Katrina Kaiser

1807 William St. SE

T2G 4K3
438 822 0707 (C)

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATION

• Experience providing support both in individual and family therapy settings

• Proven ability to work with people who may be experiencing suicidal ideations and/or are in crisis situations
• Ability to maintain a high caseload (35-40 children and youth) and provide individualized care
• Certificates: SAFEtalk (Feb. 14), ASIST (Oct 2013), MHFA (Sept 2012)

EDUCATION

University of Calgary, Calgary, AB Expected completion April 2019

Clinical Masters of Social Work

St. Thomas University, Fredericton, NB Dec. 2017

Post-Graduate Bachelor of Social Work

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES AND WORKSHOPS

Heart and Stroke Foundation BLS Provider Certificate Sept 2018

Mandt System Training June 2017

Certificate in violence de-escalation

Proven & Effective Play Therapy Strategies with Children, Adolescents & Children of All Ages June 2017
Jack Hirose & Associates

From Wounds to Wellness: April 2016

A Culturally-Rooted Approach to Grief & Trauma Healing in Aboriginal Communities
Facilitated by Dr. Darien Thira, PhD., Reg. Psych.

Core Training Workshop April 2014

The Fundaments of Childhood Welfare Services Provisions in Nunavut
Theme: Working Together for a Common Cause

SAFEtalk Feb. 2014

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Oct. 2013

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Sept. 2012

WORK EXPERIENCE

Community Social Service Worker, Child & Family Services, Government of Nunavut May-July 2018
Iqaluit, NU
 • Ensure that all electronic and hard copy foster parent files are up to date (including criminal record checks,
home studies etc.) according to departmental policies and guidelines
• Arrange for short and long-term care for children that have been apprehended or in the care and custody of the
Director of Child and Family Services in approved foster homes;

Youth Engagement Worker, Penticton District Resource Society July-Aug. 2017

Penticton, BC
• Provided outreach support to 10+ high risk youth, during non-conventional office hours by referring them to
agencies such as the youth shelter, Child and Youth Mental Health, YMCA employment services, among others;
• Collaborated and co-developed care plans with the youth and other agencies such as the Ministry of Children and
Families, Child and Youth Mental health team and other community partners, in order to formulate measurable,
realistic goals to support the youth; and
• Co-coordinated 8 + social and recreational activities for youth in the community to provide youth with alternative
activities during the summer months.

Community Social Service Worker, Child & Family Services, Government of Nunavut May 2014-June 2016
Iqaluit, NU
 Assessed safety-risk by investigating the circumstances of a child and determining what further action or service
was necessary in order to ensure safety and well-being;
 Worked with lawyers to prepare legal documents (Affidavits) and attended court as a representative of the Direc-
tor of Child and Family Services to advocate and act in the best interest of the child;
 Arranged and advocated for the provision of supports for parents and children i.e. counselling services, parenting
programs, treatment centres, legal aid, and housing in order to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of
children and their biological parents.
 Co-created plan of care agreements using a client-centred approach with client and family members in order to
create measurable, realistic and achievable goals.

Policy Analyst, Department of Family Services, Government of Nunavut Nov. 2013-May 2014
Iqaluit, NU

 Successfully worked with the Director’s and staff of all Departments within the Ministry of Family Services in
order to receive briefing notes in a timely manner and to provide them with constructive feedback on their brief-
ing notes to ensure all the information was included and it was presented in a concise manner (maximum 2 pages)
 Worked in collaboration with the senior Policy Analyst and the Director of Policy in the logistical preparation and
quality assurance of departmental briefing binder for the Minister of Family Services to prepare her for the sitting
of the Legislative Assembly;
 Efficiently documented and provided tracking reports of the Legislative Assembly to my Director in a timely
manner in order to prepare the Minister for future Legislative sittings.

Life Skills Worker, Akausisarvik Mental Health Treatment Centre, Government of Nunavut Nov. 2013-July 2014
Iqaluit, NU
 Deescalated conflicts between clients using a calm, assertive voice and explained the negative repercussions their
actions could potentially have on other residents;
 Created a safe, non-judgmental environment to speak with residents individually to ensure their safety and well-
being;
 Asked 2 + clients directly about suicidal ideation by following the ASIST model to accurately assess suicide risk
and, when necessary, developed a safety plan in collaboration with the resident as well as critical incident reports
for the supervisor;
 Accurately documented case notes in regards to each client by the end of the shift and would pass on critical in-
formation to the other staff on the next shift in order to ensure continuity of care for the residents; and
 Actively engaged clients in activities such as yoga, board games or library visits, while respecting resident’s deci-
sions if they did not want to participate.
Residential Counsellor, Illagittugut Children's Group Home Sept. 2013-May 2013
Iqaluit, NU
 Provided a safe, nurturing environment for 5-8 children with developmental delays, FASD and histories of trauma
by providing emotional support by building rapport, maintaining a calm demeanour, using empathy and listening
to their needs; and
 Provided one a one-to-one support to children in order to prepare them for transition to a foster homes or treat-
ment centre by actively listening to their concerns, validating their experiences and proposing solutions such as
creating a memory book to commemorate their time at the home.

VOLUNTEER & PRACTICUM WORK EXPERIENCE

Clinical Masters Social Work Practicum Student Sept. 2018-March 2019

Foothills Medical Centre Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry, Calgary, Alberta
• Provided individual and family counselling to 20 + youth and their families
• Worked on a multidisciplinary team and collaborated to carry out assessments, case formulations, treatment and
discharge plans
• Assessed for suicide risk and co-created safety plans with youth and their families

Social Work Practicum Student, Penticton District Resource Society April-June 2017
Penticton, BC
• Effectively created a safe therapeutic environment for 4 children & 2 youth who had experienced sexual violence
using counselling skills, basic directive and non directive play therapy techniques, to process feelings and validate
their experiences;
• Created psycho-educational sessions, using age-appropriate books and other resources, to inform children, youth
and their parents in regards to sexuality and consent so that children had the tools to keep themselves safe and
parents were aware of healthy sexuality;
• Conducted 3+ intake interviews and PTSD intake forms in order to assess the degree to which the traumatic
event(s) had an impact on child’s or youth’s day-to-day lives to inform future sessions to help develop coping
strategies with them;
• Built relationships with community partners and referred youth and children to other community or government
services where necessary; and
• Conducted 7 weekly self-esteem workshops for 6+ teen girls aged 13-18 by building rapport and trust, implement-
ing girls input into activities and topics in order to create a safe space for them to discuss issues that affect them
and to create peer-to-peer support.

Trained Helpline Volunteer and Board Member Sept. 2013 - June 2016
Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line, Iqaluit, NU
• Provided telephone support to persons in crisis and connected them to relevant community resources.

Secretary of the Board

The Mercy Project, Board of Directors, Montreal QC July 2012- Sept. 2013
• Member of the Board of Directors, worked in a collaborative decision-making process.
• Participated in fundraising initiatives in Montreal for healthcare services in Northern Uganda

Emergency Orphanage Worker (St. Jude Children’s Home) July-Sept.2011

Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program, Gulu, Uganda
• Worked in collaboration with social workers, caretakers and nurses of resident children to care for their emotional
and physical well-being.

Inpatient Clinic Playroom Volunteer Dec. 2010- May 2011

Montreal Children’s Hospital, Montreal, Quebec
• Facilitated games and activities in a pre-operative clinic for children.