Laura A.

Garza
5351 S. Newcastle Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60638
773 744-7326
OBJECTIVE : To apply my community, organizational, programmatic, planning, clini
cal and training experience.
EDUCATION / TRAINING:
University of Illinois- B.A.
Northern Illinois University-M.Ed
Jane Addams College of Social Work, MSW

EMPLOYMENT:
Department of Children and Family Services
Public Service Administrator, Option 7 (Bilingual)01/2001-10/2010
Supervision of a team of professional caseworkers and licensing workers engaged
in providing comprehensive child welfare services to children and families and f
oster parents; served as a liaison with other disciplines, agencies and communit
y resources, established performance goals and objectives; prepared, conducted a
nd signed performance evaluations; effectively recommended and imposed disciplin
ary action and adjusted grievances; Convened team meetings, and encouraged team
participation in the quality improvement efforts on all levels and actively part
icipated in special projects as identified by the Administration.

Child Welfare Administrative Case Reviewer, Option 7

04/1994-01/2001
Certified bilingual reviewer; Reviewed English and Spanish cases. Responsible fo
r preparing, convening, and conducting administrative case reviews to ensure ade
quate identification of service provision necessary to move cases to permanency;
Responsible for ensuring family plans meet child welfare laws, policies and pro
cedures and are in the best interest of the abused/;neglected children; Reported
findings of reviews to relevant parties; meet with Child Welfare team superviso
rs to discuss strengths and weakness of their team in relationship based on revi
ew results; Regularly assigned to special projects and committees; Chaired the H
ispanic Advisory Committee and met with the Director of the Agency quarterly to
discuss committee recommendations and progress on implementation.
Title: Intern/Volunteer (Clinical Services) 24 hrs./week
09/1999-5/2000 (Concurrent w/ regular assigned job)
Actively participated in Intake coverage; investigative interviewing; multi-disc
iplinary staffing of heater cases, provided summary reports and recommendations
to all involved parties; Attended specialized training in Disabilities; Sex Abu
se; women and substance abuse; and participated in the Quality Assurance Statewi
de Leadership Summit.
Title: Intern/Volunteer (Resource Development) 16 hrs./week
01/99-08/1999 (Concurrent w/ regular assigned job)
Actively participated in Department advisory committees, task force meetings; Fo
ster Parent Trainings; Foster Parent recruitment and Licensing activities; Local
Area Networks (LANS); conducted child and family team meetings; reviewed draft
policies and procedures for input; conducted foster parent and youth/caseworker
surveys and analyzed results; clinical review of Sexually Aggressive Children &
Youth wards; provided youth counseling and intervention at the DCFS shelter; Re
viewed, collected and analyzed completed Parenting Assessment Evaluations; provi
ded information and recommendations for the Department's LGBT youth in crisis;
actively participated in Placement Review Team meetings, clinical staffings, an
d joint meetings between the Department and the Board of Education.

Title: Executive Director, Mujeres Latina En Accion

Responsible for a child welfare licensed Latina woman and family center's overal
l coordination, support, and evaluation of its fiscal and programmatic operation
s including Resource Development, Strategic Planning, Internal and external comm
unications; proposal and contract procurement; auditing and reporting; Budget d
evelopment; fundraising, Infrastructure development as programs expanded; facili
ty management; staff training; Reported to volunteer Board of Director's and wor
ked with various Board Committees. Achieved United Way Standards and funding.
Title: Teacher, Providence of God
Instructed 8th grade class which had gone through 9 teachers the previous academ
ic year. Taught all subject areas and raised grade equivalents by a 2 year avera
ge for class;

Title: Executive Director, Casa Aztlan Community Center

Responsible for complete overall coordination, support and evaluation of fiscal
and programmatic operations of community based human service agency with DCFS c
ontracts. Worked with the community to build a long range Strategic Plan for the
center. Represented the organization to other organizations and governmental en
tities, rehabbed the center's facilities to accommodate program expansion.
Title: Vocational Business Instructor, SER/Jobs for Progress
Organized and conducted trainings in Automated Office Procedures; coordinated st
aff to standardize materials; evaluated progress of 120 students and provided l
imited case management. Motivated youth and adults to dream and actively explore
job options.
Title: Youth Outreach Worker
Coordinated and provided youth programs and projects for troubled youth in Pilse
n/Little Village communities, provided case management, counseled referrals fr
om the community agencies, area schools, and police departments. Provided court
advocacy in delinquency courts.
Title: Building Manager, Federico Gravanti Garza
Maintained building, selected tenants, collected rents, paid taxes, and other ge
neral building management activities.

EXAMPLES OF PAST VOLUNTEER WORK

IDCFS Hispanic Advisory Committee; Benito Juarez Drop Out Prevention Task Force;
Metro Help 24 hour Crisis Hotline;
National Runaway Switchboard Crisis Hotline;
National Women Legal Defense Child Support Advisory;
Mayor's Advisory Council on Latino Affairs; Women's Health Research Advisory; a
nd National Council of La Raza, Center of Economic Development Advisory Committe
e