Leslie Gaines Email & Phone Number

Austin, Texas

Directs the services, operations and management of the Family Support Services division of the Travis County Health and Human Services department, which provides basic needs assistance to families and individuals through six community centers. Services include utility assistance through the CEAP/LIHEAP program, vendor grants, and County funds, social work and case management services and financial assistance, food pantry, clothing closet and other assistance.

Austin, Texas Area

Center Manager of the Travis County Community Center of Central Austin: May 2021 - presentCenter Manager of the Travis County Community Center at Del Valle: July 2017 - April 2021• Directed the planning and operations of a comprehensive and complex social services program.• Directed staff, including hiring, training, and performance management.• Directed and participated in the planning, developing and establishing of goals and objectives. • Directed service delivery and program operations. Oversaw the establishing of procedures and priorities and directed the monitoring of activities and assignments to achieve desired results. • Evaluated effectiveness of programs and operations and developed initiatives to improve effectiveness. Directed the implementation and monitoring of programs.• Provided high-level technical advice, policy interpretation and guidance for application of appropriate procedures to managers and other staff.• Represented the organization and collaborated with governmental and public agency representatives, community outreach and advocacy groups, service providers and others. • Directed the development of, and participation in training and education programs for clients, social service providers, community organizations and others.• Prepared periodic reports, financial analysis and statistical reports on program activities, results and performance.

Austin, Texas Area

• Oversaw two programs and a transition center that provide preparatory services to young adults transitioning to adulthood out of the state foster care system in the 30 counties surrounding Austin: the After Care Transitional Services (ACTS) program that provides case management services for young adults; and the Life Skills Training program that provides Preparation for Adult Living classes and independent living skills assessments to adolescents • Ensured quality and adherence to DFPS contract requirements and Council on Accreditation standards • Provided strengths-based leadership to teams; supervised staff, including personnel management and clinical guidance • Reported on service delivery and program performance; proficient user of database and Microsoft Excel• Responsibly managed program budgets totaling $1 million; oversaw disbursement of financial assistance to clients• Wrote grant proposals and successfully obtained funding; implemented programming per contract• Collaborated with a partner agency for provision of ACTS services; expanded relationships with community agencies • Facilitated Ready By 21 Youth Aging Out subcommittee, encouraging alignment and innovative problem-solving • Presented at conferences and provided educational and outreach presentations to the community

Austin, Texas Area

• Coordinated the delivery of all Preparation for Adult Living classes and life skills assessments provided by the agency to adolescents living in state foster care in the 22 counties surrounding Austin; developed and maintained computerized client tracking system • Recruited, selected, supervised and trained life skills trainers, interns and volunteers • Facilitated groups and educated foster care youth on adult living skills; created life skills training materials and activities • As a Certified Casey Life Skills trainer, administered independent living skills assessments and trained staff • Built strong working relationships with representatives from DFPS foster care providers, and community agencies

Austin, Texas Area

• Provided short-term, solution-focused individual and family counseling, crisis intervention, and case management services to diverse population of consumers • Services provided through the Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR) grant from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services emphasized prevention of child abuse• Completed documentation and reports in a meticulous and timely manner and entered client and service information into computer databases

Austin, Texas Area

• Coordinated Quality Assurance/Training Department of the Texas Medicaid managed care enrollment broker project• Established, communicated, and monitored quality standards for the call center• Computerized quality assurance monitoring tools, enabling more efficient analysis of data• Wrote training curriculum, organized training sessions, and trained employees on program specific topics as well as general subjects such as cultural diversity and customer service• Disseminated policies and procedures to staff• Assessed client and employee satisfaction

Austin, Texas Area

• Facilitated admissions to four children’s residential treatment centers by acting as a liaison between clients and the centers, including pre-determining appropriateness for placement and collecting necessary documentation• Tracked census of centers and compiled reports• Inspected the treatment centers, audited files, and interviewed staff and residents for quality assurance purposes• Coordinated staff training retreat

M.A., Professional Counseling

Certificate, Grant Writing

Certificate, Nonprofit Leadership

Austin Community College Center for Nonprofit Studies and Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations

B.A., Psychology