Job Hunting, Yuck.
I have to send out my resume everywhere next week, so I thought that I would post my basic cover letter and resume here. Yes, I know I need to tailor it to each place, but as the job is exactly the same, I can use the basic stuff from place to place. Please, comments and suggestions are needed! Comments screened.
I was thrilled to run across the job area on your center’s website. I graduated last year with a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Loyola University and my concentration has always been in child welfare with an intense focus on children under the age of five with persuasive developmental disorders and other psychopathologies. Since coming across the field in 2003, I have designed my college coursework and experiences around developing the skills to work in an early intervention setting. Since my graduation last May, I have attended many educational seminars provided by the Early Intervention Training Program and continued to develop my understanding and experiences. As of July 2010, I have received my temporary credential enrollment from the Illinois Early Intervention Office as a Developmental Therapist
I have extensive experience with both normally developing children and children who are developmentally delayed. I also have experience working with developmentally delayed children and their families from a clinical standpoint as well as from a caretaking point of view. I have tutored children diagnosed with Autism and have been trained in the use of Applied Behavioral Analysis as a main treatment tool with the use of some Relationship Integration Development, Floortime, and Sensory Integration techniques to augment and provide dimension to each session. During the summer of 2008, I had an internship with Early Steps, the state of Florida’s Part C program out of the University of Florida. During that time, I attended at least one day-long assessment clinic per week during which I learned to assess children using a variety of clinical tools, most notably the Battelle Developmental Inventory, while interacting with families, providers from different specialties, as well as multiple service coordinators. I also shadowed an Infant-Toddler Developmental Specialist every Wednesday, where I observed and studied in-home therapy methods. I also observed a variety of other program elements such as in-home assessments, IFSP update meetings, and transition meetings. This internship only served to re-emphasize my interest in this area of work.
I believe I have begun to build an excellent foundation for which to further develop my skills. I am highly organized, and not only a quick study, but I am eager to learn. I have experience working independently as well as in a team, both as a team leader and a subordinate. I have a passion for this population; I understand that it is not just the child that is being treated, but the entire family system. I have worked to develop clinical skills in using a holistic, family-centered empowerment approach with this in mind. I think that I have the skills and mindset to make a positive contribution, not just to your team, but to the Early Intervention community. Please contact me at either (773) 817-8044 or rachel.a.hennessy@gmail.com if you have any further questions. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Objective
To be able to use my skills and knowledge of child development and psychopathology, family system care, and program management to provide quality therapeutic services to children and their families with developmental delays.
Education and Training
Loyola University Chicago May 2009
Bachelor of Social Work
Minor in Psychology
Battelle Developmental Inventory 2008
Applied Behavior Analysis 2007
Academic Awards and Honors
• Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Member
• Recipient of a Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship from Loyola University Chicago 2007 to 2009
• Recipient of a Dean’s Scholarship from Loyola University Chicago 2007 to 2009
Relevant Experience
Nanny 2003 - Present
6 Different Families: 4 boys (Starting ages: 3 months; 15 month old triplets); 1 girl (Starting age: 3 years); 1 girl (Starting age: 3 months); 2 boys (Starting ages: 3 years; 7 years); 1 boy (Starting age: 5 weeks); 2 boys (Starting ages: 3 Months; Newborn)
Provided comprehensive care and age appropriate stimulation
Worked with parents to monitor developmental growth and to facilitate learning to guide developmental growth
Worked with parents to construct and maintain a schedule for each child
Housework, including laundry, dishes, floors, and other miscellaneous chores
University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital Chaplaincy Office - Intern 01/09 - 05/09
The research and development of community-based services for University of Chicago patients
Prepared grants for program funding
Created partnerships with community service organizations
Assembled program proposals to submit for approval to the hospital
The CompanionShip: Intern 09/08 - 01/09
Helped to organize the delivery of bereavement support groups services
Assisted in event planning of two separate holiday memorial services
Worked to market program by compiling mailing databases and preparing marketing materials
Assisted in locating funding options and writing grants
Assembled and maintained bereavement kits located throughout the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital
Updated and organized program records
Attended and observed bereavement support groups
Early Steps Program of Florida: Intern 06/08 - 08/08
Assisted in clinical evaluations of at-risk children aged birth to three years old
Trained in administrating the Battelle Developmental Inventory
Observed and helped facilitate in-home developmental therapy given by an Infant-Toddler Developmental Therapist
Accompanied Service Coordinators in order to observe their different responsibilities that occur over the duration of the program such as Annual Updates and Transition Meetings
ChildLink: Volunteer 02/08 - 05/08
Co-facilitated the therapy of small groups of identified high-risk middle school aged children the Pilsen/Little Village neighborhoods of Chicago
Helped develop comprehensive lesson plans designed to empower clients and to develop resiliency, independence and good decision making skills
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Tutor 04/07 - 09/07
Children: 2 Boys; Starting Ages: 2 Years; 3 Years
Worked in cooperation with a team to assess, institute, and work towards completion goals of two separate individual (in-home) education plans
Evaluated the individual needs of each child and adjusted therapy to accommodate those needs
Adapted a combination of ABA therapy and other developmental therapies (such as Floortime and Relationship Development Intervention approaches) to achieve Individualized Education Plan goals
I was thrilled to run across the job area on your center’s website. I graduated last year with a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Loyola University and my concentration has always been in child welfare with an intense focus on children under the age of five with persuasive developmental disorders and other psychopathologies. Since coming across the field in 2003, I have designed my college coursework and experiences around developing the skills to work in an early intervention setting. Since my graduation last May, I have attended many educational seminars provided by the Early Intervention Training Program and continued to develop my understanding and experiences. As of July 2010, I have received my temporary credential enrollment from the Illinois Early Intervention Office as a Developmental Therapist
I have extensive experience with both normally developing children and children who are developmentally delayed. I also have experience working with developmentally delayed children and their families from a clinical standpoint as well as from a caretaking point of view. I have tutored children diagnosed with Autism and have been trained in the use of Applied Behavioral Analysis as a main treatment tool with the use of some Relationship Integration Development, Floortime, and Sensory Integration techniques to augment and provide dimension to each session. During the summer of 2008, I had an internship with Early Steps, the state of Florida’s Part C program out of the University of Florida. During that time, I attended at least one day-long assessment clinic per week during which I learned to assess children using a variety of clinical tools, most notably the Battelle Developmental Inventory, while interacting with families, providers from different specialties, as well as multiple service coordinators. I also shadowed an Infant-Toddler Developmental Specialist every Wednesday, where I observed and studied in-home therapy methods. I also observed a variety of other program elements such as in-home assessments, IFSP update meetings, and transition meetings. This internship only served to re-emphasize my interest in this area of work.
I believe I have begun to build an excellent foundation for which to further develop my skills. I am highly organized, and not only a quick study, but I am eager to learn. I have experience working independently as well as in a team, both as a team leader and a subordinate. I have a passion for this population; I understand that it is not just the child that is being treated, but the entire family system. I have worked to develop clinical skills in using a holistic, family-centered empowerment approach with this in mind. I think that I have the skills and mindset to make a positive contribution, not just to your team, but to the Early Intervention community. Please contact me at either (773) 817-8044 or rachel.a.hennessy@gmail.com if you have any further questions. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Objective
To be able to use my skills and knowledge of child development and psychopathology, family system care, and program management to provide quality therapeutic services to children and their families with developmental delays.
Education and Training
Loyola University Chicago May 2009
Bachelor of Social Work
Minor in Psychology
Battelle Developmental Inventory 2008
Applied Behavior Analysis 2007
Academic Awards and Honors
• Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Member
• Recipient of a Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship from Loyola University Chicago 2007 to 2009
• Recipient of a Dean’s Scholarship from Loyola University Chicago 2007 to 2009
Relevant Experience
Nanny 2003 - Present
6 Different Families: 4 boys (Starting ages: 3 months; 15 month old triplets); 1 girl (Starting age: 3 years); 1 girl (Starting age: 3 months); 2 boys (Starting ages: 3 years; 7 years); 1 boy (Starting age: 5 weeks); 2 boys (Starting ages: 3 Months; Newborn)
Provided comprehensive care and age appropriate stimulation
Worked with parents to monitor developmental growth and to facilitate learning to guide developmental growth
Worked with parents to construct and maintain a schedule for each child
Housework, including laundry, dishes, floors, and other miscellaneous chores
University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital Chaplaincy Office - Intern 01/09 - 05/09
The research and development of community-based services for University of Chicago patients
Prepared grants for program funding
Created partnerships with community service organizations
Assembled program proposals to submit for approval to the hospital
The CompanionShip: Intern 09/08 - 01/09
Helped to organize the delivery of bereavement support groups services
Assisted in event planning of two separate holiday memorial services
Worked to market program by compiling mailing databases and preparing marketing materials
Assisted in locating funding options and writing grants
Assembled and maintained bereavement kits located throughout the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital
Updated and organized program records
Attended and observed bereavement support groups
Early Steps Program of Florida: Intern 06/08 - 08/08
Assisted in clinical evaluations of at-risk children aged birth to three years old
Trained in administrating the Battelle Developmental Inventory
Observed and helped facilitate in-home developmental therapy given by an Infant-Toddler Developmental Therapist
Accompanied Service Coordinators in order to observe their different responsibilities that occur over the duration of the program such as Annual Updates and Transition Meetings
ChildLink: Volunteer 02/08 - 05/08
Co-facilitated the therapy of small groups of identified high-risk middle school aged children the Pilsen/Little Village neighborhoods of Chicago
Helped develop comprehensive lesson plans designed to empower clients and to develop resiliency, independence and good decision making skills
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Tutor 04/07 - 09/07
Children: 2 Boys; Starting Ages: 2 Years; 3 Years
Worked in cooperation with a team to assess, institute, and work towards completion goals of two separate individual (in-home) education plans
Evaluated the individual needs of each child and adjusted therapy to accommodate those needs
Adapted a combination of ABA therapy and other developmental therapies (such as Floortime and Relationship Development Intervention approaches) to achieve Individualized Education Plan goals