coleen lacosta

Coordinate Foster Allegation Support Team (FAST). Supports foster, adoptive, relative parents when allegations have been, or might be brought against them. Moved program forward to present privatized system and worked to smooth process. Continue to redesign and update materials to maintain purpose while improving the service and support. Partner with multiple agencies to achieve optimum results for those needing support. Partnered with QPI to resolve issues which ultimately led to policy change of DCF process of receiving and investigating calls.

Prepare cases for trial. Verify and research information essential for case preparation. Prepare case summaries, time lines and other information. This position and its hours are directly related to case load needs and do vary.

Responsibility for operations of 276 seating capacity, including ordering, receiving, scheduling, hiring, firing, daily financial reports, customer relations. General daily maintenance and service for large, high volume restaurant

Supervising volunteer guardians to represent the best interests of abused, neglected and abandoned children in court. Under the power of a court order, investigating, interviewing, visiting children in out of home and in home care (foster care or under court supervision), ensuring DCF compliance with the provision of court order services, preparing and writing a report for the judge which include recommendation for the child, testifying in court on the behalf of the child. Mentoring new guardians for best practice in voicing children's best interest and assisting them in adapting to other ways of life or thinking (understanding poverty etc).

Manage 185 capacity restaurant, 35-65 employees, payroll, account receivable, accounts payable, daily financial report, sales reports, taxes, insurance, and other financial responsibilities. Operational responsibilities include hiring and firing, employment package and benefit facilitation, scheduling, trouble shooting, customer service, quality assurance. Began this position as a waitress, varied working hours until taking the management position in January 2006.

Recruit and train volunteers for the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program. Public speaking for GAL for many venues including Kiwanis, Junior League, woman's clubs, church groups and congregations. Created innovated ways to reach out to the community, including utilizing and expanding online recruitment (volunteer match etc). Created brochures for recruitment and specialized them depending on the audience (nurses, teachers, police). Scheduled and provided trainings and orientations. Coordinated guest speakers. Maintained files for volunteers to include the necessary documents for certification. Noted and matched volunteers with coordinators to their strengths.

MAPP is Model Approach to Partnership Parenting. It is designed to train foster parents in order to be licensed homes. Followed MAPP curriculum provided the training. Utilized dependency system knowledge, foster parent knowledge, role playing, interactive system of training.

Responsible for sales and service to approximately 300 accounts. Establish new accounts. Introduce new products, presentations and sales. Territory Key West to Vero Beach, Naples, Florida City and Immokolee.

Responsible for providing instruction, managing the classroom environment, and promoting student learning in the absence of the regular classroom teacher. Implement teacher lesson plans, assign student class work and homework, maintain classroom control and discipline. Complete a daily report or evaluation to communicate any pertinent information resulting from the day's events.

Liaison between victims and witnesses of crimes to attorney for preparation of court case. Worked in partnership with local advocate groups, criminal justice groups etc. Paralegal work included providing support via research, depositions, interviews and locating missing victims/witnesses.

Developed and implemented Kinship Connections to assist relatives caring for children in the dependency system. Assist relatives with benefits, tangibles, referrals and resources. Developed media materials from brochure and newsletter, to maintaining web site (www.friendsoffosterchildren.com), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/fapapbc). Networking strong partnerships to ensure success. Fundraising, from coordinating 5K walk to soliciting donations (monetary and tangibles).