Mikaela Dalton, LSW MA

-Conduct comprehensive assessments and evaluation of risk factors including suicidality, homicidality, substance use, and safety concerns to develop treatment plans tailored to client and/or family goals. -Determine appropriate level of care using clinical judgment and established criteria (e.g., ASAM, LOCUS, CALOCUS). -Provide timely and empathetic responses to new clients needing expedited admissions into treatment, respond to urgent and crisis calls, messages, or situations. -Stabilize clients and transition to appropriate ongoing services (e.g., IOP, Assertive Community Treatment, intensive in-home services). -Coordinate admissions, including collaboration with referral sources, hospitals, community partners, and internal teams. -Verify clinical appropriateness, support authorization processes, and facilitate seamless transitions to internal or external programs. -Maintain knowledge of program eligibility, payer requirements, and available services. -Engage in Crisis Prevention and Intervention training and respond to behavioral health emergencies as needed. -Support crisis stabilization interventions, mental health holds, and evidence-based therapies tailored to individual needs. -Direct care management staff in prioritizing urgent interventions at admission.

-Completed intakes and differential diagnosis of clients for individual therapy -Referred to higher levels of care as needed -Provided Individual therapy weekly/biweekly -Managed a caseload to 22-27 clients -Supported clients through crisis management and resourcing

- Conduct eligibility determinations, perform intakes, and develop service plans with clients. - Using the Survivors of Torture Psychosocial Wellbeing Index – Short (SOT-PWI-S), complete assessments to capture baseline data on psychosocial health and well-being, triage services, and gauge client progress. - Use motivational interviewing and other supportive techniques within a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach to assist clients in identifying goals and developing action plans. - Assist clients in learning transportation routes, navigating to providers and addressing other barriers to accessing services, including barriers related to immigration legal status. - Cultivate relationships with providers and resources to expand survivors’ access to services. - Educate providers on survivors of torture and related best practices in the interest of equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver appropriate services. - Maintain high awareness of and attention to client confidentiality, HIPAA, and other rules and policies.

- Engaged with ICE detainees over the phone and in person at ICE Detention Center in Aurora, CO to offer support during immigration hearings, discuss their goals and hopes upon release, provide resources for mental health care, etc - Support families outside of ICE in immigration court with housing resources, adult education, schools for children, accompany as an advocate to doctors appointments, navigate the health care system, etc - Understand and convey clients' stories and experiences to an immigration judge via Post-Release Plan letters - Support the mental health care of clients in one-on-one check in's and find therapy/community resources if necessary - Assist in projects and research for the Social Workers

- Taught Cultural Orientation classes to new arrival refugees upon arrival in the United States - Connected new families to local resources such as doctors, schools, adult education, etc. - Met families at the airport as first contact with resettlement agency to take them to their new home and help settle them in - Provided necessary items for setting up home such as beds, kitchenware, warm winter clothes, etc.

- Manages team of 3-7 international volunteers and 13 community member volunteers to run a woman's center 5 days a week, welcoming between 200-300 women plus infants everyday - Coordinates administrative tasks with team of 2 other coordinators to manage the budget, ordering, supplying, recruitment of volunteers, housing, etc for this project and in coordination with about 14 other NGO's on the island - Moderates disputes and responds to emergencies acting efficiently and effectively to provide immediate support to refugees and asylum seekers -Teaches English as a Second Language Classes (ABC literacy and A1 levels) every day to 8-34 students per class

- Full-time faculty at a residential semester school for high school juniors as part of the two year Fellowship program - Fellow for the Literature and the Land English course, observing, co-teaching, and teaching classes, meeting with students to help with homework and essays, and collaborating with lead teachers to develop curriculum - One of three lead teachers for the Outdoors Skills program teaching orienteering, shelter construction, tying knots, leadership styles, etc, co-leads week long wilderness trips once a semester, and facilitates the Outdoor Leadership Weekend - Fulfills other residential duties, advises 3 students, and is the faculty advisor for the GSA

Designing the Outdoor and Wilderness Leadership Skills (OWLS) program to pilot in summer 2018. Program teaches local teens critical technical, interpersonal, and leadership skills to create confident and competent backcountry travelers and introduce them to various outdoor and environmental related career options in the Copper River Valley of Alaska Developing curriculum for several programs such as the summer Aquatics Camp, Geology Backpacking trip, Earth Discovery Day, etc. to better and more easily carry out lesson plans and share our resources with other nonprofits and organizations. Teaching a variety of environmental and science classes to elementary through high school students, including but not limited to river science and data collection on salmon populations, wild edible food cooking, snow science, animal skins and skulls, etc. Volunteering with the Wellwood Center for Conservation to help with building projects and data collection of Willow Creek.

- Working towards a Certificate in Restorative Practices

Course work in International Relations, Anthropology, Religion, as well as studied French, Spanish, and Arabic languages.

Semester studying in the Peace and Conflict Honors program, interning at the House of Grace as an English writer for their website, and studying Arabic language

Spent a semester before attending college sea kayaking, mountaineering, and backpacking in New Zealand with nine other students. Mastered many outdoors, leadership, and group communication skills during this time and developed personal leadership style.