Shaddia W. Torres, Lcsw, Cd(Dona) Email & Phone Number

Brooklyn, New York, United States

As a Program Director, I am actively engaged in planning, strategizing, leading team, and managing supportive housing program for 46 young adults with a history of homelessness and living with severe mental illnesses. I actively coordinate with the building management company to discuss rental arrears and review work orders to ensure seamless delivery of housing service to clients. I manage and maintain Department of Health and Mental Hygiene contract while aligning efforts to meet all performance metrics and conform to program standards of care. I engage with individuals, lead consultative sessions to identify housing needs, and methodically form decisions to facilitate move-in process. I have repeatedly proven instrumental in contributing to professional development of supporting housing team. I also track recovery of clients by facilitating weekly team meetings and clinical rounds.

While serving as Program Director, I spearheaded 25-member team and delivered skill-based services as well as integrated dual disorder treatment to more than 150 adults with severe mental illness. I contributed to training and development for recovery specialists and supervisory team. I assessed operational progress by conducting weekly clinical rounds and staff meetings. I planned, strategized, and oversaw facilities management for PROS program site. I shared information concerning program progress by actively participating in PROS directors’ meetings/conferences.

During the course of this employment, I fostered a collaborative, supportive, inclusive, and nurturing work environment in the unit. I provided 90 minutes of bi-weekly supervision to four to five social workers and ensured the staff’s adherence to child welfare system mandates, program policies/procedures, and the structural family therapy model. I also conducted bi-weekly unit meetings and organized training sessions to educate and develop social workers on structural family therapy within the child welfare system. I oversaw 50 cases, reviewed histories in support of initial assessment, managed outreach, formed decisions during the intake process, and assessed the suitability of case closure. I conducted monthly supervisory reviews of all cases, recorded critical feedback on staff’s safety and risk assessment, managed SFT-aligned practice, and formed recommendations for case direction. I systematically assessed as well as supported adherence to the SFT model while enforcing various measures to increase model fidelity.Below are a few of my notable contributions:I effectively resolved challenges, crises, and safety concerns of clients through intervention and supervisory support.I proved instrumental in the success of the program and the mission by supporting the development of administrative policy and engaging in decision-making.

As an Intake Director, I secured referrals by actively collaborating with community-based organizations and ACS. I educated incoming families, established service outcomes, and defined the scope of the program through initial contracting conferences and joint home visits. I ensured consistent delivery of high-quality care to clients through effective management of referrals for structural family therapy and family treatment as well as rehabilitation prevention programs. In order to determine service requirements, I leveraged structural family therapy as the basic framework for assessment as well as intervention. I tracked the performance of masters-level social workers through the delivery of robust clinical/administrative supervision.

I pursued referrals and secured referrals by actively coordinating with community-based organizations. I conducted intake assessments and home visits to families in high-risk communities while leveraging family systems theory and structural family therapy as a framework for intervention to engage families in preventive services and family therapy. I supported the professional development of graduate social work interns through supervision and guidance.

As a Social Worker I facilitated weekly family therapy sessions and conducted home visits. I assisted families with advocacy, referrals and case management while collaborating with service providers and families to develop service plans. I participated in treatment teams using a one-way mirror and co-facilitated a latency boys group. I assisted in translation of intakes for Spanish speaking families.

In my role as a part time visit supervisor, I was responsible for overseeing visits between non-custodial parents and their children. I provided counseling on matters related to visitation as needed to parents and children. I completed court reports on visit observations and collaborated with attorneys and mental health professionals.

Syracuse, New York

As a Case Manager, I provided home-based counseling and crisis intervention to 12 at risk youth and their families and counseled 40+ at risk youth ages 10-20 in a drop in center providing recreational, academic and social support. I collaborate with probation officers, PINS, schools and community-based organizations to ensure coordination of care.

During this graduate level internship experience, I supervised mandated visits between children in foster care and their noncustodial parents. I provides pre and post counseling services to parents working towards family reunification and conducted assessments while utilizing family systems theory as a framework for intervention.

During this internship experience, I provided counseling to adolescent mothers and their children and conducted psychosocial assessments in a residential transitional living facility. I facilitated weekly life skills education classes to prepare young mothers for independent living.

Bachelors Of Science, Social Work

Masters, Social Work

Activities and Societies: Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Senoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc., School of Social Work Recruitment Board