Thank you for visiting my page! I hope you'll find it useful in navigating helpful tips for emotional and behavioral concerns as well as linking to community resources.

My heart is in social work! I attended Germanna Community College prior to earning my BA in Sociology from the University of Mary Washington in 2005.  I worked my way through graduate school where I completed two clinical internships, one of them providing individual therapy to adults and children without insurance and the other with Stafford Schools.  I graduated from George Mason University in 2010 with my Masters in Social Work.  I worked for a short time doing intensive in-home counseling and then worked in the private day school setting with students who have severe emotional disabilities and Autism. An opportunity opened within Stafford Schools and I jumped at the chance to join this amazing group of dedicated Social Workers!  In 2013, I completed all of the clinical experience and supervision requirements to sit for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker exam and am proud to say, I earned my LCSW!  Since that time, I have become a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and a Clinical Supervisor to other Social Workers working toward clinical licensure.  Throughout my years in Stafford, I have been a Trainer for Handle with Care and since 2018 I have been an Internationally Certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer.  Since working within Stafford Schools, I have had the privilege of working in four of our high schools. I have been part of the SHS Tribe since 2019!
 
WHAT A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER DOES

*Provide short-term counseling focused on skill  building to assist students in accessing their education

* Provide crisis intervention

*Assist teachers and staff in developing intervention strategies to increase educational success

*Participate in Student Education Committee (SEC) meetings

*Participate in Special Education Assessment meetings as well as Individual Education Plan (IEP) Meetings

*Advocate for the needs of students

*Assist staff and families with understanding mental health needs and diagnoses

*Prepare a social history report (bio-psycho-social) for a child who is being considered for certain special education services

*Assist in Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Plans

*Assist parents in accessing community resources. To include: out-patient counseling providers, psychiatrists, DSS services, food pantries, shelters, and other community resources.  

*Assist families in connecting with community agencies such as Court Services Unit, Department of Social Services, and the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board

*Identify and report child abuse and neglect

*Provide support, as needed, with identifying and accessing needed interventions to prevent truancy

*Document, prepare, and case manage, on an as needed basis, Children in Need of Supervision affidavits and charges through the magistrate for court intervention related to Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy.