PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Beacon Program, Child Development Program at P.S. 8
Held on Saturdays, Sept. 2006 to April, 2007
- Provide literacy training for 3 to 5 year olds and their parents
- Provide a nurturing environment to encourage 7 & 8 year olds to learn writing skills
School Social Worker, NYC Board of Education,
District 4 Pre-K Social Worker, Jan. 2004 - July, 2007
- Provide on-site support and guidance for the Pre-K population and staff
- Conduct parent/guardian interviews for Pre-K registration and review files
- Work with parents directly to provide ongoing support and offer resources
- Lead Parent Workshops geared towards improving parenting skills
- Observe children and write classroom anecdotes regularly
- Supervise and coordinate projects with each school's family assistants
- Document ongoing case histories and parent & child contacts for follow up
District 7, C.P.S.E., (Committee on Pre-K Special Ed.) Sept. 2003 - Jan. 2004
- Interviewed family and significant others to write initial and updates for social history
- Reviewed Cases with C.P.S.E. administrator and generally assisted with outreach to parents, explained due rights process and C.P.S.E. procedures
- Helped complete and organize required C.P.S.E. paperwork, generated computer list of aging out children, arranged C.P.S.E. conferences for parents, acted as liaison to early childhood agencies on behalf of parents to set up services for children, directed incoming phone calls and provided office assistance
Manhattan Clinical Service Division, Feb. 1990 – June, 2003
- Provide mandated counseling as indicated on the child’s IEP, Progress Reports and complete all other mandated paperwork associated with services in a timely fashion
- Help students at risk of dropping out to remain in school and achieve academic and vocational goals
- Provide counseling to students with special educational needs who have learning and/or emotional disabilities
- Act as nurturing role model to give high school students hope and to encourage them to seek greater future independence
- Refer students to combination GED/Job training programs
- Teach students appropriate social skills for various life functions
- Perform crisis intervention
- Use creative writing and other artistic means to enable students to express themselves
- Lead group classes focused on learning and adapting life training skills
School for Pregnant and Parenting Teens, 1986 - 1990
- Provided counseling to students, interacted and helped them get services for their babies, including applying for the LYFE Program or outside daycare, and worked with their families, boyfriends, and other involved individuals, making home visits as needed or as clients desire
- Perform advocacy and liaison work with many agencies, including HRA, Medicaid, ACS, ACD, WIC, INS, hospitals, clinics, etc.
- Compiled and maintained a comprehensive directory of resources to make timely appropriate referrals
- Did onsite screening for Public Assistance and Medicaid
- Carried out interventions in court actions and other agency actions
- Accompanied students to other agencies to advocate for them and model behavior to teach children how to apply for various types services
Psychotherapist, Washington Square Institute for Mental Health, 1985 - 1990
- Provided psychoanalytic psychotherapy
- Received training, supervision and completed entire course work
Home of the Sages of Israel, (SNF) 1985 - 1986
- Interviewed residents and families and wrote case histories
- Helped residents and families learn eligibility guidelines for various services to which they may be entitled and taught them how to advocate for themselves
- Promoted a social climate to stimulate and involve the aged residents and their families
Spence Chapin Intensive Services to Families and Children, 1984 - 1985
- Maintained Uniform Case Records mandated by NYS
- Manned a referral line for one morning weekly
- Conducted home visits
Beth Israel Methadone Maintenance Program, 1983-1984
- Provided counseling to multi-substance abusers and significant others
- Worked on an interdisciplinary team responsible for maintaining adult drug abusers in a functional state
- Led therapy group for female patients focused on life skills training
Skills Acquired:
- Excellent writing, organizational and clerical skills
- Speak conversational Spanish
- Capability in researching grant programs
- Familiar with various government and private social service programs
- Effective public relations skills
- Write and design attractive brochures, graduation and other type invitations, flyers, etc.
- Computer literate, proficient with Macs and its programs for design including iPhoto, iTunes, and familiarity with graphic layouts
- Excellent photography skills
EDUCATION:
- M.A., Creative Writing Program, City University Graduate Program, 2001
- M.S.W., School of Social Work, Columbia University, 1985
- B.A., Anthropology, Columbia University, 1983
- American Academy of Dramatic Arts, 1967 1968
AWARDS:
- Higher Education Opportunity Program
- Clark Fellowships
- Rapp Fellowship
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker with R status
- Approval from NYS Department of Health to provide Early Intervention Services
- Tenured and Licensed NYC Department of Education Social Worker
- Incorporated: JLeftow with S Chapter & Federal ID #
- Licensed Notary Public
- Retired July 1st, 2007 from the NYC Department of Education after 20 years
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST