Ruth Wartenberg Email and Phone Number

Conducts social histories and adaptive behavior measures for students and families to complete assessments which include observations, data collection, interpretation and analysis. Prepares social histories and adaptive scale reports. Participates in identifying at-risk students experiencing academic and behavioral difficulty, designing and implementing research based interventions, and plan progress monitoring components of Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions through the MTSS process. Provides individual and group counseling services for students including social skills training and crisis intervention. Provides individual or group counseling support to aid student’s social and academic adjustment as it pertains to assisting students in accessing education. Participates in planning and implementation of school-level crisis response team. Leads teams in conducting functional behavioral assessments and corresponding behavior support plans. Participates as a member and case manager of the Team of Qualified Professionals and the individualized education program (IEP) by interpreting evaluation findings, collaborating on the development of the IEP, diagnosing students’ eligibility consistent with district, federal, and state policies, procedures and regulations. interventions in moments of emotional crisis for all students in the building. Conducts risk assessments for suicidal and homicidal ideation. Refers students in need to outside agencies and/or for emergency evaluations. Works as part of a school team to promote positive social/emotional relationships and culture in the school. Designs and assists teams in implementing and monitoring behavior intervention plans for students and make data-based decisions regarding the effectiveness of the plan to meet the social/emotional needs of our students. Confers and consults with teachers, staff, families and outside agencies about strategies to facilitate the social and affective needs of students.

Provided home-based individual and family counseling for children, adolescents, and adults. Collaborated with clients' physicians, speciality providers, CASA, and DCYF. Administered drug tests and provided substance use treatment for clients that were court-ordered. Provided parents with psychoeducation about child development, behavioral management, and appropriate disciplinary strategies. Wrote court letters for individuals and families that were DCYF-involved.

Provided individual, couple’s, and family clinical interventions for patients of the clinic. Completed MAT intakes for patients (new and established) to start suboxone treatment. Collaborated with medical providers to provide holistic care for patients with complex co-occurring medical and behavioral health concerns. Provided psychoeducation to patients and staff about interrelationship between medical and behavioral health issues. Determined when patients required a higher level of care and made appropriate referrals to inpatient psychiatric units, drug and alcohol detoxification, substance use residential facilities, intensive outpatient, partial hospital programs, and outpatient. Connected patients with resources to address basic needs (food pantries, SNAP, MTM, clothing exchange, emergency shelter, housing). Collaborated with outside entities, such as DCYF, school personnel, and psychiatric providers. Supervised two MSW interns from the RIICE program at Rhode Island College. Supervised one community health worker. Coordinated two PDSA’s with the Care Transformation Collaborative (CTC), which involved enacting changes to staff workflow, educating staff about commonly treated behavioral health issues in primary care, and collecting and reporting data to the CTC. Completed daily pre-visit planning for all patients coming to the health center. Huddled with the medical teams every day to discuss at-risk patients.

Provided care coordination, crisis intervention, and direct clinical services to Tufts Medicaid members with complex medical, mental health, and/or substance use disorders. Delivered clinical supervision, oversight, and coaching to three community health workers. Addressed members' social determinants of health (SDOH) in order to improve health outcomes. Provided referrals to resources in the community. Works with members and staff to reduce ED visits and inpatient admissions. Collaborated with other members of the members' care teams, including physicians, nurses, behavioral health providers, and natural supports. Assisted with discharge planning from inpatient, SNF, and residential level-of-care.

Provided short-term behavioral health interventions for patients across the life span (individual, family, and couple's counseling). Referred patients to higher levels of care as needed. Provided care coordination with collaterals involved with the patients and their families, including outpatient behavioral health providers, school officials, early childhood staff, attorneys, DCYF, BHDDH, DEA, and law enforcement. Collaborated with medical Providers, nurses, and medical assistants to address the patients' needs. Provided crisis intervention and clinical consults within the clinic. Educated staff about behavioral health in order to improve their efficacy in working with patients with substance abuse and/or mental health issues. Enhanced patients' knowledge about their medical and behavioral health issues. Addressed barriers to patients' follow through with medical recommendations.

Conducted clinical intake assessments of applicants to Anchor Learning Academy (ALA) to determine eligibility to the program. Provided individual and group counseling to students impacted by substance abuse, mental illness, and behavioral concerns. Facilitated Recovery Re-Focus meetings with students, caregivers, and providers when students relapsed on drugs and/or alcohol. Coordinated care with students' outside medical, behavioral health, child welfare, and juvenile justice providers. Wrote regular clinical progress reports for students involved with Rhode Island Family Court. Supervised random drug testing of all students, interpreted results, collaborated with laboratory services, and reported results to appropriate parties as needed. Provided crisis intervention services to students and families, including short-term family counseling. Developed individualized Recovery Plans with students and caregivers.

Assisted the Family Preservation Program Manager in overseeing day-to-day operations regarding the service, personnel, data/reporting, and accreditation components of the Family Preservation Unit, including the Family Care Community Partnership, Long-Term Parent Aide, Family Life Education Classes, Intensive Family Preservation, and Wayward Diversion Assessment Services. Provided direct, weekly supervision to six direct service staff. Provided coaching to staff in order to practice high-fidelity wraparound services with vulnerable families that were impacted by poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental illness. Oversaw services provided to families, general staff performance, documentation, and adherence to agency and program standards and policies. Provided clinical consultation, crisis intervention, and general support to all Family Preservation staff and clientele. Performed clinical assessments and short-term clinical services on an as-needed basis.

Provided clinical assessments, crisis intervention, emergency screening, and triage via telephone or on a walk-in basis. Screened and interviewed potential agency clients, determine appropriateness, and eligibility for agency programs. Participated in the agency's on-call mental health emergency response services as scheduled. Conducted outpatient counseling. Served as intake liaison to AIDS Project RI and assisted HIV positive clients with program enrollment. Conducted needs assessments with caregivers that were interested in filing Wayward Petitions on their children. Provided on-call after-hours emergency response services to the Department of Elderly Affairs in order to investigate reports of elder abuse, neglect, or self-neglect. Served as Family Service of Rhode Island's representative on the New Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Conducted individual and group counseling sessions at The Met School for marijuana-abusing adolescents.

Work within a treatment team to provide intensive individual, family, and group therapy to at-risk youth and families. Advocate for youth and families within the juvenile justice, educational, healthcare, and child welfare systems. Provide crisis intervention in order to prevent psychiatric hospitalization and/or out-of-home placement of the youth. Foster improved relationships between family members in order to decrease conflict and reduce crises. Collaborate with school personnel to identify and address potential problems. Coordinate with other agencies in order to provide a variety of treatment interventions to youth and families.

Provided leadership as a representative of NASW-RI on the S.O.S. (Save our Mental Health Services) Coalition and its Steering Committee, the RI Coalition Against Human Trafficking, and chaired its Public Education Committee. Conducted research in order to address members’ and coalition partners’ questions and concerns. Assisted the Executive Director in formulating NASW-RI’s 2007 Legislative Agenda by conducting research and writing policy analyses of relevant legislation. Submitted legislative testimony on behalf of NASW-RI. Represented NASW-RI at community events, legislative hearings, and meetings with coalition partners. Participated in the planning of continuing education events. Assisted in the development of quarterly newsletters.

Provided case management services to mentally ill and dually diagnosed adults. Assisted with medication and financial management, and general ADL's. Facilitated weekly Wellness Group to improve client's knowledge of nutrition, food safety, medications, and exercise. Advocated for clients' human and civil rights.

Assisted chronically mentally ill adults with all aspects of their daily lives. Supervised clients on social outings that they had chosen as a group. Facilitated weekly house meetings for the clients where they could express any issues they were having with their housemates or the staff. Served as a liaison for the clients by bringing their concerns to the weekly staff meetings. Instituted a menu plan to provide the clients with more nutritious meals.

Collaborated with the Gay Male Advocate to develop a support group for victims of same-sex domestic violence. Networked with domestic violence agencies and groups within the LGBTIQQ community to promote services for victims of domestic violence in same-sex relationships. Assisted victims of domestic violence through the process of applying for a temporary restraining order. Informed clients of safety plans and the resources available for victims of domestic violence.