Paola Meléndez Santiago
Griffin
Summary
Result-oriented bilingual mental health professional dedicated to providing adept care and support to children, youth, and families in the community. Observant individual with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, fostering meaningful relationships with clients and families. Experienced in serving clients from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, offering crisis intervention to guide individuals through traumatic experiences. Passionate about empowering others to live safely and successfully.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Clinician
National Youth Advocate Program
05.2023 - Current
- Provide mental health related services including conducting ORR required assessments, referrals to mental health providers and assessments to identify human trafficking concerns.
- Provide consultation and documentation regarding clients’ functioning, mental health status, and treatment needs.
- Collaborate with other staff and stakeholders in utilizing a child welfare best practice approach for the care of minors within a trauma informed framework.
- Provide weekly one-to-one counseling session and two group counseling sessions per week, as well as provide crisis intervention if needed.
- Facilitate family sessions as needed.
- Perform visits at foster caregiver’s homes within pre-established days from the child’s admission.
- Continually monitor the mental well-being of clients and arrange for appropriate services as needed, including arranging for, and facilitating external specialized services with community mental health providers.
- Participate in staffing with ORR stakeholders.
Registered Behavior Technician
Hearts & Hands Therapy Services
07.2022 - 05.2023
- Work under the supervision of Board-Certified Behavior Analysts.
- Provide one on one (1:1) Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) services for children in the Autism Spectrum.
- Collect behavior and skill acquisition data during sessions.
Registered Behavior Technician
Autism Behavioral Institute
03.2021 - 07.2022
- Provide one on one (1:1) Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) services for children in the Autism Spectrum.
- Collect behavior and skill acquisition data during sessions.
- Work under the supervision of Board-Certified Behavior Analysts.
Registered Behavior Technician
Key Autism Services
09.2020 - 03.2021
- Provide 1:1 in-home ABA therapy; conduct discrete trials, implement behavior support, and treatment plans.
- Collect behavior and skill acquisition data during sessions.
- Work collaboratively with a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst Supervisor to implement basic principles and teaching procedures of ABA therapy.
Regional Instructor/ Mental Health Associate- Acute Unit
Laurel Heights Hospital
12.2018 - 05.2020
- Apply basic principles and techniques of ABA, implement detailed behavior plans to patients with autism.
- Engage patients in learning new skills, work with challenging patients in a calm, respectful manner.
- Work within a team framework to ensure excellent patient care and model appropriate social skills.
Education
M.A. - Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP)
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA05.2027
B.A. - Psychology and Mental Health
University of Puerto Rico at Cayey (UPRC)
08.2017
Skills
- Advanced Spanish and English communication skills
- Adept in Microsoft Office applications
- Effective community engagement
- Accurate clinical documentation
- Experienced in applying behavior modification methods
- Strong relationship-building abilities
- Psychoeducational facilitator
- Effective stress management
Timeline
Clinician
National Youth Advocate Program
05.2023 - Current
Registered Behavior Technician
Hearts & Hands Therapy Services
07.2022 - 05.2023
Registered Behavior Technician
Autism Behavioral Institute
03.2021 - 07.2022
Registered Behavior Technician
Key Autism Services
09.2020 - 03.2021
Regional Instructor/ Mental Health Associate- Acute Unit
Laurel Heights Hospital
12.2018 - 05.2020
B.A. - Psychology and Mental Health
University of Puerto Rico at Cayey (UPRC)
M.A. - Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP)
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
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