Benefits Specialist / Medicaid Service Coordinator

2002 - present

 

• Assist SSI and/or SSDI recipients in various locations of Westchester, to understand Social Security Work Incentives, which includes IRWE, PASS, and TWP; and provide them with an understanding of their benefits status.

• Aid consumers in developing their Individual Service Plan.

• Assists consumers in applying for services through the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

 

 

Community Partner for the Search Project

2012 - 2014

 

• Assisted in development of an 8 week curriculum around soft skills students with disabilities.

• Facilitated an 8 week social skills group to Transition Aged youth with disabilities for the New Rochelle High school and St. Christopher’s Special Act School.

• Met with students and their families to provide benefits advisement.

• Met with School Therapists, Psychologists, Guidance Counselors and Teachers to develop a plan wherein the students would transition into their adult work lives and receive the services needed to be successful.

• Advocated for the rights and needs of the Students in the Search Program.

• Attended CSE meetings with the students, their families and the school districts. 

 

Benefits Specialist/ N.H.T.D. Service Coordinator

2009 - 2010

 

• Assisted consumers on the NHTD Waiver Program to obtain affordable housing so they could transition from nursing homes to the community they wanted to live.

• Assisted consumers in developing an Individual Service Plan, which included detailed interventions that would allow the consumer to live in the community. Worked with Community Based Organizations to obtain needed services for consumers upon discharge.

 

 

Peer Mentoring Coordinator 

2008 - 2009

 

• Initiated relationships with VESID & CBVH counselors to identify appropriate participants, i.e. former clientele with positive outcomes; and consumers in need of mentoring.

• Developed modules that the students would use to learn about the soft skills needed to get and keep a job.

• Conducted outreach to community agencies to recruit appropriate mentors

• Conducted training workshops for all participants on proper job etiquette, resume writing, reasonable accommodations and other employment related topics.

• Met with students and their families to assist them in developing the goals they wanted to receive and the services they needed to have successful outcomes.

• Active member of the Westchester Employment Network.

• Attended Transition Fairs to disseminate information on the services provided by Westchester Disabled on the Move.

 

Part-Time Benefits Specialist and Disability Navigator

2003-2006

 

• Assisted in the development of the Disability Program Navigator; a two year Pilot Program assisting people with disabilities in engaging in work.

• Supervised the Part Time Disability Program Navigator assistant.

• Provided outreach and information to consumers and Human Service Workers about the Social Security Work Incentives.

• Coordinated and provided presentations to Community Agencies about the Benefits Planning Outreach and Assistance (BPOA) Program.

• Spoke to schools and community organizations in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties to help them to develop a Work Plan.