Curriculum Vitae
Sandra L. Kleven, LCSW
3978 Defiance Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99504
(907) 332-6735
Summary:
Currently providing behavioral health consultation for Head Start
programs in Alaska, including site visits, telephonic support and
training. Nearly thirty years experience
with children and families. Extensive
cross cultural experience in Alaska native villages and in the diverse community
of Anchorage, Alaska. I am the author
of two books and many articles relating to families, children and rural
Alaska.
Education
University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska
Nearing completion (2010) of a Masters in Fine Arts, Creative
Writing (poetry). This is a low
residency program, administered by department of Creative Writing and Literary
Arts. Creative work has been published
in Alaska Quarterly Review, Oklahoma Review and Topic Magazine. Content of
writing often pertains to social work issues and rural Alaska experiences.
Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington
Masters Degree in Social Work (1989) Assistant Instructor,
School of Social Work. Supervisor of
undergraduate students in practicum settings.
Editorial assistant, Human
Services in the Rural Environment.
Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington
Graduate Studies (1984) Graduate Assistant, Human
Services program Bachelor of Arts in Human Services completed in 1980.
Employment
“Holding Our Own” (2007 – present), Founder and Owner,
providing Behavioral Health consultation for Head Start programs throughout
Alaska. Includes on-site observation,
de-briefing, written narrative report, training and telephonic consultation for
several Head Start grantee organizations including Tanana Chief’s Council.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Behavioral Health (2007 -
2009), from Anchorage, contracted to serve as Village Clinical Supervisor. Traveled to Aniak from Anchorage, weekly,
to
provide clinical services to twelve villages and supervision to Behavioral
Health Aides. Additionally, as needed,
spent week-ends in Bethel, Alaska, as the “on-call” Emergency Clinician.
Anchorage Community Mental Health Services (2005 to
2007), Children’s Mental Health Clinician, Child Trauma Project. The position
was located in the Office of Children’s Services building. Prepared behavioral health assessments of
children who came into state custody through child protection.
Denali Family Services
(2005),
Children’s clinician, providing a full array of behavioral health services to
children and their families. Contractual
position.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Behavioral Health (2002 -
2004), People Working Together, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) project: to create a system of care for children with
mental health needs across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Carried three titles at one time: Trainer, Communications
Specialist and
Technical Assistance Provider. Served
eight sub-regional village teams, including village-based clinicians,
behavioral health aides, traditional counselors, and family advocates. Wrote quarterly grant reports.
Spent about 50% of work time in village
settings, sleeping in clinics and working with village based staff and
resources. Provided assessment of
clients, training of village staff, and quality assurance oversight.
Made presentations at national conferences on aspects
of the project accompanied by local recipients of services (San Francisco,
Portland, Tulsa). Worked with team to
assure compliance with all Medicaid regulations and to maximize collections to
insure continuation of services beyond the period funded by the grant. As Communications Specialist, developed
presentations utilizing Power Point and story board technologies.
Trained at SAMHSA’s Communications Academy (2002 and 2003), in social
marketing strategies to promote program, then worked with staff to build their
skills in public speaking, working with the media, and emergency
communications. Developed and coordinated a Bethel conference providing the
same content as the SAMHSA training.
Concurrently, worked extra hours (week-ends) as “On
call” Clinician for Emergency Services
department and as Staff Clinician at RDT (Residential, Diagnostic, Treatment)
which provides short term care for children in crisis.
College of Rural Alaska,
adjunct
faculty, Kuskokwim Campus (2001-2005) Taught one semester of Psychology 101 and
Developmental Psychology. During this
period also taught DEVS 101, and worked
in Adult Basic Education, assisting and supporting Pre-GED students.
University of Alaska, Anchorage, School
of Social Work, Family and Youth Services Academy (2001- 2002), Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder Trainer, curriculum development project.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Behavioral Health (1998 -
2001), Rural Human Services Coordinator
(1999 - 2001). Manage overall
operations of the program including student recruitment, instruction,
curriculum development, and maintenance of
network ties across the region and state. Coordinate closely with the University of
Alaska Fairbanks, College of Rural Alaska, Kuskokwim Campus providing
certificate training to village-based counselors.
Hired initially as a Children’s Clinician, 1998 –
1999, to provide assessment, treatment and "on call" services.
Provide village crisis intervention and debriefing. Member of interdisciplinary team.
Valdez Infant Learning Program (1997-
1998) Early Intervention Specialist. Worked with children birth to three. Provided screening, evaluation and assistance
to prevent learning and developmental delays.
Center/Peace (1997-
1998) Clinical private practice in counseling and support services. Also worked
with publisher on final edits of The
Right Touch: A Read-Aloud Story to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse. This is
currently the best-selling sexual abuse prevention book in the country. It has also been published in Korea and soon
will be out in India and China.
Valdez Regional Health Systems (1997)
Contract Therapist providing various mental health counseling and support
services.
Valdez Counseling Center (1991 -
1997) Clinician. Providing mental health treatment and case management services
to individuals and families. Facilitating group therapy. Member of the Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing Team. Coordinator Drug and
Alcohol Treatment Program. Carried out all elements of outpatient treatment
program including assessment, planning, group treatment, and record
keeping. Coordinator Young Parents
Empowerment Program, a grant funded project developed to meet the needs of
young parents.
Prince William Sound Community College (1993 -
1997), Adjunct Faculty, Field Instructor, Human Services Program. Taught Psychology,
101, Paraprofessional Counseling, and Human Relations. Served as Field Instructor supervising Human
Services interns.
Eastern Washington University (1989 -
1991) Coordinator, Single Parent Project (SPP), a United States Department of
Education grant program. SPP assisted low income single parents in attaining a
four year college degree so they could leave public welfare rolls.
Responsibilities included program development, evaluation, grant writing, staff
supervision, special programming, and individual counseling. Community
development methods were used to create a broad based support system for the
students and their children.
Additionally, served as Adjunct Faculty in the School
of Social Work, teaching Indian Child Welfare Policy and a self-developed
course, Theatre in Social Work.
Spokane Community Mental Health (1989),
Clinician, Center for Drug Treatment. Carried a case load of 15 - 20 adult
individual outpatient clients. Facilitated weekly orientation/education group.
Worked with children (ages four to twelve) from families where one or more
parents were identified as drug abusers. Ran up to four therapy groups, weekly,
to address the needs of these children.
Southwestern Alaska Council for the Prevention of
Child Sexual Abuse, Bethel, Alaska (1986 - 1987),
Coordinator. Handled
all aspects of program management.
Supervised two staff members.
Provided counseling to children and families. Flew to remote villages to
provide assistance and education.
Phillips’s Alcoholism Treatment Center, Bethel,
Alaska (1984 - 1986), Substance Abuse Counselor. Provided individual, group,
and family counseling in both residential and outpatient setting and
facilitated inmate treatment program at the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional
Center.
Coalition for Child Advocacy,
Bellingham, Washington (1979 - 1984), Supervisor. Founded and directed The
SOAPBox Players, an Emmy award winning theatre group which taught sexual abuse
prevention skills through the use of theatre. Wrote all the material presented
by the group.
YWCA, Battered Woman’s Project,
Bellingham, Washington (1978-1980) VISTA Volunteer. Coordinated advocate program, provided staff
and community education, and managed crisis management services.
Certifications/Memberships
Board of Directors, Alaska
Youth and Family Network, (2009). Recently made board secretary.
Phi Kappa Phi graduate Honor Society, 2008
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (1994) State of
Alaska, # 257 (current).
Certified Alcohol Counselor, (1997). Administrator I,
State of Alaska, #2077 (not active)
Certificate (1989) Chronic Mental Illness, State of
Washington
Certificate (1993) Clinical Hypno-therapist, The
Wellness Institute, Issaquah, Washington.
Member (1988), National Social Work Honor Society,
Alpha Delta Mu.
Member, National Association of Social Workers
Western Representative, Board Member, (2000) National
Association of Social Workers, Alaska Chapter
Founding chair, (1981) Interfaith Coalition Concern
for Human Need
President, Board of Directors, Advocates for Victims
of Violence, (1992 - 1994)
Awards
Research Scholarship,
Graduate Students Organization, University of Alaska, (2009)
Celebration Foundation Award
to support creative work (2006).
Winner, Non-fiction, UAA and
ADN Creative Writing contest, “Jaden is Calling,” (2008)
Benjamin Franklin Award (1999), Small Press Book Award
(1998), Parent’s Council Honorable Mention (1998), for The Right Touch: A Read Aloud Story to Help
Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
Graduate Fellowship (1988), Eastern Washington
University.
Honorable Mention, (1997) “Holy Land,” native themed
play, Last Frontier Theatre Conference, Valdez, Alaska.
Emmy Award (1980), “The Touching Problem” National
Academy of Television Arts and Science.
Publications
“For Jon, Once My Brother” Oklahoma Review,
(2009).
“Bad Rap, How to Stop Alaska’s Teens from Killing
Themselves,” Topic Magazine, New York
City (2006).
Holy Land,
HeartWorks Press, Anchorage Alaska (2006).
“Holy Land” Alaska Quarterly Review, (2006)
The Right
Touch: A Read-Aloud Story To Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse (1999),
Illumination Arts, Bellevue, Washington.
“Among the People of the Tundra” Human Services in the
Rural Environment, (1990).
“Talk About Touch” (1987) A sexual abuse prevention aid designed
for rural Alaska.
Touching
(1985), First
version of The Right Touch. A children’s book aimed at helping parents
protect their children from abuse.
The
Touching Problem (1980), A collection of scripts
teaching sexual abuse
prevention.
Periodic contributor to the Bethel, Alaska, weekly, Delta Discovery
on subjects related to
living well and parenting.
Presentations/Training
(as trainer)
Developed and presented at conferences, workshops
and/or as staff training.
Panel, Suicide Prevention, NASWAK, conference, 2004
“Suicide Prevention: the Scammon
Bay Rappers“ Rural Alaska Mental Health Conference (2004).
“Frontier Alaska:
Challenges Facing Village Youth” (2003), National Indian
Child Welfare Association
Conference, Portland, Oregon.
“Holding Our Own: The Wraparound Approach to Helping” (2003), presented
in the Y-K Delta to various groups.
“Shaquille the Seal Hunter” (2002)
Treating Rural Youth in Urban Settings – presented for NASW, continuing
education, Anchorage.
“Chop Wood, Carry Honey
Buckets” (2002), An orientation for
workers new to the Alaska Bush, presented
for NASW, continuing Education, Anchorage.
“Rural Alaska: Follow Up to Tragedy” (2001),
National Association of Social Workers Conference, Anchorage, Alaska.
“Completing the
Intake/Comprehensive Mental Health Assessment,”
Power Point (2000)
“Rural Alaska Critical
Incident Response: Follow Up to Tragedy,”
Power Point (2000)
“Nothing Good in Front of
Me: Suicide prevention in Rural Alaska,”
Power Point (2000)
“Treating Addictions: A
Community Based Approach” (1996), National Association
of Social Workers
Conference
“Like an Animal In
Australia: The Strange Evolution of the Rural Generalist,” State
of Alaska, Children’s Mental Health Conference (1996).
“Playback Theatre,” National Association of Social
Workers Conference and Prince William Sound Community College Theatre
Conference, (1994)
“Empowerment through
Community Building,” University of Washington,
School of Social Work,
Bertha Capen Reynolds Conference (1994) and National Association of Social
Workers Conference, Alaska.
“The Single Parent Project
at Eastern Washington University”
(1990), University of Kentucky, Single Parents in
Higher Education Conference.
“Research Outcomes in
Pre-School Prevention” (1984), National Association
for the Education of
Young Children Los Angeles, CA.
“Sexual Abuse Current Issues” facilitated all elements
of this regional, Washington State conference.
Training
Received (partial listing)
“Children and Trauma,” Anchorage Community Mental Health, National Trauma
Center (2007)
Ethics, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, (2008).
Cultural Considerations, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, (2008)
Quality Improvement,
8 session course at Alaska
Native Medical Center, spring/summer 2003
Spokesperson Training, training
of trainers, St Louis, MO, 2002, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 2003.
Child Welfare,
training of trainers with focus on Transfer of
Learning, Pittsburgh, PA 2002
Blackboard I and II,
Distance delivery methods,
University of Alaska, Anchorage, 2002.
Training in specific computer applications: Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, Power Point, 2002
Since entering this field in 1978, I have received
more than 4000 hours of in - service training in case management, program
management, supervision, family issues, addictions, crisis response, community
development, clinical techniques, child abuse prevention and treatment,
Medicaid compliance, multicultural services, communications, and computer
technologies.
Interests
Digital photography, graphics, dance, literature, cultures
of rural Alaska, history of Alaska, system reform
References available on
request.
Rev. 6/17/2009
