Amy Brustuen

Education • University of Minnesota College of Continuing and Professional Studies: Leadership Certificate Track 4/23-present • Master of Arts Human Services with an emphasis in forensic behavioral health 2019 Concordia • Bachelor of Science Psychology/Sociology 1996 Southwest Minnesota State University • Associate of Arts Human Services 1994 Ridgewater College • Additional Coursework for LPN 1998-1999 Ridgewater College Employment Community Trainer 3/22-present University of Minnesota Center for Advanced Studies Child Welfare Child Welfare Training Academy. Classroom training faculty of 1st year child protection workers in Minnesota. Topics include: culture and diversity; disparities and disproportionality; rules, regulations, and procedure; investigational skills; and crisis de-escalation. Youth and Community Program Officer 3/22-Present Southwest Initiative Foundation. Lead communities to provide grass roots sustaining efforts toward cultivating healthy communities. Functions include: Grant writing and resource disbursement; article and cirriculum writing with an emphasis on mental health and crisis response; support and collaboration with community change-makers; community crisis response; curriculum development; meeting facilitation; focus group facilitation; public education; connecting, organizing, and amplifying community voices, leveraging the most disparate voices; presence and participation in restorative justice circle. Case Manager 3/2001-3/2022 Meeker County Social Services Pre-petition investigations; vulnerable adult screenings; custody studies; Cornerhouse forensic sexual assault interviews; chemical use assessments including collateral interviews; child maltreatment victim and perpetrator interviews and investigations. Work cooperatively with law enforcement for purposes of investigations, development and facilitation of jail social work program, county crisis intervention training instructor, and facilitation of community mental health interventions. Collaborate with county attorney for purposes of reading and interpreting statute as it pertains to court petitions, investigational dispositions and coordination of reports for legal filing. New employee onboarding; intern supervision; parenting skills instruction; crisis intervention skills instruction; public speaking engagements; labor management committee member; and union steward. Case management in the following programs: adult mental health; chemical dependency; child protection and child welfare. Other job duties have included; intake and vulnerable adult report writing; court testimony; extensive detailed report writing; accurate daily record keeping; drafting and filing court petitions. Death Investigator 10/2010-10/2016 Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office Conducted investigations of deaths within the community. Worked collaboratively with law enforcement to investigate, photograph, and collect evidence. Examined the deceased, obtained specimens, and made arrangements for removal of the body. Interviewed witnesses and family members and notified next-of-kin. Prepared and filed reports. Community Support Practitioner 8/98-3/01 Woodland Centers Worked with Meeker County Case managers to provide intensive in-home support services to individuals with mental illness. Assisted them with tasks such as managing medications, completing paperwork, applying for subsidies, and accompanying to medical appointments. Chemical Dependency/Pathological Gambling Counselor 10/94-9/98 Project Turnabout Provided pathological gambling assessments via interviews and collateral contacts; facilitated pathological gambling treatment; facilitated adolescent substance abuse diversion classes; developed and implemented children’s family day programming. Recent Written Works De-Esclation: Strategies Teens Can Use https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/De-escalation-Strategies-Teens-Can-Use-11394604?st=dee6c8d7d348cd641d78f35b62ee691a What to Expect When Calling a Crisis Line - Circulating on multiple medias. Including- https://www.dglobe.com/opinion/columns/guest-editorial-what-to-expect-when-calling-a-crisis-line Taking Care of Our Communities in Times of Crisis and Loss- https://swifoundation.org/taking-care-of-our-communities-in-times-of-crisis-and-loss/