Brenda Romo Email & Phone Number

Tinley Park, Illinois

•Provides on going service coordination & family support for 85-90 families with children ages 0-3 who have or are at risk of developmental delays.•Educates parent about the Early Intervention program, parental rights and program expectations.•Completes intake assessments at initial home visit by gathering information about their child’s routines, developmental milestones, social emotional development and medical history in order to better understand the family’s concern, priorities and family dynamics. • Identifies the needs of each family and collaborates with the appropriate evaluators in order to complete the evaluations/assessments necessary to determine eligibility and create the IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan)•Facilitates IFSP team meetings every 6 months or as needed, in order to review and modify the service plan goals and strategies according to the child and family needs.•Facilitates an ongoing collaboration among the family, EI credentialed therapists, pediatrician, community organizations in order to assist child to meeting the developmental milestones and accomplishing family goals.•Contacts families on a monthly basis to ensure the family is well informed and an active participant in the program.•Facilitates transition services for children aging out of the Early Intervention Program to their Local School District or other community resources 90 days prior to the child’s third birthday•Completes initial and annual eligibility determination including insurance verification and Family Participation Fee information per DHS policies.•Monitors that EI funds (Part C of IDEA) are the payor of last resort to the extent allowed by law. This includes assisting the family in accessing resources, including but not limited to, Medicaid, Allkids, Division of Specialized Care (DSCC) and Private Health Insurance.

Greater Chicago Area

•Conducts periodic home visits to build relationship with family to better understand family context, resources & needs, and to provide support to family by connecting them with needed services.•Collaborates with education staff and directly with parents to promote parental success in three primary areas: 1)building parent’s knowledge of child development, 2) supporting positive parent child interactions and relationships, 3)promoting the parent’s role as first teacher and advocate for their child’s education.•Assists in assessing the developmental progress of children to identify any developmental delays or disabilities using Ages &Stages Questionnaire.•Facilitates parent support groups, workshops, monthly parent meetings, as well as a ten week ongoing parent leadership training program. •Develops collaborative relationships with other community organizations targeting at risk families and maintains written community partnership agreements.•Maintains records and documents services in a timely manner.

3533 W. North Ave

•Conducted strength & needs assessments and worked closely with homeless youth & families to create and follow an individualized service plan with the goal to empower each client to obtain self-sufficiency.•Connected clients with resources including housing, transportation, agency referrals, food pantries, and shelters. •Followed up with clients individually on a weekly basis to follow up on their service plan and provided additional support. •Offered homeless youth a safe space where they could obtain a hot meal, toiletries, counseling and referrals.•Collaborated with individuals, churches & community organizations to establish a network that provides food for homeless individuals.

Bsw, Social Work, Alumni (As Of May 12Th, 2012)

Education record