Debra S.

West
7628 Rolling Hill Road
Hopewell, VA 23860 (910) 574-2337 / (804) 415-7762
dw50cfc8@westpost.net

Objective:
To obtain challenging and meaningful employment, with promising upward mobility
within the community, that facilitates youth and families with comprehensive kno
wledge, individualized strategies, various resources and opportunities to enhanc
e and better their lives.

Experience:
2009 - Pres. Specialized Youth Services of VA Petersburg, VA
Regional Manager Intensive In-Home Services
Supervision of professional staff; networking, marketing; collaboration o
n improving & implementing new program concepts; quality assurance; Medicaid com
pliance; documentation training; facilitation of team meetings; case management;
file review; employee orientation.
2008 - 2009 Specialized Youth Services of VA Petersburg, VA
Family Centered Practitioner
Counseling; crisis intervention; teaching social/coping skills; working with
sexual abuse victims/offenders; clinical case management; advocacy; treatment t
eams; ISP creation/implementation; documentation; networking; marketing.
2008 - 2008 New Haven Children Services Richmond, VA
Asst. Program Director
Oversee daily operations; accountable for all consumer needs; attend court,
psychiatric, educational and medical appointments; implementation of medication
administration program; case management; educational support; staff training; p
ayroll; billing; documentation; counseling and crisis intervention.
2007- 2008 SYSVA, Inc./Manpower Petersburg, VA
1:1 Counselor / Support Staff / Day Treatment Counselor
Teach social skills, academics, daily living skills, coping skills, and pos
itive peer involvement to severely emotionally disturbed youths; crisis interven
tion; counseling; implementation of IEP's and PCP's to address consumer's needs
and strengths.
2007- 2007 Fort Lee Child Development Center Fort Lee, VA
Child & Youth Program Assistant
Provide safe environment for children and implement programs for development
ally appropriate ages; teach social skills; communicate with parents and guardia
ns; assist in family style meals; account for equipment; daily written reports a
s necessary.
2006 - 2007 Forever Young Secure Community Fayetteville, NC
Residential Director
Started program from grassroots; daily supervision of 38 employees and 10-12
consumers; responsible for ensuring consumers receive all required services; in
stituted and oversaw medication program; responsible for billing of Medicaid ser
vices; provided daily supplies to employees and consumers; mentoring and profess
ionalism counseling; coordinated/provided on the job training; scheduling; conti
nuation of follow-up services with providers; team meetings; crisis response & r
esolution; QA/QI; incident reporting; administration issues.
2005-2006 Fort Bragg Schools Fort Bragg
, NC
Educational Aide
Worked 1:1 in Autistic classroom teaching social skills, gross and fine mot
or skills, positive peer interaction, daily living skills; crisis intervention;
positive play interaction, academics.
2004-2006 Cumberland County Schools Fayetteville, NC
Substitute Teacher/Teachers Assistant
Assist students; setting firm limits; teach students 1:1 who need focusing f
or comprehension in academics; work with families; identify needs.
2003-2004 Van Story Hills Elementary Fayetteville, N
C
Tutorial Specialist for Math & Reading (2nd / 3rd grades)
Increased 94% of students' scores up during two Benchmark periods; Implement
ed various course curricula as well as hands on learning; Served approximately 7
1 students weekly for both subjects; 74% military children participated and 16 w
ere also able to benefit from additional on base tutoring programs supplementing
this program.
2000-2004 Debra's Academic Learning Ctr. Fayetteville, NC
Owner / Educational Tutor (K-12)
Taught and handled approximately 50-75 students weekly / year-varying; All l
evels / disabilities accepted; BEH, SLD, AG, probation, EMD, ETC.; Communication
of progress to parents; military (88% make-up) done via email, phone, mail, vis
its for absent/deployed parent(s) available 24/7; advocacy also available for ed
ucational need based meetings where military parents cannot attend/ need clarifi
cation on federal statutes; Incorporated post-high school or honors students (al
so previously tutored) to volunteer or become paid employees through our 'give b
ack to the youth community' employment program.
1998-2000 S.R.M.H.C./ Y.E.S. Lumberton
, NC
Youth Program Assistant I
Worked in court-adjudicated, behaviorally challenged male group home; appro
ximately 20% military composition; assisted youth with employment placement; pai
d, volunteer, community hour's completion; taught daily living skills, social sk
ills, and education; led peer groups; oversaw medication self-administration, do
cumentation, on call status.

Education:
2009 Argosy University (online) Phoenix, AZ
***Currently pursuing M.A. in Forensic Psychology : GPA - 4.0***
2008 Saint Leo University Tampa, FL
B.A. Criminal Justice - Dean's List / National Honor Society
1989 Colombia Greene College Hudson, NY
A.A.S. Humanities

Volunteer/Awards:
2009 - Present: American Psychological Association Member
2009 - Present: American Psychology - Law Association Member
2008 - Present: Virginia Juvenile Justice Association Member
2007 - Present: Delta Epsilon Sigma Member
2007 - Present: National Alliance for Youth Sports Member
2007 - 2008: Saint Leo University Dean's List
2008 - 2009: Prince George County FAPT Member
2/2008: Specialized Youth Services of VA Employee of the Quarter
8/2004 - 5/2005: PTA President - Cliffdale Classical Elementary School (NC)
2003: Secretary of the Army Public Service Award
8/2002 - 7/2003: FRG Leader - 364th Supply Company, Fort Bragg (NC)
2007: Fort Lee Soccer - Asst. Coach; U9 League
Fall 2008: Fort Lee Soccer Coach; U 11 League
Winter 2008/2009: Fort Lee Basketball Coach; U12 League
Spring 2009: Fort Lee Soccer Coach; U11 League
1993/1994: CSCC City Teen Boys Basketball Coach - Poughkeepsie (NY)
Fall 1989: JV Field Hockey Coach - Rhinebeck High School (NY)

Certifications / Trainings:
CANS VA; Risk Assessment; Sex Offender Training; First Aid / CPR; Blood borne Pa
thogens; Medication Administration; Child Abuse Reporting; Crisis Response; Inci
dent Reporting; KePRO; Medicaid; ICD-9 Coding; NCI; DSM-IV Diagnostic Training;
Crisiswave; Virginia DSS Training (ongoing); Special Populations; Human Rights;
AAA Driver Improvement; Effective Teacher Training; TOVA; Client Centered Outco
mes in Mental Health; Identifying Natural Supports & Wraparound Services; YASI A
ssessment; Preventing Compassion Fatigue; Human / Clients Rights; Best Practices
; Transferring Youth to Adult Corrections; Effective Coaching Practices for Yout
h; VA Court Services Best Practices Forum; participant in previous Richmond Appr
oach 2008-2009; Food Handling / Sanitation; Nutrition / Meal Creation; able to b
uild & maintain positive rapport with adolescents and families; counseling
*Additional experience available upon request
*References available upon request.