Aasha Abbott Email & Phone Number

Santa Cruz, California, United States

Health Services Agency - Enhanced Care Manager (ECM) team

Santa Cruz, Ca

• Managed a team of up to three staff.• Spearheaded & assisted in creation of electronic, efficient, statistical data tool for reporting purposes• Outreach unhoused individuals within City of Santa Cruz, Downtown Corridor • Provide support to the local businesses; responding to immediate calls for de-escalation and public safety• Collaborated with Santa Cruz Police Department, downtown local businesses, Downtown Ambassadors, HOPES- County, community residents, to meet unhoused individuals’ immediate and long-term needs such as food, clothing, shelter, benefits, medical/ mental health/ or SUD treatment; assist in removing barriers to housing• Utilize evidenced-based practices to build rapport and develop trusted relations with unhoused folks• Develops and maintains relationships with various public and private service agencies, community groups, and faith-based community; identifies and provides recommendations to clients, personnel and partnering agencies regarding ongoing support services to meet client needs, obtains services for clients; ensures that clients are receiving the most appropriate form of support; and coordinates and facilitates with other agencies and City and County departments regarding the needs and conditions of unsheltered homeless individuals and families. •

Santa Cruz, California, United States

-provide counseling services to students in middle school and high school- assisted with most challenging cases; i.e. student struggling with substance use; current or at-risk of homelessness; students in transtion; and students and families struggling with mental illness.- referred to outside agencies- experiece with makng CPS reports; conducting home-visits; bio-psycho-social assessements- spear-headed creation of district MOU between the district and several housing-related social service agencies to encourage collaboration between social service agencies and school district

Santa Cruz, California, United States

Referral Specialist for COVID-19 Homeless Response• Manage the referrals for the COVID-19 Homeless Response Team• Coordinate and communicate referral placements across several congregate shelters and Project Room-key hotels• Accept referrals, input data, forward and collaborate with public health nurses and cross coordinate with other COVID-19 service providers• Attend weekly triage with public health nurses; experience with some medical terminology• Conduct client outreach by communicating with clients, who may be emotionally/ mentally disabled, elderly, substance abusers, victims of domestic violence• Enter eligibility data into the computer system for centralized access.• Verify client–provided data necessary to determine eligibility utilizing a variety of family, employer, community, and governmental sources. • Respond to client and public inquiries and requests. • Work cooperatively with other staff and operational units. • Undertake specific special projects, as assigned. • Establish and maintain working relationships with others, including clients, family members, and others who may be under distress or duress• Locate, develop, and use community and agency resources for the benefits of clients & advocate for services on behalf of clients• Recognize & analyze problems, gather relevant information, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, respond to case details promptly, & communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing• Learn complex laws and regulations and apply them appropriately to manage assigned caseload• Work effectively under pressure and deadlines

San Jose, California, United States

• Gaining experience with policy initiatives around gender & race inequalities• Assisting in awareness campaign events; creating graphics and social media for ballot measures• Assisting in organizing and collaborating with student advocacy groups re: domestic violence, enhancing the culture of consent, and feelings of empowerment• Gaining experience working with state and macro-level policy agendas

Santa Cruz, Ca

o Whole Person Care Pilot Program (WPC); individuals who are most medically vulnerable – substance abuse diagnosis and/ physical/psychiatric disabilities/ highest utilizers of public serviceso Nov. 2018 - Nov. 2019 - Housed 25 individuals (from start to finish)o March – August 2020 (during COVID) – Assisted housing previously unhoused 36 individualsAsk me about these numbers!! • Interviews clients to assess the living situation and identify housing needs; connect to different resources as appropriate• Maintain caseload of 30-35 clients• Works collaboratively with clients and their supports • Interprets available housing voucher/ subsidy programs to client and/ or families• Educates clients & supports on various housing programs and/ or health-related issues• Advocates for the client by helping them navigate the housing market (both online & in-person)• Serve as a liaison to the public (landlords), other organizations, Housing Authority; provide information and assistance regarding housing-related resources and serviceso Manages contracts, lease agreements, budgets, and financialso Assists communities (landlords, case managers, clients, and other supports) in assessing and interpreting client situations to inform planning and strategic decision making• Familiarity with HUDs homeless programs and regulations• Build and develop lasting relationships with landlords and property management companies• Interprets rules, regulations, policies, and programs for clients, case management, and the public• Establishes and maintains effective casework relationships and participates as a team member with both Front St. Housing Staff and Whole Person Care County Staff• Prepares documents, reports, and correspondence in a timely manner, as required• Makes financial eligibility determinations based upon documentation provided and obtained• Maintain confidentiality of clients.

Santa Cruz, California

• Works closely with severely schizophrenic population; most of whom have experienced homelessness at one point• Provides case management and mental health services with focus on skill development, wellness, & recovery• Creates and leads wellness activities; Teaches residents different coping strategies to improve symptom management• Creates treatment plans for clients; follows up with each client regarding progress made toward yearly treatment plan goals• Works under clinical board director; attends bi-weekly staff meetings; monthly meetings with clinical director• Responsible for a variety of tasks ranging from linking clients to services to providing intensive clinical or rehabilitation services• Responsible for meeting daily billing requirements and MediCal documentation, e.g. progress notes and service plans• Experience using AVATAR documentation & ANSA certified• Assist residents in utilizing a variety of coping strategies that empower them to gain or reclaim skills that will enable them to enter various independent living situations

Santa Cruz, Ca

Roles as a food server included: anticipating and appropriately responding to customer needs and following up until those needs were met; displaying tact and sensitivity in a stressful and fast-paced environment; and constantly monitoring and executing necessary action in undesirable situations. At this job, I provided exceptional in-person and phone customer service and I was a clear communicator to other people on staff as well as toward my managers. This position required completing food handler's training and receiving a certificate. This position also gave me a lot of cashier and money handling experience.

Telos, Santa Cruz, Ca

• Clinical Services – develops relationships with individual, provide one-on-one counseling/ therapy; consistently follow up with any planning, organizing, supervision, reporting, or referral issues in timely manner• Documentation – complete all documentation thoroughly & within timelines; coordinate with administrative & County staff• Productivity –maintain clinical charts & complete required paperwork in timely manner. Paperwork includes: face sheets, daily shift changes, & progress notes• Residential Supervision – maintain a safe, sober, supportive environment for residents; consistently supervise residents as required by program rules, regulations, and guidelines; communicate behavioral/ clinical issues with team members if necessary

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Interned for the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources under the Congressional Liaison branch chief. Research, writing, project support, and preparatory work for policy events. Focused on policy research concentrated within the following areas: Unaccompanied Children, housing, and budget.Tasks as an intern included: administrative work such as putting together portfolios, making copies, scanning projects, and completing print jobs. I was assigned memo writing and policy drafts. Tasks assisting congressional liaison staffers included conducting data and research analysis.

Santa Cruz, Ca

My main roles as a camp counselor were to coordinate and plan activities and games for children ages 5-12. I developed a strong sense of how to build and organize workshops and organize fieldtrips. Attended intense training to be adult CPR/AED certified as well as child CPR and First Aid certified. This position required American Red Cross CPR/AED and First Aid knowledge and certification.

Master Of Social Work - Msw

- Focusing on housing and health

Bachelor’S Degree, Sociology/ Legal Studies

Graduated: 3.8 GPA Academic Interests: -Mental health and homelessness -Health and public policy -Regulations regarding medications &.

High School, Student, Graduated With A 4.25 Gpa

A high school that encompassed: -- Project-based learning -- Developed teamwork skills through group projects -- Emphasizes individual.