housing.

BSW Practicum Student Assigned as the overnight coordinator, to oversee all activities that occurred during shelter hours (10 pm - 7 am). Duties included signing individuals in, providing them with clean linens and toiletries, as well as maintaining an overall safe and secure environment for both staff and consumers.

Volunteer, Needle Exchange Program Assisted in check-in and distribution of sterile equipment to community members.

BSW Practicum Student Co-facilitated three therapy groups.Case management for several clients.Learned the varying dimensions of a social service agency, (e.g. administrative - clinical duties).Planned Parenthood of Western PA

Met with the families and children to obtain the necessary background information.Implemented procedures necessary to perform the study.The data provided the fundamentals for understanding children's memory processes along with attraction and face recognition in the early stages of psychological and physiological development.

Acted as teaching assistant providing support to teacher in a structured, highly monitored facility for at-risk 11-18 year old girls.Worked directly with youth during classroom activities and provided crisis intervention.

Provided emotional support and recreational activities to children prior to, during and after appointments in the pediatric clinics (i.e. Cystic Fibrosis; Sickle Cell; Brain Cancer; Leukemia).

Provided social and emotional support for children, suffering from cancer, and their families, before, during, and after treatment.TOUCH (Teens Offering Understanding & Compassion to HIV+ individuals; Outreach and preventative training to youth, elementary grades through high school age students in the community. Facilitated educational trainings during World AIDS Day.Served as a mentor to children and teenagers impacted (directly and indirectly) by AIDS.

Masters, Social Work

Bachelor Of Arts, Social Work