Thomas M. Spirito
7130 Baltic Dr. SW
Byron Center, MI49315
Home(269) 251-7100
Social Worker
Summary
Professional Social Worker and Clinical Therapist, with a highly diverse background in providing integrated health and mental health care. Years of experience dealing with large volume caseloads, high acuity with complex psychosocial needs, quick turnover of caseload requiring ability to identify multiple community resources efficiently and effectively. Significant systems work with substance abuse treatment, counseling, self-management of co-occurring disorders, towards functional and clinical outcomes.
Experience
Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI2013 to Present
Medical Social Worker/ Case Manager
Neurological Rehabilitation, outpatient and residential treatment services. Acknowledged change, disruption,impacts, I work with the traumatic brain injured patients and their families.
•Significant work in coordination of benefits with insurance carriers. Development of plans of care and follow through on treatment plans to insure quality of care is delivered throughout the continuum of care.
•Highly organized, detail oriented patient advocate that has a strong understanding of the health care system and system payers'. Provide assessments, discharge planning utilizing community resources for safe plan including patients and families in the discharge process therefore lowering readmission rates.
•Participates in weekly interdisciplinary team meetings to facilitate appropriate care planning for patients and to help coordinate use of all available resources at time of admission throughout stay and to insure timely discharge planning.
St. Joe County Community Mental Health, Centreville, MI2006 to 2013
Case Manager/ Clinical Therapist
Adult Services Therapist/Case Manager that provided individual assessments, treatment planning and psychotherapy services to sociocultural diverse adult population that consisted primarily of persistently mentally ill and substance abusers.
•Advocated and collaborated with both clients and families for their rights within mental health system in the State of Michigan and Indiana. Helped to navigate, utilizing cost effective treatment plans and support systems.
•Assessed psychiatric stability, medication management and development of clinically appropriate treatment plans to avoid duplication of services.
•Strong understanding of legal guardianship, representative payee function, advance directives, living wills and other necessary pertinent legal needs for patients and families in relation to social work. Worked very closely with court system and several community programs to achieve good reintegration rates, and lower readmission rates.
•Highly skilled in person centered treatment planning, able to address patients educational, socialization and vocational needs.
Oaklawn Mental Health Hospital, Goshen, IN2004 to 2006
Social Worker
Provided intake assessments, medication management and discharge planning utilizing community resources for a safe plan including patients and families into reintegration therefore lowering relapse and readmission rates.
•Facilitated daily groups using multi-modal approaches, cognitive therapy, psycho-educational, dialectical behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.
•Collaborated with multidisciplinary team consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and social workers utilizing all classifications of DSM IV TR.
Case Management Services, Elkhart, IN2002 to 2004
Owner/ Operator
Developed, owned and operated private case management consulting service company. Worked with the Medicaid Waiver program with a focus of cost savings to clients and government programs.
•Handled all billing and business related functions with the State of Indiana with concentration in the developmentally disabled population. Also, provided some substance abuse services for clients and families in need of resources.
•Facilitated individual and group therapy sessions.
Southern Care Hospice , Mishawaka, IN2001 to 2002
Social Worker
Social worker for the entire agency, evaluating and setting all care plans for patients and families including all clinical resources and referrals to community needs. Developed and facilitated all bereavement groups and individual sessions for grief support.
•Handled all legal needs regarding end of life care for patients and families. Proficientin guardianships, advanced directives, and funeral home arrangements. Facilitated difficult and crucial conversations with patients and families during end of life care.
•Skilled in home and facility visits with clients and families, marketing and relationship building with facility staff.
•Used to on-call and frequent changes in scheduling and extensive travel as I serviced several counties.
Association for Disabled Persons of Elkhart County, Elkhart, IN1981 to 2001
Operations Program Supervisor
Responsible for annual budget of one million dollars, cost control, profit and loss budgeting to the Board. Serviced client count of 275. Developed community training programs with several local employers.
•Insured compliance with all state and CARF regulations. Had direct responsibility for case management of 65 clients and families.
•Worked as a community advocate and fundraiser for the program. Had strong working relationship with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Helped in the placement of developmentally disabled populations obtain work and life skills.
Education
Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI2006
MSW, Social Work
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana1981
BSW, Social Work
Affiliations
National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), 1981
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) , 2011
Licenses
Certified Advanced Addictions Drug Counselor, Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals,, 010
LBSW, State of Michigan, 2013
Basic Life Support, American Red Cross, 2013 to 2015
Honors
NAMI Professional of the Year , National Association of Mental Illness State of Indiana, 2000
Volunteer
Thornapple Valley Lions Club, Michigan2013 to Present
Active Member and Volunteer
Elkhart County Special Olympics, Elkhart, In1990 to 1995
Track Coach and Mentor