Abigail Rich, LCSW Social Work Expert

Abigail Rich is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 20 years of post Masters experience. Abigail has experience as both a direct care Social Worker and Supervisor. She has worked in transitional housing with homeless families, Child Welfare and currently with Veterans in an outpatient mental health clinic. Her experience involves working with both children and adults in various settings with mental health and/or substance abuse diagnoses. Abigail applies her extensive experience to forensic investigations related to the safety and supervision of children in their own homes and in out-of-home care.

While working in transitional housing, Abigail has experience moving homeless families from shelters to transitional housing on to permanent housing. She has worked collaboratively with the shelter system as well as several mental health agencies and child welfare services.

As a Child Welfare Social Worker, Abigail provided case management services. She conducted home assessments, risk assessments, and safety plans; as well as placed children in foster care, kinship care, group homes and residential treatment facilities. She has worked collaboratively with several different community service agencies, medical providers, School Districts, Juvenile Courts and law enforcement.

As a Child Welfare Supervisor, she supervised and reviewed case files and provided direct supervision in the decision making of children's safety and case planning. She also provided supervision to the direct care social workers on the Child Abuse Hotline to determine the risk and safety of children during the initial contact after a report was received.

Abigail holds a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a Clinical Social Work License in Pennsylvania.

Professional Experience

Robson Forensic, Inc.

Associate

2017 to present

Provide forensic investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of claims and personal injury litigation in public and private facilities involving:

Child Welfare (foster care, group home care and in-home services)
Homelessness /Shelter care and services
Mental Health (inpatient, outpatient care and residential care)
Substance Abuse (inpatient, outpatient and residential care)

Veterans Health Administration

Senior Social Worker

2012 to present

Provide Counseling to individuals with Substance Abuse, Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar, Schizoaffective Disorder, etc.
Provide couples counseling
Facilitated five weekly support groups for combat Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Facilitated the Skills Training in Affect and Interpersonal Regulation Group for Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Have provided individual and group psychotherapy in the inpatient substance abuse treatment program as well as psychoeducational groups, case management and discharge planning
Provide case management
Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings
Complete documentation in accordance with Veteran’s Health Administration and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities regulations
Interact with other disciplines regularly to coordinate care both at Coatesville Veterans Administration and other Veteran Administration hospitals or clinics
Was the on call social worker for urgent care for a year
Green Belt trained and worked on a project to improve access in the Mental Health Outpatient Clinic
Co-created the Social Worker Mental Health Case Management Consult referral/workload tracking system and managed all the consults for a year
Created the Anger Management and Combat Veteran Groups
Provided clinical supervision to other social workers that are working on getting their clinical social work license
Trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy

Department of Human Services

2006 to 2012

Hotline Supervisor 2010-2012

Provided supervision, consultation and guidance to staff of social workers regarding calls of alleged abuse and/or neglect, after hours
Ensured staff documentation completion

Social Worker Supervisor 2008-2012

Provided supervision, guidance and consultation to team of social workers
Ensured that social workers were up to date with visitations and family service plans
Supported social workers in court, on home visits and placements
Educated social workers on issues of sexual abuse, mental health and substance abuse
Instructed social workers on organization of their work, setting priorities and well as meeting deadlines
Collaborated with professionals from many disciplines (law, education, medical and behavioral health) for the overall benefit of the client
Provided social workers with guidance and support in regards to crisis management and interventions
Assisted with home visits, hospital visits, placement visits and court hearings
Participated in Family Group Decision Making Meetings
Supervised Master of Social Work students

Social Worker II 2006-2008

Provided case management services to families
Completed home visits and visited all children in placement (foster care or residential)
Attended court hearings and provided testimony on the well-being of the children
Interacted with Community Behavioral Health, hospitals, schools, lawyers, police and prisons on a regular basis
Provided crisis intervention and de-escalation with clients
Removed children from abusive and neglectful situations and coordinated placement of them in facilities and agencies across Pennsylvania and in other states, when needed
Completed child abuse investigations on open and active cases

Northwest Human Services

Fee for Services Outpatient Therapist

2005 to 2007

Provided therapy to children, adolescents, adults and families

Issues involved mental health, substance abuse and relationship conflicts

Horizon House

2001 to 2006

Behavorial Health Clinician 2004-2006

Completed assessments on all incoming clients
Completed weekly and monthly reports
Facilitated PACE (Protecting All Children through Education) groups and ensured the smooth functioning of the PACE Program
Collaborated with other agencies on coalitions and task forces
Provided crisis intervention and de-escalation with clients
Made referrals for mental health, substance abuse and trauma services
Provided supervision to case management staff in supervisor's absence
Provided support to case managers and assisted with case conferences and home visits
Provided monthly clinical supervision to seven case managers
Acted as supervisor in supervisor's absence
Referred clients to outside substance abuse and mental health services for both adults and children
Conducted home visits, hospital visits and interagency meetings to support clients
Co-Chaired the division's Safety Committee

Case Manager 2001-2004

Visited participants at their residences on a weekly basis
Assisted participants in developing service plans
Completed and maintained up-to-date participant reports and charts on a timely basis
Collected random urine drug screens
Provided support to families
Researched and linked participants with community resources
Advocated in court for participants, as needed
Organized, arranged and supervised participant activities and trips
Helped organize and facilitate monthly Community Meetings
Provided linkage with community agencies
Collected random urine drug screens

The Consortium

Primary Therapist

1999 to 2001

Provided evaluation, development and implementation of client treatment plans
Provided individual and group therapy
Completed and maintained up-to-date client progress reports and charts on timely basis
Managed an average caseload of 20 individuals and met clinical service objectives
Participated in case conferences and staff meetings as required
Developed and oversaw psycho educational groups
Provided supervision to entire clientele during treatment day
Applied for Community Behavioral Health authorizations and hospitalize clients in crisis
Covered numerous caseloads at a time, including all paperwork and psycho educational groups
Provided case management services to client, and occasionally, their families
Provided team case management between client, case manager, family and other involved parties

Women’s Association for Women’s Alternative, Inc

Residential Relief Worker

2002 to 2003

Provided support and supervision to homeless families

Professional Credentials

Veterans Administration Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Certification
Veterans Administration Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy Certification
Veterans Administration Cognitive Processing Therapy Certification
Trauma Certificate, Bryn Mawr College
Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Education

M.S. of Social Work, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2004

B.S. of Science in Rehabilitation Services, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 1999

v. 06/14/22

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