Working with a diverse community of individuals with a variety of diagnosis to navigate issues surrounding recovery from substance use and management of mental health symptoms; legal issues, family counseling, domestic violence, gender identity, and sexuality.• Zoom Group Counselor for OASAS & OMH clients; groups run include Men’s Group and DBT focused groups.• Primary Counselor carrying a caseload of roughly 60-80 patients many of whom required assistance in maintaining their recovery due to being enrolled in Erie/Niagara Co. probation/parole, TASC, DWI, Office of Children and Family Services Programs, and treatment courts.

Working with a primarily BIPOC community facing housing, legal, domestic violence, and substance use issues.• Group Counselor for CBT & DBT Focused Groups; Radical Acceptance and SUD Focused Groups.• Primary Counselor carrying a caseload of roughly 60 patients many of whom required assistance in maintaining their recovery due to being on probation, parole, Federal probation, and in treatment courts.

Working at Horizon Village In-patient treatment in the young men’s, women’s, and men’s rehabilitation programs.• Group Counselor for CBT & DBT Focused Groups; Seeking Safety, SUD, and Spirituality Focused Groups• Primary Counselor assisting patients as they work to address issues surrounding treatment and daily living.

Working at Aurora Village In-patient treatment to gain experience of the work of a professional mental health counselor working in the field of Substance Use Disorders.

Partnering with Buffalo Public Schools, the Department of Mental Health, the Parent Network of WNY, Cornell University, and the Social Security Administration, PROMISE is a federally funded research project which works with families of disabled youth to provide them with a variety of support services that focus on academic achievement and job-readiness. • Coordinating communication, gathering and documenting data to track client progress across platforms.• Working with project participants to ensure successes at school, home, and work settings. We work with families where they are at, to address their needs so that their youth can succeed in his/her transition from high school to college and the working world.• Working with families to address a wide variety of needs like: Acquiring Assistive Technology at home and school, dealing with bullying, improving academic performance, connecting with legal counsel, family counseling, and financial literacy education.

As the primary recruiter for the project, I was responsible for much of the community outreach to enroll new participants, and helped to coordinate the recruitment efforts of the project’s other case managers. Through our efforts we recruited 400 high school youth in Buffalo and Niagara Falls for the purpose of participating in the Promise Project research study.

Worked with high school and middle school at risk youth in a residential setting. Daily counseling and supervision of youth in a manner that supported the Normative Culture of Safety, Respect, Responsibility, and Goal Oriented Success.

Engaged community leaders to raise money to support essential programs in the areas of education, income equality, and health and wellness for individuals and families. Managed 30 business and nonprofit accounts to nurture and grow support for the United Way mission and ensure the success of the 2013 campaign.

Acted as advocate for youth in parish life, parish council, liturgical ministries, parish organizations and events. Oversaw youth involvement in community service. Planned and developed curriculum for students in grades 7-10 to provide a four-year program of faith formation. Directed and managed volunteer teachers and support volunteer teams. Presented weekly multimedia educational sessions to students. Managed youth ministries online and social media presence. Planned and directed weekend spiritual retreats and events.

Religious Education Teacher and Campus Minister