Terrese Cooks

The Youth Social Worker will work to support and improve advocacy for juvenile clients throughout the case process and in the community. The responsibilities of the Youth Social Worker include the following completing intake of clients and their parents or guardians. Interviewing clients and performing assessments to determine client needs, including psychiatric, social, emotional, and educational needs. Gathering and analyzing information relevant to assessing client needs through records collection and collateral interviews. Developing social service plans – including sentencing plans that present the court with compelling alternatives to incarceration, and plans for provision of services on release from incarceration – for clients, driven by clients' expressed interests and goals, in collaboration with other members of the juvenile team. Becoming and remaining familiar with relevant service providers – including community-based providers of mental health care services, job training, counseling, and housing – and conducting site visits to assess the quality of service providers and their suitability for clients. Counseling clients and client families on available services and benefits and on overcoming potential barriers to accessing those services and benefits. Advising attorneys and other staff on issues within the expertise of social workers, including family dynamics, adolescent development and psychology, the use of standard social work assessment tools, and available community-based services. Assisting attorneys in understanding mental health records and other materials related to the social worker's area of expertise. Maintaining regular contact with clients, including regularly visiting clients at home and in custody. Thoroughly documenting all work and all information gathered.

Delivered individualized counseling services to adolescent clients working through issues such as mental illness and trauma. Educated clients about mental health issues, treatments and resources. Provided clients with recommendations to community resources. Documented client progress in confidential files. Implemented crisis intervention plans to support client safety. Developed and implemented activities to help clients develop social skills.

The Patient Access Representative greets patients and guests in a courteous manner while initiating the scheduling or check-in process. They will obtain and verify accurate identification and demographical data for the patient's permanent medical record, which assists in accurate reimbursement, while recognizing and maintaining the confidentiality of all patient information. The PAR is responsible for many types of interactions such as point-of-service face-to-face, as well as telephone, web enabled, and/or through an interpretative service related to completing the patient registration and admission process. They will improve patient satisfaction through consistently representing LCMC professionally and cross-training to support multiple functions across all patient and payer types. The Patient Access Representative I interacts with patients, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other clinic and hospital personnel. They will demonstrate actions consistent with LCMC's "Expectations" as duties are performed on a daily basis.

Provide school social work services, which address the psychosocial needs of high school age children, inclusive of Special Education, and their families so as to directly address academic performance and achievement. Provide school based interventions that include but not limited to: Individual counseling, crisis intervention, home visits with the school social worker and deans, case management, and collaborating with school-based staff and administration. Participate in IEP and student success meetings as needed as assist with intervention plans. Also, serve as a liaison and advocate for students and parents.

Answer and direct all incoming calls and emails. Provide excellent customer service & help to create and maintain a welcoming and professional environment. Work effectively with parents and staff to develop and maintain parent's confidence in the staff and program, including collecting information and preparing reports and correspondence as needed. Submit and process billing, class transfers/drops, refunds, etc. Prepare handouts and keep bulletin boards up to date. Keep track of customer and staff information, including private lessons and makeups.

Responsibilities included directing staff trainings and meetings, managing camper information and groupings, maintaining fiscal records, and working within a budget, maintaining camp resources and supplies, and interacting with parents, campers, and staff.

Built positive rapport with students while supervising and observing their progress and growth through 1:1 sessions and group work. Created and facilitated a group workshop for high school freshman and sophomore that will now be used nationally across College Track campuses. Administered assessments such as GAD-7 and PHQ-9. Responded to crises and emergency situations to provide immediate assistance to persons in need. Documented services provided meticulously by keeping accurate records of activities, interactions and conversations.

Projects:

While interning at College Track NOLA, I was selected to created a workshop for the 9th and 10th graders in the program regarding wellness and processing and managing emotions. I came up with the idea of Well Diz by looking at ways to teach the students in a manner that was easy to understand for them, and who doesn't love a Disney movie? The project consisted of 11 lessons that were each based upon a different Disney movie. I dissected the movies by character and scenes and talked about the ways in which a characters experienced emotions, hardships, or triumphs and how they overcame or learned and grew from their experiences. The administration loved the workshop and it is now implemented into College Track curriculum across the country.