Kiara Kiah
Athens
Summary
Compassionate School Social Worker with experience in providing emotional, social and academic support to school-aged students. Strengths include effective communication, crisis management, and implementation of intervention strategies for at-risk youth. Significant impact made in previous roles by promoting student well-being and fostering positive relationships between students, families, and school staff.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
School Social Worker
Clarke County School District
Athens
07.2025 - Current
- Conducted needs, biopsychosocial, trauma, and other student and family assessments
- Developed and implemented intervention plans to support students' academics and social-emotional needs
- Provided brief individual and group counseling to elementary and secondary students
- Delivered crisis intervention and support after school or community emergencies
- Referred students and families to community agencies (DFCS, housing, medical, mental health, probation)
- Coordinated bi-monthly multidisciplinary meetings to address academic, attendance, and social-emotional barriers for students
- Supported specialized populations per state and federal rules (Foster Care, McKinney-Vento, Migrant, Neglected & Delinquent)
- Prepared and submitted juvenile complaints for truancy and educational neglect under Georgia law
- Conducted home and community visits to strengthen family engagement and school connections
- Planned and facilitated workshops and support groups on parenting, community resources, and social skills development
- Mediated conflicts among students, families, and school staff, fostering resolution and promoting positive relationships
- Trained school staff on child welfare, mental health, suicide prevention, and abuse/neglect topics
- Supervised and mentored Bachelor's and Master's level social work interns from accredited universities
- Coordinated referral processes with DFCS and local clinics to secure mental health services for students.
Therapist
Social Empowerment Center
Jefferson
06.2023 - Current
- Conducted individual CBT sessions with adolescents, reducing crisis incidents and improving coping skills.
- Developed service and rehabilitation plans to ensure delivery of necessary services.
- Assessed and supported clients to sustain resources and treatment engagement
- Identified and resolved complex client issues affecting progress
- Assessed services and proposed changes that led to improved outcomes for participants.
- Monitored behavior and functioning and gave providers useful info for treatment plans
- Deescalated conflicts and resolved disputes with clients
- Completed functional assessments to inform individual service plans
- Worked on a multidisciplinary team to build care plans from each client’s strengths and needs
- Facilitated access to resources that enhanced participants' personal growth and sustained engagement.
- Collaborated with educators to customize classroom strategies for students affected by trauma, promoting a supportive learning environment.
Family Engagement Literacy Specialist
Clarke County School District
Athens
07.2022 - 07.2023
- Engaged families in programs to foster child development, enhance family self-sufficiency, and achieve family goals.
- Coordinated meetings and family engagement activities to strengthen community involvement and support for families.
- Conducted home visits to assess and address family service needs effectively.
- Communicates with local Social Service Agencies for the purpose of referrals for families to address family goals and needs.
- Monitors child and family case management for the purpose of ensuring documentation of child and family case management meets program and governmental requirements.
- Develops a variety of reports for the purpose of monitoring services provided for children and families.
- Maintains manual and electronic files and/or records for the purpose of providing up-to-date reference while complying with regulatory requirements and accomplishment of family goals.
- Assist families in the classroom to provide a smooth transition for children eligible for EHS, HS of post-Head-Start programs.
Registered Behavioral Health Technician
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center
Athens
05.2021 - 06.2022
- Implemented individualized teaching strategies and behavior-modification techniques to enhance client engagement and learning.
- Followed each patient’s behavior plan, individualized treatment plan, and reinforcement schedule.
- Collected and recorded precise data on data sheets, programming sheets, and progress notes to inform treatment decisions.
- Completed daily acquisition, maintenance, and mastered skill programs according to BCBA guidelines.
- Completed programming requests from BCBAs and Program Coordinators in a timely manner.
- Helped maintain a safe environment for patients and staff through daily practices.
- Facilitated problem-solving discussions to identify actionable improvements in clinic operations and boost team morale.
- Maintained a positive attitude to minimize adverse situations and complaints.
Education
Master of Arts - Social Work
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WVBachelor of Arts - Social Work
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VASkills
- Individual counseling
- Crisis management
- Mental health support
- Student assessment
- Case management
- Program development
- Referral coordination
- School resource connection
- Student advocacy
- Family engagement
- Parent engagement
- Team collaboration
- Conflict resolution
Timeline
School Social Worker
Clarke County School District
07.2025 - Current
Therapist
Social Empowerment Center
06.2023 - Current
Family Engagement Literacy Specialist
Clarke County School District
07.2022 - 07.2023
Registered Behavioral Health Technician
Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center
05.2021 - 06.2022
Master of Arts - Social Work
West Virginia University
Bachelor of Arts - Social Work
Eastern Mennonite University