Karen Mesimer
Asheville
Summary
Human Services and Account professional with over 15 years of experience working with nonprofit, government agencies, and global brands building community and business partnerships, resource development and strategic planning. Seeking to leverage expertise in social services, program analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to identify opportunities, drive operational efficiency, and improve program outcomes.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Family Engagement Specialist, CPS Investigations
Buncombe County Government
Asheville
12.2023 - Current
- Facilitate open, honest, and transparent conversations about children's welfare and the concerns that prompted the County's involvement, highlighting family strengths and challenges.
- Foster a team environment with the family, case worker, inter-agency teams, community provider agencies, and identified supports to assess and address child safety needs.
- Maintain focus of contacts and meetings to address the children's needs for safety and well-being.
- Act as liaison and facilitator between the family, service providers, supports, and any other agencies (i.e. mental health, legal, schools) during assessment and referral processes.
- Arrange meetings with the family and/or Department and work with community agencies to coordinate services and resources.
- Seek out and attend outreach meetings, training, and community events to develop and enhance resource network.
- Review programs by documenting metrics and taking part in divisional and community meetings for service updates and opportunities for performance improvements.
- Demonstrate understanding and importance of inclusion of equity, culture, and beliefs into daily work with families, coworkers, and community.
Private Home Care Provider/Independent Contractor
Self Employed
Asheville
08.2020 - 05.2021
- Successfully prepared client for transition and move to assisted living care due to unexpected and rapid health decline.
- Developed relationship and client trust, and earned 100% increase in requested services within first 30 days of employment.
- Completed initial intake assessment of care needed by consumer and family.
- Provided compassionate, attentive companion and home health care for senior adult living with progressive incurable health diagnosis.
- Offered emotional support to client in independently determining level of daily engagement in activity, personal interests, and socialization.
- Assisted client in attending provider visits and maintaining regular contact with family to ensure safety and emotional and physical health.
- Networked with local health provider, researched, and informed client of available community program resource.
Support Team Member/Supported Employment Specialist
Liberty Corner Enterprises
Asheville
07.2015 - 11.2016
- Coached and supported adults living in the community with mental health and developmental disabilities to obtain job placement and receive support with daily living skills.
- Services utilized a person-centered approach to achieve individualized goals and long-term stability.
- Networked and developed meaningful relationships with individuals and community providers.
Assistant Manager
Chico's FAS
Gaffney
08.2011 - 06.2014
- Coordinated with company management co-leading an average team size of 10 employees on store performance, business goals, service expectations, employee training and support, marketing, and merchandising.
- Store ranked Top 25 122 Chico's Outlets (Q1 2014).
- Selected by district manager to present store profitability plan to Western North Carolina district (Q1 2014).
- Gained vast experience with planograms, window displays, and mannequins on multi-state visual merchandising team (2011-2014).
- Assumed acting store manager position in additional store providing leadership and taking on temporary increase in role and responsibilities (2013).
- Earned two management promotions within first 15 months with company (2011-2012).
- Member of new store opening team that provided successful completion of planogram and visual merchandising in the state's largest retail mall (2011).
NC CAP/DA/C Community Alternatives Program Case Manager, Adults and Children
FAMILIES TOGETHER INC
Buncombe and Madison County
06.2008 - 06.2010
- Provided in-home case management for individuals and families receiving state CAP/DA/C Community Alternatives Program Medicaid services.
- Responsible for caseload of 20+ medically-disabled adults and children with the goal to remain living at home.
- Extensive time spent completing intake, annual reviews, and readmission assessments.
- Coordinated services with third-party providers utilizing ICD, CPT, HCPCS, medical billing, and DME equipment coding.
- Over 95% success rate helping client's meet goal to remain living at home and avoid facility care.
- Selected by manager to take on 50% increase in caseload responsibilities by serving children and adults and expanding program services to rural counties.
- 15 facility discharge coordinations completed to ensure continuation of client and families at home living goal.
Foster Care Social Worker III, Permanency Planning/NC CAP/DA Community Alternatives Program Case Manager, Adults
Haywood County Government
North Carolina
01.2006 - 06.2008
- Held individual case management responsibilities for 20-25 children ages birth-18 in the custody of North Carolina due to abuse, neglect, or dependency.
- Advocated for the interests of each child by gathering information pertaining to their well-being and those involved in their long-term care.
- Focused services and support that would give children consistency in a safe environment that upheld legal requirements.
- Orchestrated family visitations and team meetings with involved parties, including children, biological families, foster parents, therapists, Guardian ad Litems, community providers, and agency program participants.
- Prepared documents and gave impactful court testimonies in formal court proceedings.
- Took part and offered input into adoption processes for multiple children helping to offer permanency and meeting emotional and practical needs.
Education
Bachelor's degree - Social Work
Buncombe Technical Community College
09.2023
Associate's degree - General Studies
Western Carolina University
12.2005
Associate's degree -
Haywood Community College
12.2002
Skills
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Compassion
- Active listening
- Time Management
- Goal Setting and Analysis
- Resource Development/Utilization
- Assessments
- Community Networking
- Motivational Interviewing
- Complex Communication
- Developmental Disabilities
- Mental Health
- Operational Planning
- Team Leadership
- Driving Results
- Planograms
- Visual Merchandising
- Analysis skills
- Performance abilities
- Relationship Management
Certification
First Aid Certification
Volunteer Experience
- Donor Coordinator/Financial Secretary, WCCW Advisory Council-Kairos Prison Ministry International, 2023, Present
- Guardian ad Litem, Buncombe County Guardian ad Litem, 2018, 2023
Personal Information
Willing To Relocate: Anywhere
Timeline
Family Engagement Specialist, CPS Investigations
Buncombe County Government
12.2023 - Current
Private Home Care Provider/Independent Contractor
Self Employed
08.2020 - 05.2021
Support Team Member/Supported Employment Specialist
Liberty Corner Enterprises
07.2015 - 11.2016
Assistant Manager
Chico's FAS
08.2011 - 06.2014
NC CAP/DA/C Community Alternatives Program Case Manager, Adults and Children
FAMILIES TOGETHER INC
06.2008 - 06.2010
Foster Care Social Worker III, Permanency Planning/NC CAP/DA Community Alternatives Program Case Manager, Adults
Haywood County Government
01.2006 - 06.2008
Bachelor's degree - Social Work
Buncombe Technical Community College
Associate's degree - General Studies
Western Carolina University
Associate's degree -
Haywood Community College