Lara Smith Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, Ma

Provide case management support for the clinical staff of the Child Assessment Unit and Adolescent Assessment Unit. This includes collecting collateral information, arranging systems meetings, coordinating aftercare plans and providing administrative support to the clinical team. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary team consisting of psychiatry, nursing, clinical social workers, counselors to achieve optimal results. Collaborate with caregivers, community agencies and benefits/entitlements offices to coordinate community based treatments. Seeks out and identifies resources to support treatment goals within the community, integrating growth and development needs of each client.

Provide the vital link between the AYA national office, the community, and AYA participating foreign exchange students, host families, and schools. Serve as the community expert on the AYA team responsible for providing information and support to all program participants as well as promoting international understanding and cross-cultural awareness.

Natick, Ma

Oversaw patient services programs including family support groups, patient financial aid program, peer-to-peer program. Led chapter efforts to provide community outreach, educational seminars, information and referral and volunteer development. Provided assessment, psychosocial support and counseling to chapter patients and family members. Served as liaison with community and regional oncology/hematology healthcare professionals and treatment centers. Key Accomplishments: • Successfully designed and implemented new approach to reaching “impenetrable” hospitals and community groups, significantly increasing outreach efforts.• Designed volunteer recruitment, retention and recognition process, creating a pool of volunteers available for office work, public speaking and special events. • Repeatedly developed meaningful relationships with those whose lives had been touched by cancer often resulting in increased volunteering, fundraising, donations and networking opportunities.• Designed innovative peer-to peer training program with a record number of volunteers in attendance and an increase in support available to patient and family members. Additionally created tracking system to allow for improvement in follow up with those accessing the service.• Happily volunteered to serve as presenter for school assemblies, providing a fun experience and successfully enlisting the cooperation of high-school students thereby increasing their understanding of the need to raise money for research.

Conducted assessment of child and family needs, creating outcomes and identifying activities to promote success. Administered developmental stimulation and therapeutic activities for young children. Consistently communicated with families, providing information, guidance and support regarding specific disabilities, child development, Early Intervention services, advocacy and community resources. Functioned collaboratively with other members to facilitate formulation of Individualized Family Service Plan. Managed client files. Facilitated process of transition to public preschool or other appropriate resources. Key Accomplishments:Served as go-to service coordinator for my ability to effectively work with complex families or difficult team members. Well respected for follow through, reliability, thoroughness of paperwork and attention to details.Routinely identified as the best person to work with families with emotional needs, offering warmth and the ability to help people open up and connect. Especially good for families facing a possibly devastating diagnosis.Developed a highly efficient communication, data collection, and tracking system and was often consulted to assist other service coordinators.

Developed and implemented annual recruitment campaign for new foster parents. Conducted mandatory training, assessment and licensing of all potential foster families. Offered ongoing training and support to all active foster families. Carried caseload of up to 12 youth. Managed foster parent files to ensure accuracy of information.

Mssw, Social Work, 3.4

Bachelor'S Degree, Psychology