Tamara Lafferty

Responsible for KOG approvals, TWIST staff directory, and other access required for community partners.

Liaison for DPP with TWIST. Coordinate, complete, and send all CSR's for cleanups as well as changes within the TWIST system. Make TWIST corrections and assist field staff with issues regarding TWIST.

Review and assist with the analysis data, management reports, and open records requests. Coordinate, complete, and send all RCSR's to TWIST for assistance with this information.

Work with CQI in the MITS system to correct or problem shoot issues.

Coordinator of the non-emergency Repatriation Program. Within this role, I coordinate the return of US citizens to Kentucky, work with International Social Services through the process as well as the region in which the repatriation individual will reside, assist in services per the needs, and oversee the case until case closure.

Coordinator of the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG). This requires much collaboration with other agencies in order to obtain the necessary information for the grant.

Complete TCM/ Social Security audits.

Completing the federal Children and Family Services Review (CFSR) Case Reviews. This entailed learning the federal model, interviewing children, parents, PCC/PCP community partners, therapists, case managers, and foster parents. This often required unbiased judgments and much finesse when obtaining information necessary for a thorough review.

As a member of the QA team, I critiqued cases submitted for review before they were sent to the agency's federal partners. This required knowledge regarding SOP as well as federal requirements as to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families. I was also responsible for correct grammar and flow of the document.

Completed Lexus/Nexus searches; collaborated in meetings with federal partners; assisted in work groups for the CFSP and interviewed community partners regarding the agency's performance in safety, permanency, and well-being.

Promoted teamwork among office staff by fostering open communication and a supportive work environment. Met individually with staff at least monthly for case consults.

Developed targeted outreach initiatives that connected families in need with appropriate resources and assistance. Collaborated with community partners such as UK TAP, Families First, HANDS, PCC and PCP placements.

Enhanced family service programs by streamlining processes and implementing new strategies for office operations. Worked diligently to accommodate/enhance visitations, on call schedules, and building a strong team. Coordinated with Christian Appalachian Program for basic need items on hand when children enter OOHC.

Collaborated with community partners to foster strong relationships, increasing awareness and support of available family services. Attended Family First meetings, treatment plan meetings within PCC's, visited foster homes and residential facilities, organized five day conferences to include community partners, advocated for children and families within court.

Addressed complex cases involving multiple agencies or jurisdictions through effective coordination between all involved parties.

Continuously sought opportunities for professional growth by attending relevant conferences, workshops, and seminars.

Maintained accurate record-keeping systems, facilitating efficient information sharing among team members and partner organizations.

Implemented data-driven decision-making processes, leading to more efficient allocation of resources and better outcomes for families served. Utilized management reports to ensure quality within casework amongst my team.

Organized team meetings focused on discussing best practices in serving families'' diverse needs.

Improved staff productivity by providing consistent training and resources for professional development.

Evaluated program effectiveness regularly, using feedback from clients, staff, and stakeholders to inform continuous improvement efforts.

Conducted performance evaluations for staff members, identifying strengths and opportunities for growth within their roles as service providers.

Established a safe and welcoming environment for clients, promoting trust and open communication between staff and families.

Facilitated the development of inter-agency collaborations, enhancing the range of available services for families in need.

Managed crisis situations with professionalism, compassion, and resourcefulness, ensuring the safety and well-being of clients and staff alike.

Supervised case management activities, ensuring timely resolution of client issues while maintaining high standards of confidentiality and professionalism.

Coordinated events and workshops aimed at educating parents on various topics related to child development and family wellbeing.

Resolved issues through active listening and open-ended questioning, escalating major problems to manager.

Hired, managed, developed and trained staff, established and monitored goals, conducted performance reviews and administered salaries for staff.

Oversaw appointment scheduling and itinerary coordination for both clients and personnel.

Delegated tasks to administrative support staff to organize and improve office efficiency.

Kept high average of performance evaluations.

Please refer to the job description previously mentioned.

Also within this role, I supervised all the ongoing and OOHC cases for the counties. I utilized management reports to ensure OOHC children were visited monthly; completed monthly but often daily consults with workers as to progress/concerns regarding the families and children we served; worked collaboratively with community partners, attended treatment meetings with workers for children in PCC placements; visited foster homes both DCBS and PCP; attended court hearings, testified in TPR hearings, assisted workers with presentation summary narratives; and strived to continue a hands on approach through supportive collaboration within the community and the individual needs of my team.

Implemented crisis intervention strategies when needed, ensuring immediate safety measures were in place for at-risk children. Facilitated crisis intervention meetings.

Delivered high-quality case management services by conducting thorough assessments, developing individualized case plans, and providing ongoing case management support.

Advocated for children and families within the realm of child protection to ensure access to appropriate resources and services when needed.

Participated in case reviews with multidisciplinary teams to discuss complex cases and develop collaborative solutions for individualized case plans.

Maintained up-to-date knowledge through review of SOP and best practices, attended conferences and participated in continuing education opportunities.

Collaborated with treatment providers, foster parents, PCC/PCP case managers to ensure seamless integration of all services for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in OOHC.

Served as a mentor to new social workers, providing guidance on documentation, engagement with clients and community partners, standards of practice, and court proceedings.

Enhanced communication between the court, law enforcement, and the Cabinet. Contributed to positive relationships through clear communication and cooperation on joint initiatives. Served as a FAIR Team member, worked collaboratively with the CDW, and DJJ.

Ensured accuracy in the completion of court orders, court reports, and petitions. Organized system to ensure proper filing and assisted new workers with preparing/testifying in court. Worked with regional OLS to assist children with permanency through reading case files and testifying to those records at TPR hearings. Completed presentation summary narratives and packets, worked collaboratively with pre-adoptive/adoptive homes, and ensured all court hearings as well as annual permanency reviews were completed to establish permanency in a timely manner.

Completed case consults and acted in a supervisory role in the absence of the FSOS.

Carried an OOHC caseload which included out of state placements and children in a variety of placements. Ensured these children had a voice through advocating in court, within their treatment meetings, and engaging them to their wants and needs.

Accepted reports of abuse, neglect,and dependency on children and vulnerable adults within the Commonwealth. Processed the reports in TWIST through DPP 115 and sent to county and law enforcement.

Worked diligently through time management and timeframes to ensure reports were accurate by managing time effectively, prioritizing tasks based on urgency, complexity, and/or referral information. This required the Utilization of problem-solving skills to ensure the information was obtained effectively.

Collaborated with team members to ensure optimal service quality for all.

As a member of the specialized investigation unit, I was responsible for completing investigations on Cabinet employees, child/adult fatalities and near fatalities, facility referrals (nursing homes, PCC residential), and foster homes (DCBS and PCP). This position enabled me to develop interpersonal skills while ensuring safety but having often difficult conversations regarding any abuse/neglect substantiated. Prevention plans were often utilized as well as collaboration with OIG.

Built strong rapport with clients, fostering trust and open communication for effective home visits. Taught hands on skills multiple times weekly in their homes.

Maintained detailed case notes and documentation, ensuring effective tracking of progress and continuity of care.

Enhanced client well-being through personalized treatment plans tailored to individual needs and goals.

Delivered brief interventions to help clients develop healthy coping skills. Was on call 24/7 for families on caseload.

Developed and implemented intensive individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, and destructive patterns of behavior.

Engaged and coached clients on effective coping strategies, empowering them to manage symptoms independently.

Implemented time management strategies to ensure full caseloads were effectively managed, maintaining high-quality care for all clients.

Provided crisis intervention services, stabilizing clients in distress and connecting them with necessary resources.

Tracked progress according to goals for interventions. Advocated for families in court, schools, and within other community agencies.