Melissa Hedges Email & Phone Number

Ottawa, On, Ca

Ottawa, On, Ca

Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

• Ongoing case management of approximately 150 individuals, couples, and families• Assessing the financial, social, and personal needs of applicants and determining both initial and ongoing eligibility of Ontario Works and Emergency Assistance• Referring to both internal and external programs and resources• Providing support in personal, social, and employment planning• Daily use of the Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) program to deliver Ontario Works and municipally funded benefits• Providing information on program criteria, writing detailed documentation, using various case management tools• Using problem solving skills, assisting to resolve conflict, and crisis intervention• Establishing and maintaining professional working relationships with people of diverse social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds as well as newcomers to Canada.• Knowledge of and interpretation of applicable federal, provincial, and municipal legislation, policy and procedures

• Front-line practice with families currently living in city-owned emergency family shelters and overflow motel placements• Conducting eligibility assessments with men, women, families, youth, and individuals fleeing violence and securing a safe and appropriate shelter space• Experience working with diverse populations, including new immigrants, refugee claimants, and Indigenous clients• Providing referrals to various organizations and services that assist low-income families, individuals, newcomers and those living with mental health or addictions issues• Intervening in client conflict as it relates to issues of living within a communal living space, as well as assisting clients to problem solve• Ensure the safety and security of shelter residents by conducting fire safety rounds, monitoring door alarms, and maintaining an up-to-date restricted visitor list• Planning and facilitating holiday parties and special events with the residents• Proficient in writing legal documents, incident reports, and documenting in daily logs• Experience working in a 24/7 environment with practice working day, evening, and overnight shifts

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

• Developing and launching a new community funded program with the focus of addressing food security issues within a specific vulnerable population• Planned weekly menus according to Canada’s Food Guide, and collaborated with community dietitians, food advisors, and home management counsellors to provide educational workshops for parents around life skills such as budgeting, nutritious food choices, and food safety• Providing weekly recipes, nutrition information, and healthy lunch options in a variety of different languages• Conducted needs assessments, and ongoing and final program evaluations

• Experience developing and facilitating programs for at-risk children and youth ages 6-18 living within social housing communities and family shelters• Facilitating recreational youth drop-ins in several locations within the city, including community houses, family shelters and community centres• Developing partnerships and advocating with other community organizations and businesses in order to help meet the needs of at-risk children and families• Experience with community outreach events including community barbeques, children’s carnivals, field trips, and fundraising initiatives. • Planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating community based programs• Using the Purkinje computer system to maintain statistics and data

Oakwood, Ontario, Canada

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Bachelor Of Social Work (Bsw) Degree (With Honours), Social Work

Bachelor of Social Work

Social Service Worker Diploma, Social Work

Social Service Worker program