Professional Experience

Babcock Center Incorporated May 1990 - May 1998

Administrator August 1994 - May 1998

As the Administrator, I was responsible for monitoring of active treatment programs and budgets for eight group homes for people with developmental disabilities. The facilities included three eight-bed and two four-bed Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded, an eight-bed Community Residential Care Facility and two four-bed Community Training Homes.

I supervised approximately 80 staff providing social, behavior, and residential services for up to 48 residents. For each facility, I also work to insure compliance with state and federal regulations and serve as a liaison with families and service providers.

I also created behavior support plans to assist residents with improving challenging behaviors. I have gained experience with persons diagnosed with Mental Retardation, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Down's Syndrome, Advanced Down’s Syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, Pica, Depression, Manic/Depression, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Atypical Personality Disorder, Conduct/Oppositional Disorder, Pyromania, Schizophrenia, Dementia and other forms of disabilities. I am currently licensed as a Community Residential Care Administrator in South Carolina.

Assistant Administrator August 1992 - August 1994

I was responsible for assisting the Administrator. I provided many of the services noted above.

Qualified Mental Retardation Professional September 1990-August 1992

As the QMRP, I formed and implemented Active Treatment Programs for sixteen individuals. I was the leader of the interdisciplinary team and responsible for coordination of all service areas including health, behavior, social, residential, vocational, educational and other services. I was responsible for insuring that all services provided by the group homes were provided in compliance with federal and state regulations. Eight of the individuals that I served at this time were diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Brookwood Community Residence was a home for persons with Prader-Willi syndrome and was the only specially designated home in South Carolina and one of only a few in the country. During this time, staff from other states and countries, such as Mississippi, North Carolina, Georgia, New Zealand, and other areas, toured our facilities to gain information to open facilities of their own. Many of these homes were opened using a model very similar Brookwood. I also assisted with the opening of the first three bed Community Training home in South Carolina for people with Prader-Willi Syndrome. I later continued as the assistant administrator and administrator of these homes.

Facility Supervisor/Behavior Intervention Specialist July 1990 - September 1990

I supervised an Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded. I provided scheduling, monitoring and documentation of employee performance and monitoring of financial accounts of the residents. I also insured that the facility met state and federal sanitation and licensing standards. Concurrent with the supervisor position, I also provided behavior intervention services to two eight-bed ICF/MR's.

Behavior Intervention Specialist May 1990 - September 1990

I assisted with formation, implementation, and monitoring of behavior support plans for 16 individuals with developmental disabilities. I also worked to insure that staff was able to effectively implement behavior management programs through regular inservicing of staff. Eight of the individuals I served were diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Lutheran Family Services July 1989 - July 1990

Residential Counselor

I worked at a five-bed group home for emotionally disturbed children I directly cared for and supervised the residents and provided counseling, role modeling, and activity therapy. I also scheduled and conducted weekly meetings to establish, and monitor progress of client goals. I worked with emotionally disturbed and emotionally/ physically abused individuals.

Continuum of Care for Emotionally Disturbed Children January 1989 - January 1990

Positive Role Model

I worked as a one-on-one care giver with especially challenging clients providing activity therapy, role modeling, counseling, school instruction, and friendship. I worked in a variety of settings, primarily William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute. I worked with individuals with pervasive developmental disorder.

McKissick Museum - University of South Carolina August 1984 - January 1989

Curator's Assistant

I worked in the Geology department, caring for the collection, and giving tours of the museum.