I have always felt compassionate about the field of Education, Staff Development and Career Training. I have a Master of Education degree and over twenty-three years of social work experience, which includes providing counseling, education, and training services to clients, staff and the general public. I have worked in the areas of mental health, HIV/AIDS services, early childhood development, family services, and criminal justice. Several years ago, I began working as a Vocational Specialist for a local non-profit mental health agency, where I provide education, training and career counseling services for homeless job seekers. In this position, I assist program participants with resume writing, career planning, facilitate weekly employment workshops, and provide job placement assistance. I also edit a quarterly newsletter for homeless job seekers and am an active member of the Jobs and Economic Security Task Force in Dutchess County. Two years ago, I developed my Vocational Services program from "scratch."
As a Vocational Specialist, I try to see things from the perspective of our clients. Having experienced homelessness myself as an "aging out" foster youth, I often try to remember what it was like to have dreams and aspirations, while also experiencing homelessness and unemployment. As I plan weekly workshops and other program activities, I often keep my program participants in mind as I plan these activities, always trying to include them in my planning and development.
I discovered several years ago that my passion for writing is actually a unique gift that I had been keeping to myself. At the advice of some friends and colleagues, I decided to write a complete manuscript, then began working with an editor. So for the past year or so, my editor and I have been working on my book. I have just recently completed a 350-page memoir that details my life as a New York City foster child, which I am currently in the process of marketing. I am also working with a local non-profit youth agency and am currently developing a vocational services program for "aging out" foster youth in our community.
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, I relocated to Dutchess County in upstate New York about seven years ago. I currently reside in Poughkeepsie, New York with my eleven year old son.
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