Providing direct care mental health services including individual and group psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and skills training to clients ages 5-55+

Twice a week, I participated in and led Bible Study lunch meetings for those who were homeless in urban Indianapolis. Before each meeting, I drove a large 15-passenger van through the city to various camps (4-6) and picked up 8-10 individuals to transport them to our office. Here we provided lunch, Bible Study, one-on-one personal support/counsel, and case management for those who may be in search of work or have criminal backgrounds. After our 1-2 hour meetings, I returned our visitors.Two evenings a week, I assisted in the planning and leading of 2-3 hour food distribution missions throughout the city. This consisted of my communicating with other community leaders and board members to ensure smooth and effective execution of outreach procedure, that being:traveling in a caravan-like fashion with 2-4 vehicles, carrying food and supplies to various camps and other individuals.I was also required to lead volunteer groups (typically 10-20 adults/children), educate them about the current state of homelessness in Indianapolis, and instruct them on how to best distribute food and other support. These trips often occurred on foot on long walks through the city, often in times of inclement weather (snow/intense heat/rain, etc.).Throughout the week, I assisted with the completion of urban farming and housing projects, including but not limited to: construction/demolition projects; gardening, planting harvesting and distributing, care for game (mostly chickens) and honey bees. Most of this care and upkeep included leading church youth groups (as mentioned above) in the completion of projects as well. To evenings a week, I prepared lessons, games, snacks, homework help and other after school programming for children of the Riverside/Braden's North neighborhood.Lastly, I completed grant writing projects to seek and sustain funding for the ministry; and I had the privilege of designing an all new website for the ministry. Please see www.tdwm.org

On a daily basis, I am responsible for 4-6.5 hours of one-on-one intensive ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy. I am given a set of goals, written by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and then required to create and implement teaching procedures and materials. I then spend the majority of sessions teaching specific language skills to aid in the development of verbal language (as well as teaching math, writing and reading curricula).One of the major aspects of this role is implementing specific behavior plans written for each child. I am required to implement these behavior plans by the use of positive and negative reinforcement. On a regular basis (min. of 2-3 times a week) I encounter intense problem behaviors (biting, screaming, cursing, agression, elopement (or running away) as well as non-compliance and/or verbal protest. At these times, I am required to execute specific techniques (blocking, clothing and hair releases and, at times, crisis transport procedures to a secluded area)-- all while remaining calm and responsive in an effort to decrease problem behavior and increase appropriate behavior.Most importantly, I have the privilege to pair myself (introducing myself as a reinforcing stimulus) to children who need love, care, support and a safe environment in which they can grow and learn. This is done by involving myself in what brings a child joy. This takes many forms, but often times opportunities manifest themselves in ways like: jumping on a trampoline, playing games, offering high fives or hugs, singing songs, coloring, pretend play, giving verbal praise and many other ways as well.