•Conduct listening sessions and outreach with community members to assess and evaluate existing behavioral health services, resources and needs in historically underserved and under-resourced area. •Evaluate and provide suggestions regarding recruitment efforts, sourcing and hiring practices for staff and therapist within the Behavioral Health Services department.•Research and develop a leadership council that would increase transparency, equity and power in decision making for black, indigenous and people of color staff within the Behavioral Health Services department.•Co-facilitate several groups composed of youth of color and/or trans women of color.•Assess the model of care for Behavioral Health Services at the BYC and provide suggestions for greater strategic integration and sustainability of BHS providers.•Provide weekly supervision to Healing Specialist/Youth Therapist as Manager and Supervisor.•Facilitate hiring and interviewing of Healing Specialist/Youth Therapist at BYC.

•Coordinated internal trainings for Monthly Skills Development and external behavioral health trainings.•Managed scheduling including weekly meetings and monthly BYC Therapists work schedule.•Helped facilitate the interviewing and hiring of additional Healing Specialist/Youth Therapist at BYC•Facilitated onboarding for new Behavioral Health Service providers within BYC.•Developed and implemented innovative behavioral health programming at BYC in collaboration with the Director of Behavioral Health, other behavioral health and BYC staff, engaging in ongoing assessment to understand evolving needs of clients and the BYC care system.

Social Service •Provided brief and crisis intervention services for youth (ages 12-24) participating in BYC services through supportive counseling and motivational interviewing.•Assessed suicide and homicide risk of youth, coordinates crisis intervention efforts.•Participated in the development and implementation of youth care plans and transformative/restorative justice initiatives through individual work with clients and staff, and through CHAT and care team meetings.Medical Clinic •Screened youth primary care client, as requested within the medical clinic at BYC and develops a plan of action to address presenting needs and assist with the implementation of the treatment plans.•Provided timely and succinct feedback to other providers within the medical clinic at BYC regarding consultation findings and recommendations.•Offered and coordinates internal mental health referrals and community resources for primary care clients. •Assisted within the medical clinic at BYC to understand, develop and implement short-term mental health interventions to improve client treatment adherence and achievement of health goals.•Supported clients experiencing hardship, crisis, and issues to support improved health outcomes.Administrative and Educational Activities•Provided trainings to BYC staff on suicide assessment, crisis intervention, documentation, safety planning and care planning, supportive intervention and communication and other mental health topics to increase BYC staff comfort/confidence in helping youth manage emotional distress and develop coping skills.•Consulted with BYC staff on the implementation of supportive intervention and communication with youth engaged in different BYC services.•Collaborated with other disciplines to improve client mental and physical health through Care Team meetings.

•Participated in six-session institute with other therapist developing knowledge base, frameworks and skills/application for treatment of trauma using relational therapeutic approaches (Feminist Relational Model and Relational Cultural Theory). •Explored of challenges of working with clients who have experienced trauma through weekly in-depth discussion, case examples and case consultation.•Engaged in advanced training that cultivated skills in assessment, creating safety and boundaries, stabilization and affect regulation.

•Participated in video conferencing series (15 weeks) with other behavioral health and primary care providers developing knowledge and capacity in delivering competent care to client living with severe and persistent mental health need.•Received “tele-mentoring” in supporting clients with severe and persistent mental health needs through weekly client case presentation and consultation. •Engaged in advanced training that built skills to screen, diagnose, and support severe and persistent mental health needs through brief intervention models, motivational interviewing and community partnership referrals

•Attended weekly consultation and intensive in-house training in the practice of client-centered therapy.•Studied and discussed theoretical foundations and current clinical implications of client-centered therapy for social work.•Participated in demonstrations, role plays, and small groups to translate theoretical knowledge of client-centered therapy into practice.

•Recruited eligible clients through geo-social networking apps and community outreach •Supported new program participants with the completion of the HOTTER program intake•Established and maintained community partnerships with other community organizations•Attended community meetings, events and forums, and agency special events and programs (e.g., workshops, festivals, health fairs, etc.)•Supported program participants with the development of personal and interpersonal communication skills•Facilitated group level interventions on the following topics: Stigma & Identity Development, Stages of Change and Emotional & Spiritual Healing

•Coordinated implementation and operations of TransMentor Program •Researched and developed policies and procedures for the TransMentor Program•Consulted with experts and Program Coordinators at other LGBTQ focused mentorship program•Collaborated with Volunteer Services at Lurie’s Children Hospital to develop necessary volunteer onboarding and training for mentor/mentee pair•Prepared the agenda for and coordinated regular meetings with Gender & Sex Development Program Manager and other staff. •Provided mentorship to Gender & Sex Development Program Assistant •Represented the TransMentor Program at community events, meetings, and conferences.

Individual Psychotherapy•Provided up to twenty-four therapy sessions to LGBTQ transitional age young adults (aged 16-25).•Completed initial mental health intakes for interested clients seeking therapeutic services at Howard Brown Health. Broadway Youth Center’s Drop-In•Engaged in brief supportive counseling with LGBTQ youth who are experiencing homelessness and/or housing instability. •Co-facilitated group therapy for and with LGBTQ youth seeking to build connections with peer while simultaneously exploring, sharing and enhancing coping mechanisms.Chicago LGBTQ Behavioral Health Training Consortium•Attended weekly didactic presentations on topics that are of specific interest in working with the LGBTQ communities.

•Utilized narrative inquiry as a method to read, analyze and explore five in-depth life course narrative interviews with older transgender women of color.•Developed presentations that highlight the findings from interviews focused on the intersection of racial/ethnic and gender identity, family, employment, housing, and transgender health.•Provided peer assistance to fellow research assistants and administrative support to the Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Individual Psychotherapy•Provided long-term therapeutic services to LGBTQ transitional age young adults (aged 16-25) and adults of color currently living with HIV and/or who are considered to be “high-risk” for acquiring HIV.•Completed intakes, reassessments and collaborative discussions of diagnosis with transitional young adults and adults utilizing therapeutic services at Care2Prevent.•Experience with psychosocial screening and assessment tools such as: Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25, PCL-5, Exposure to Community Violence Scale, AUDIT-C, DAST-10, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Coping Self-Efficacy ScaleCare2Prevent’s Washington Park Drop-In Center•Supported youth experiencing homelessness and/or housing instability with brief behavioral health and crisis intervention counseling utilizing a trauma informed approach at Care2Prevent’s Washington Park Drop-In Center.•Connected youth to resource advocacy (accessing housing, identification renewal/replacement, public benefits, health care/health insurance, education, employment ), HIV testing and other support services offered at the Care2Prevent’s Washington Park Drop-In Center and/or by community partners. Pediatric/Adolescent HIV Clinic at Friend Family Health Center•Provided brief behavioral health counseling and conducted psychosocial assessments with youth during regularly scheduled medical appointments.•Supported youth who recently experienced sexual assault and families through brief counseling.•Connected youth who recently experienced sexual assault and families to long-term therapeutic services at Care2Prevent’s Behavioral Health Services and/or other agencies in Chicagoland area. Program Evaluation•Collected, calculated, input data and developed report based on psychosocial assessments given at Adult and Pediatric/Adolescent HIV Clinics for the Centers for Disease Control and the Chicago Department of Public Health.

•Completed intensive research for literature review exploring the relationship between parental involvement and PrEP decision making among black transgender youth on the feminine spectrum and/or identify as women.•Developed focus group interview guide for participants who self-identified as transwomen and/or trans-feminine.•Developed focus group interview guide for parents/legal guardians of participants who self-identified as transwomen and/or trans-feminine.

•Provided career counseling and assisted in the development of short/long term employment goals for and with participants who identify as transgender, gender non-conforming and/or genderqueer who attend Trans Work Job Club held at the Center on Halsted.•Coordinated and co-facilitated monthly Mentorship Support group where trans* identified job-seekers were paired with trans* community members who are currently working. The trans* identified job seekers were provided support and insight from community members with knowledge and experience to share.•Researched and created an Employment Protection Guide detailing city, county, state, and federal level legal protections provided for transgender, gender non-conforming and/or genderqueer employees in the workforce. •Helped schedule appointments, contacted clients to follow-up and reminders of appointment times, along with assisting in file keeping of participants who identify as transgender, gender non-conforming and/or genderqueer.•Obtained information related to supportive services, including case management, housing, mental health services, substance use services, medical services, etc. in order to be able to refer participants who need support outside the program.•Maintained record keeping procedures which include writing daily case notes on participants' progress, participants’ employment status and completing monthly reports.

•Collaborated with and supported young people through the centering of harm reduction and a non-judgmental framework that celebrates young people as experts of their own lives.•Provided referral information, education and crisis intervention counseling utilizing a trauma informed approach, toward youth accessing the drop-in program.•Connected youth to resource advocacy, career services and other support services offered at the Broadway Youth Center and/or by community partners. •Supported youth leaders in the facilitation of workshops and activities during drop-in that promotes young people’s health and well-being.

•Researched information pertaining to HIV/AIDS, Howard Brown Health Center and the services that are provided to LGBTQ and HIV-impacted communities.•Formulated questions and scheduled meetings with program managers and knowledgeable team members to gather information necessary to assist in the completion of a Comprehensive LGBTQ Resource Guide. •Created script for initial contact and follow-up with possible community partners in the creation of the Comprehensive LGBTQ Resource Guide.•Shadowed Patient Application Clinic Staff member in order to learn how to assist service users with applying for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

•Identified the needs of the 6th grade cohort and providing necessary support to improve students’ academic performance and overall success.•Addressed and resolve behavioral issues with students by talking students through their emotions, contacting parents about students’ behavior, consulting administration pertaining to students and consulting research. •Assisted academic departments with classroom instruction such as planning, preparing and implementation of lesson plan.•Supported small group work including 6-8 students along with whole group instruction.•Managed the classroom while the teacher is out of the room.•Helped with general housekeeping, copying, lunchroom and recess tasks.•Supervised outside play, gardening and sports activities during and after school.

•Designed and conducted an original research project entitled “Aspiring for More: A Study of the Effects of Self-Identified LGBTQ, Two Spirit and Same Gender Loving Youth Bullying on Educational Outcomes”.•Developed a comprehensive literature review on the relationship between student academic outcomes and students’ sexual orientation, gender identity, racial/ethnic identity, ability status and socio-economic as it relates to bullying and harassment.•Designed a voluntary, non-compensated online survey to examine the relationship between sexual orientation, gender identity, racial/ethnic identity, ability status and socio-economic status on bullying and harassment. •Identified the frequency and severity of bullying and harassment in North Carolina high schools.

•Assisted the Assistant Director and Director of UNC-CH LGBTQ Center with facilitating Safe Zone Training and participated on Speaker Bureau for Safe Zone Training. •Collaborated with other student leaders and campus departments to develop intersectional programing that explored the multiplicity of identities and experiences of LGBTQ communities. •Participated in New Student Orientation/s, Welcome Week and other outreach opportunities to discuss and connect students to services offered at the UNC-CH LGBTQ Center. •Participated in several committees dedicated to addressing the needs of underrepresented and underserved students attending UNC-CH.

•Researched data and compiled figures regarding LGBTQ students in college and their experiences in the residential hall locally and nationally. •Reported findings to Vice-Chancellor and then-Chancellor in 2011-2012 Gender Non-Specific Housing Proposal.•Utilized research findings to organize and advocate for a Gender Non-Specific Housing Option at UNC-CH.

•Coordinated events on campus and the surrounding communities such as Coming -Out Week, Transgender Awareness Week, and Ally Week