The following information provides a detail explanation of employment, practicum and volunteer placement.

Office of the Children’s Lawyer- Clinician   September 1, 2016- Present Clinician assessing s. 112 custody and access assessments, reviewing court documentation, assessing family separation/divorce situations, reviewing collateral (personal and professional) information, liaison with lawyers and other parties, preparing s. 112 report & facilitating disclosure meetings and attending court appearances as witnesses.

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Kujenga Wellness Project- Co-Funder/ Manager  –July 2020-March 2023. Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to provide support groups, educational programs and a navigation system for Black parents, caregivers and guardians; oversee program development and content, supervise Project Coordinator, attend community meetings, and deliver workshops/webinars.

Ifarada: Centre for Excellence- Executive Director – January 2018-Present. Non-for-profit, member of the Family Services Ontario providing counselling, education support, mentorship, and other programs and services for families, individuals and couples.  Organization focuses on culturally informed lens, trauma-informed, and equity based principles.

Tropicana Community Services –Involve Youth Program Coordinator   –September 2008-August 2009. Youth Coordinator in a Bachelor of Social Work placement program, aimed at engaging youth in high risk neighborhoods in civic engagement and community progress.  Assisted with group program, provided support with social-emotional needs, transported and accompanied youth to community engagement events, participated in a retreat for youth, helped youth achieve a grant for $15,000 to host a summer program for youth in the apartment complex, addressed systemic issues within their community, and provided crisis management.

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Durham Children’s Aid Society-Children Service Worker    -November 2001-November 2008Case manager for children who were in foster care or residential treatment centers; Monitor children in foster and residential care to ensure that their physical, emotional, spiritual, cultural, medical, recreational, psychological, educational needs are met. Counseling, crisis intervention and support to clients. Accessed community resources such as recreation, group activities, behavior management program, life skills programs, and counseling agencies that meet a client’s needs. Completed assessments and quarterly reviews for Ministry audits, attended and conducted treatment meetings, supervised family visitations.

Various Placements- Foster Parent Caregiver  – September 2008- April 2019. Provided foster care services to children and youth ages 0- 21 years old in my home.  Provided daily care, emotional and attachment interventions, advocated for and attended school appointments, medical appointments, family visits and other requirements, completed social-behavioral assessments on a monthly basis, attended and facilitated plan of care meetings, followed Ministry guidelines.  During the time period, worked for three different fostering agencies, fostered over 30 youth and children

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Durham College- Sessional Instructor  -September 1, 2018- Present Sessional instructor in Community and Social Services program, develop curriculum, support learners with special accommodations, evaluate progress, and consult with faculty staff. Taught in the Child and Youth Program (Courses: Equity/Diversity, Child Welfare Course, Advanced Professional Practice, Family Systems & Social Welfare, Interviewing), Addictions and Mental Health (Courses: Trauma Informed Practice, Youth in Addictions/Mental Health), and Developmental Social Worker (Courses: Family Systems).

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Ontario Association for Children’s Aid Societies –Sessional Instructor  January 2020- Present. Sessional instructor and Facilitator for new worker, and anti-Black racism curriculum content for children’s aid societies workers.

Promoting Empathy and Empathy, A Cultural Perspective– Presenter  .May 2020 Canadian Wellness Family Summit (May 2020): Article and Workshop: Workshop on educating families on equity, intergenerational trauma and mental wellness.

Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy- Guest Lecturer- December 2019-July 2020. Equitable & Inclusive Interventions in Play Therapy: Workshop on integrating equity and therapy for children and youth

Community Inclusivity & Equity Council of York Region- Project Manager March 2017- Dec. 2018. Develop and coordinate an equity leadership course for senior leaders throughout Ontario, support the development of course instructors, manage Grant funds and objectives, develop advertising and marketing strategies, coordinate venue locations.

Blue Hills Child & Family Services-Placement (Practica)-September 2016-December 2016. Master of Social Work placement student with executive director and community outreach coordinator, developed an Anti-Oppressive Practice Framework for the organization, assisted with completion of a grant to the Ministry ($140,000), attended Board meetings, reviewed organizational structure, and attend community-based executive meetings.

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Aset Group Consulting & Counselling Services- Clinical Director  – Jan. 2015-Present. Clinical director and supervision provided to student graduate and undergraduate interns; Developed private practice focusing on providing psychotherapy, counselling and crisis services to children, youth, families, couples and adults; Developed, initiated and facilitated group programs for youth and adult women using a cognitive behavior and dialectical behavior therapy approach.  Other activities as a consultant include trauma specialist and interventionist (single incident trauma), Employee Assistance Program counsellor (short-term brief service).

Durham Family Court Clinic- Intensive Support and Specialist Program -July 2012-August 2016. Psychotherapy services to youth with criminal records and mental health difficulties develop comprehensive treatment plan & assessments (BASC-II, CAFAS, PEI, CSS, YLS/CMI 2.0[1]), create therapeutic goals & treatment approaches using motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, solution focused therapy and incorporate addictions counselling and treatment.

Turning Point Youth Services- Clinician/Service Coordinator (Contract)    September 2013-May 2014. Residential clinician in a children’s mental health program for high special needs residence focusing upon treating mental health difficulties such as borderline personality disorder, early onset schizophrenia, social anxiety, intellectual delays, and youth who have experienced trauma due to parental neglect and abuse.  Complete initial intake meetings for potential placement, prepare youth for intake, complete initial and follow up 90-day assessments, ie. CAFAS, consult with residential staff at weekly team meetings, conduct training for residential staff, conducted individual and family therapy with residential youth, liaison with clinical team and professionals and conducted group therapy for residential youth.  Provided individual and family counselling to youth referred in the community by their families addressing mental health concerns and issues such as anxiety, bullying, depression and low self-esteem.

Durham Rape Crisis Center- Adult Counselor (Contract)  –July 2012-March 2013. Clinical and crisis counsellor to women survivors of sexual trauma and child sexual abuse using cognitive behavior therapy, trauma therapy treatment, art therapy and dialectical behavior therapy; Initiated, developed and facilitated a treatment focused trauma-based group for women who experienced sexual abuse and assault using expressive arts therapy (narrative therapy, clay, music, mindfulness meditation, yoga, art, and more) for two 10 week sessions each. 

Branching Out Enhanced Therapeutic Services-Child and Family Therapist – Nov. 2008- July 2013. Individual and group therapist for children and youth in residential or foster care due to neglect, trauma by their parents.  Provided play therapy (included child-centered play therapy, cognitive behavior play therapy, narrative therapy, art therapy, music therapy) in supervision and consultation with certified play therapist supervisors, and family therapist. Developed and initiated group programs for youth such as, self-esteem focused groups, social skills, managing anger, depression/anxiety group, kinship family and sibling groups, and grief/loss groups ranging from 6-12 weeks in length; Conducted and developed initial treatment assessments, with follow up reports and treatment plans every 12-20sessions.  Conducted thorough trauma assessments & psych-social assessment reports.  Supervised practicum students by providing supervision, training, and co-facilitation in groups.

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[1] Assessments listed: Behavior Assessment for Children 2^nd addition (BASC-II), Child and Adolescent Functional Scale (CAFAS), Personal Experience Inventory (PEI), Criminal Sentiment Scale (CSS), Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI 2.0)