Melanie Galay
Toa Baja
Summary
Compassionate Family Specialist adept at managing caseloads with efficiency and productivity. Specialize in developing family service plans, crisis intervention strategies, and facilitating inter-agency collaboration. Equipped with strong skills in communication, conflict resolution, and empathy to navigate complex family situations. Excel in applying these soft skills to foster positive outcomes for families and children in need. Compassionate professional in social work, adept at enhancing community support systems and empowering families and children through targeted interventions. Known for high productivity and efficiency in task completion, ensuring timely provision of services and resources. Possess specialized skills in case management, crisis intervention, and behavioral counseling. Excel in empathy, communication, and problem-solving, crucial for navigating complex family dynamics and school environments to foster positive outcomes.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Quality Control Specialist
IEM Puerto Rico
Guaynabo
01.2024 - 06.2024
- Evaluated completed recertifications
- Developed data analysis reports using Excel
- Uncover and report suspicious activities
- Examined documentation to ensure validity
- Monitored and verified completion of recertifications per corporate guidelines
Recertification Specialist
IEM Puerto Rico
Guaynabo
10.2023 - 01.2024
- Examined all relevant documents to ensure compliance with recertification standards
- Coordinated and completed periodic system recertifications
- Tracked progress using a production tracking system
Bilingual Family Specialist
Community Mental Health Affiliates
Waterbury
10.2021 - 10.2023
- Provided family counseling to assist in developing and strengthening family relationships.
- Assisted families in identifying strengths, needs, and resources to increase their capacity for self-sufficiency.
- Collaborated with multiple agencies to coordinate services that would benefit the family.
- Facilitated group sessions on a variety of topics related to parenting skills, communication techniques, and problem solving strategies.
- Provided crisis intervention when needed to de-escalate situations and prevent further harm or trauma.
- Advised families on available community resources such as housing assistance, food pantries, job training programs.
- Developed individualized service plans for each family based on identified needs and goals.
Developmental Therapist
Supporting Bright Stars
Brandon
05.2020 - 09.2021
- Provided individual and family therapy to children with developmental disabilities.
- Developed treatment plans based on assessments of client needs.
- Assessed the development of clients using standardized tests and observations.
- Collaborated with families to identify appropriate resources for their child's development needs.
- Monitored client progress through regular check-ins with caregivers and teachers.
- Designed programs for teaching language development skills to young children with autism spectrum disorder.
- Organized recreational activities that encouraged physical activity while promoting skill building and healthy interactions between peers.
- Counseled parents on how to best support their child's development at home.
- Educated school personnel about strategies for working effectively with students who have special needs.
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
Invo - Progressus
Saint Petersburg
01.2020 - 05.2021
- Provided direct one-on-one instruction to children with autism in a variety of settings.
- Tracked data and monitored progress of student's goals and objectives.
- Provided verbal prompts, physical guidance, or other forms of prompting when necessary.
- Collaborated with parents, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to ensure successful implementation of interventions.
- Implemented visual supports such as schedules, picture cards.
- Developed creative activities that engage clients while teaching them new skills or reinforcing existing ones.
Behavior Technician
Gandara Center
Springfield
02.2017 - 12.2019
- Developed individualized treatment plans for each client that included goals and objectives.
- Instructed clients in social skills training techniques such as positive reinforcement, prompting, and shaping behaviors.
- Collaborated with families to provide support strategies for home-based interventions.
- Implemented evidence-based practices such as discrete trial teaching and natural environment teaching.
- Monitored client's progress towards identified goals through data collection and analysis.
- Observed clients during both structured and unstructured activities to identify potential areas for improvement or reinforcement.
- Provided crisis management when needed by utilizing de-escalation techniques such as redirection or calming strategies.
- Participated in interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss client progress and plan next steps accordingly.
- Restrained violent or suicidal patients using approved verbal or physical techniques.
- Influenced patients' behavior with interaction, counseling or instruction.
Entrepreneur/Owner
Supermercado Covadonga
Toa Baja
02.2011 - 05.2016
- s
- Established pricing structures for products and services.
- Conducted market research to understand customer needs and preferences.
- Maintained relationships with key clients to secure repeat business.
- Developed and updated website and social media profile pages to market products and services.
- Set pricing structures according to market analytics and emerging trends.
- Resolved issues quickly through meticulous research and quick decision-making.
- Identified operational weaknesses and developed improvement plans to correct problems.
- Mentored and developed team members, preparing them for leadership roles within the organization.
- Used excellent verbal skills to engage customers in conversation and effectively determine needs and requirements.
- Provided direction and guidance to employees.
- Conducted performance reviews for employees on a regular basis.
- Supervised performance of workers with goals of improving productivity, efficiency and cost savings.
- Delegated work to staff, setting priorities and goals.
- Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
- Structured HR consulting services to support clients during organizational developments and changes.
- Directed or coordinated financial or budget activities to fund operations and maximize investments.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - General Psychology
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
Ponce, PR01-2015
Skills
- Effective Leadership
- Team Supervisor
- Effective Communication
- Resourceful Initiative
- Analytical Problem Solving
- Microsoft Office Proficiency
- Customer Service Expertise
- Cultural Competency
- Diversity Advocacy
- Skilled in Motivational Interviewing
- Youth Engagement Skills
- Client-Centered Behavioral Support
- Crisis Management
- Experience Supporting Individuals with Autism
- Client Advocacy Skills
- Mental Health Support
- Great judgment
- Documentation Review
- Data Interpretation
- One-on-one sessions
- Client Relations
- Documentation requirements
- Service referral coordination
- Progress Evaluations
- Client Confidentiality
- Progress assessment
- Electronic Charting
- Therapeutic Plans
- Community Education
- Building rapport
- Behavior Modification
- Small Group Instruction
- Creative lesson plan development
- IEP planning
- Attention to Detail
- Composure and Emotional Control
- Friendly, Positive Attitude
Certification
- Conflict Mediation
- Present
- The certification consisted of resolving a conflict between two parties encouraging them to agree in a decision that will benefit both of them. The certification consisted of four parts:
- Judicial System and Legal Terminology
- Bediestic Violence
- Mediation
- Practical Training
- Child and Adolescent Necessities and Strengths (CANS)
- March 2017 to March 2019
- Learned how to assess necessities and strengths of children, adolescents, caregivers and families from 3 to 21 years old.
- Florida State Board Child Welfare Certification
- March 2020 to March 2021
- Learned how to assess child welfare, identify abuse and to provide a trauma informed service.
- Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) for Suicide Prevention
- Learned how to approach and manage the suicide conversation.
- Verbal De-Escalation Training
- Learned strategies to de-escalate individual when demonstrating emotional distress.
- Infant & Toddler Developmental Specialist
- July 2020 to Present
- Learned the developmental stages from birth to three, the milestones and medical complications that can cause a delay during these ages.
- Registered Behavior Technician
- July 2020 to October 2021
- Learned how to implement Behavioral Intervention Plans, code of ethics, definition of function and strategies.
- CPR Certification
- First Aid Certification
- Circle of Security Facilitator
- Circle of Security is a curriculum to help parents enhance their relationship with their children, providing security and emotional attachment.
- Positive Parenting Program
- May 2022
Languages
Spanish
First Language
English
Advanced (C1)
C1
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Quality Control Specialist
IEM Puerto Rico
01.2024 - 06.2024
Recertification Specialist
IEM Puerto Rico
10.2023 - 01.2024
Bilingual Family Specialist
Community Mental Health Affiliates
10.2021 - 10.2023
Developmental Therapist
Supporting Bright Stars
05.2020 - 09.2021
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
Invo - Progressus
01.2020 - 05.2021
Behavior Technician
Gandara Center
02.2017 - 12.2019
Entrepreneur/Owner
Supermercado Covadonga
02.2011 - 05.2016
- Conflict Mediation
- Present
- The certification consisted of resolving a conflict between two parties encouraging them to agree in a decision that will benefit both of them. The certification consisted of four parts:
- Judicial System and Legal Terminology
- Bediestic Violence
- Mediation
- Practical Training
- Child and Adolescent Necessities and Strengths (CANS)
- March 2017 to March 2019
- Learned how to assess necessities and strengths of children, adolescents, caregivers and families from 3 to 21 years old.
- Florida State Board Child Welfare Certification
- March 2020 to March 2021
- Learned how to assess child welfare, identify abuse and to provide a trauma informed service.
- Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) for Suicide Prevention
- Learned how to approach and manage the suicide conversation.
- Verbal De-Escalation Training
- Learned strategies to de-escalate individual when demonstrating emotional distress.
- Infant & Toddler Developmental Specialist
- July 2020 to Present
- Learned the developmental stages from birth to three, the milestones and medical complications that can cause a delay during these ages.
- Registered Behavior Technician
- July 2020 to October 2021
- Learned how to implement Behavioral Intervention Plans, code of ethics, definition of function and strategies.
- CPR Certification
- First Aid Certification
- Circle of Security Facilitator
- Circle of Security is a curriculum to help parents enhance their relationship with their children, providing security and emotional attachment.
- Positive Parenting Program
- May 2022
Bachelor of Arts - General Psychology
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
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