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Jennifer E. Melvin, LCSW, CT

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Primary focus and areas of concentrated skill is working with children and families in illness & bereavement; providing individual, family & group support/ therapy;  developing, managing & executing children and family programs;  providing education to individuals, families and large groups of general community or professionals. 

 

EDUCATION



Master of Social Work
Florida State University (1998)

Bachelor of Social Work
Florida State University (1997)
Summa Cum Laude

Bachelor of Arts: Psychology
Florida State University (1997)
Psi Chi – National Psychology Honor Society

CERTIFICATIONS
 



Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)– Florida, 2002
Certified Bereavement Facilitator – 2002
Certified Children’s Trauma and Loss Specialist – 2003
Certified in Thanatology (Death, Dying and Bereavement) – 2006


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 



Hearts and Hope, Inc.
West Palm Beach, Florida
Associate Director/Program
(2007-July 2010)
Director of Outreach Services
(2004-2007)
 Program Specialist
(2001-2004)
  • Develop and provide Support Group services aimed at

       increasing children’s coping and positive experiences through  
       their loss. 

  • Facilitate adult and children’s support groups utilizing art and other forms of creative mediums, education and support.
  • Provide direct support, education and outreach services to children and families anticipating a loss or experiencing the death of a loved one.
  • Perform weekly individual assessments of children and adults, create treatment plans & provide interventions.
  • Develop and implement support group, outreach, student intern and educational programs, services and activities to carry out mission. 
  • Provide advanced & general education training's/workshops to social service professional & general community locally and internationally.
  • Provide clinical supervision and guidance to staff, interns, volunteers & professionals seeking state licensure.
  • Assist in creation, preparation and implementation of all psycho-education handouts, program materials & agency marketing materials for public media.
  • Create tools to monitor productivity of program.  Analyze and evaluate program services, outcomes & data.  Identify areas for improvement and implement strategy.  Configure statistics.
  • Develop short and long-term organizational goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures for operations.  Establish plans to achieve goals set by Board of Directors & CEO and implement policies.
  • Provide staff management including developing position descriptions, creating annual review tools, setting compensation, implementing improvement plans, performing ongoing & annual review and management of work production. 
  • Responsible for creating portions of funding contracts, managing & executing contracts and assuring compliance of requirements.
  • Manage and supervise all activities and functions of the Hearts and Hope, Inc. program and services.  Attend training's and workshops for ongoing education and tools to assist with the particularities of non-profit functioning.
  • Represent agency program through media and/or community relations PR.

 

 

Private Practice
Bereavement Specialists, LLC
Crossing Bridges

Therapist
(2006-present)

  • Provide therapeutic, educational and support services to children, adults, agencies/organizations & families facing diagnosis, anticipatory loss or death of humans and pets.
  • Collaborate with Martino Pet Loss & Funeral Service to provide individual and family therapeutic services to children and adults.
  • Provide pet loss support groups to adults.
  • Provide individual, couple, and family therapy.
  • Provide education to adults, guiding them to provide appropriate verbiage to inform children of a diagnosis.
  • Utilize skill of children’s development to assist children and family through diagnosis of terminal illness.
  • Support cancer centers and other agencies with services to support clients with guidance, education, or clinical services.
  • Assist agencies in development of children’s support group and therapeutic programs.
  • Provide comprehensive individual and family assessments, create treatment plans & provide interventions.
  • Provide educational services to community agencies, companies, organizations & schools, focusing on grief and loss/transition.
  • Provide life management & support services to link resources, complete logistical forms, determine care plans, create meaningful end of life experiences
  • Provide memorial & funeral services
  • Provide crisis intervention for community agencies/organizations anticipating a loss or having experienced a death.
  • Developed programs, services, marketing materials, strategic plans & implementation of all to begin and sustain productive business.
  • Collaborate with community resources.

 

 


South County Mental Health Center
Delray Beach, Florida
School Based Therapist
(1999-2001)
  • Provided individual, group and family counseling to children, adolescents and adults.
  • Created therapeutic activities for children ages 3-17, utilizing art, music, books & other creative materials.
  • Developed and facilitated therapeutic groups for adolescents and adults.
  • Acted as advocate and liaison between multiple agencies and organizations.

 

 

PUBLICATIONS
 



2004 Parent’s Corner (column), The Florida Sun
‘Summer ends
‘School adjustments’
‘What the experts tell me’
‘Change means loss’
‘Using the right words’

 

PRESENTATIONS (100+ workshops for professionals & families)
 



“Children Supporting Children”
2010
Palm Beach, FL

“Supporting Children Through Diagnosis, Grief and Loss”
2010
Palm Beach, FL

 “Understanding a Child’s Grief and Relationship with Loss”
2010
Palm Beach, FL

 “Supporting Yourself While Supporting Others”
2009
Palm Beach, FL

“Tools for True Listening”
2008
Canada- ADEC International Conference

“Over the River and Through the Woods: Journey with a Family through Grief”
2007
West Palm Beach- Joining Hands: Engaging Families Biennial Conference

 

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  •  Palm Beach County Coalition for Children
  • Vice President (2006-2009, 2010)
  • President (2009)
  • Vice President

 

 

    • NASW
    • ADEC (Association of Death Education and Counseling)