Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus
Working Solutions Program
MEMO
TO:
Human Resources
FROM:
L Scharf Linda Scharf
RE:
Cover Letter
I am currently the Project Director for Working Solutions, the Displaced Homemaker Trust Fund
program, housed at Wolfson Campus. I very much enjoy this work. However, this is a grant-funded
position dependent on yearly legislative decisions, and thus I am seeking a more secure position. Below is
a description of my professional experience.
As Project Director for the displaced homemaker program, I oversee program operations, including
monitoring (full and part-time) staff as they engage and support clients. I have supervised psychology
graduate students (from St. Thomas University, Barry University, and University of Miami) who have
come to the program for outplacement experience in a women’s program. I review client files and
develop an individualized work readiness assessment for each client. I communicate with staff regarding
clients’ progress, and we develop exit options as their year in the Program ends. Working Solutions
continually revises non-credit computer-based course offerings, so that these adult learners develop the
technological expertise needed to (re) enter the workforce. I oversee the internal database set-up, ensure
accuracy of data entered into the State of Florida (EFM) system, and analyze qualitative and quantitative
data for yearly reporting to the Department of Economic Opportunity.
I am also responsible for outreach to community social service agencies. I communicate with MiamiDade Delegation offices so they can refer constituents to the program. Our Business Advisory Council
was organized many years ago, and has developed into an excellent referral network, which I access when
other Campus departments are in need.
I have been part of the Student Services team at Miami Dade College for more than 19 years, and have
thus developed solid working relationships with many at the Wolfson Campus. I am presently the cochair of the Campus’ Legislative Advocacy Team. Next year I will serve in my second year on the
College’s Learning Outcomes Assessment Team (LOAT). I was glad to have recently participated in the
College’s suicide prevention grant, to train other staff to become comfortable discussing suicide with
students and clients.
Under the supervision of the Dean of Workforce Education and Development, I had additional
assignment, Project Lead for the Walmart Brighter Futures Project Back-to-Work Center. Over two years
I helped to establish this Center for dislocated workers, including deciding on the: services to be provided;
eligibility criteria; staffing needs; and training options. One of our most gratifying projects was the
development of an intensive job search “Boot Camp” course for dislocated workers, which subsequently
became a Continuing Education offering. I assisted with quarterly and yearly reporting, and participated in
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grant meetings. In the last phase of the project, efforts were focused on tracking participants’ employment
and developing a sustainability plan.
Initially at the College I was a Project Director for a Department of Labor grant. In this project we
conducted vocational assessments with welfare recipients and provided training recommendations as they
considered returning to school. I reviewed the aptitude and vocational interest data and created easy-toread individualized reports, which provided career recommendations that caseworkers could share with
their clients.
Previously I lived in NY, and worked for 5 years at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn. I was first a
staff psychologist on the partial hospitalization unit, conducting group therapy and completing
assessments on the inpatient psychiatric patients transitioning to community living. I was later promoted
to the position of Coordinator of the Behavior Management program for the developmentally disabled. I
supervised trainees and conducted lectures for parents, teachers, and other treating practitioners. I also
worked with parents and their children, developing behavior plans for inappropriate and/or self-injurious
behavior.
I began my career as a research scientist at the American Health Foundation, a non-profit organization.
Working within the Division of Health Promotion Research, I assisted in: federal and private foundation
grant applications; conducting community-based research; and subsequent report -writing and
publications. One of my most interesting tasks there was to bring a health promotion curriculum to local
Manhattan elementary schools. I consulted with teachers to maximize implementation, and impact of the
didactic material was assessed qualitatively as well as via physiological indices (body fat; serum blood
cholesterol).
I received my Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology in l985. During my graduate training I taught
undergraduate level Psychology courses. I have been a licensed psychologist in FL since l993 and in NY
since l987. Since obtaining licensure I have always had a private practice in conjunction with salaried
positions. I work primarily with adults with various presenting problems in individual psychotherapy.
I am organized, thoughtful, and dedicated to my work. I would be willing to prepare on my own time in
order to reach needed proficiency on a new assignment. I can certainly provide additional information as
is needed. It is easiest to reach me at (305) 237-7514, or lscharf@mdc.edu. I appreciate your
consideration of my application.
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CURRICULUM VITAE
LINDA S. SCHARF
OFFICE
ADDRESS
Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus
300 N.E. 2nd Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132
(305) 237-7514
EDUCATION
1978-1985
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
(A.P.A. Accredited Training Program)
Dissertation:
Master's Thesis:
1974-1978
Efficacy of Diabetes Camp in
Improving Psychological Adjustment of
Adolescents
Psychological Correlates of
Infertility
B.A. with Honors in Psychology
State University of New York at Binghamton
EMPLOYMENT
10/93-Present
Project Director
Vocational Assessment Center /
Displaced Homemaker Trust Fund Program
09/09- 05/11
Project Lead
Walmart Brighter Futures Project Back-to-Work Center
Miami Dade College
Miami, Florida
2/88-2/93
Coordinator, Behavior Management Program
Developmental Center
Maimonides Medical Center
Brooklyn, New York
7/89-8/91
Group Therapist
Medical Health Management, P.C.
New York, New York
1/89-10/91
Supervisor
New Hope Guild
Brooklyn, New York
1/89-6/91
Staff Psychologist
Institute for Behavior Therapy
New York, New York
10/85-1/88
Research Scientist
Division of Health Promotion Research
American Health Foundation
New York, New York
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LICENSURE
New York
Florida
1987
1993
CLINICAL PRACTICE
6/91-2/93
4/93-Present
New York, New York
North Miami Beach, Florida
STAFF PRIVILEGES
2000-2006
Hollywood Medical Center, Hollywood, FL
1994-1999
Sunrise Regional Medical Center, Sunrise, Florida
Charter Hospital, Miami, Florida
1990-1993
Gracie Square Hospital, New York, New York
Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
RESEARCH GRANTS
1987-1988
Scharf, L.S., and Wynder, E.L.
The Development of a Nutrition Intervention for
Elementary Schools
Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Company, Battle Creek, Michigan
PREDOCTORAL TRAINING
9/84-9/85
Clinical and Research Associate
Division of Neuropsychology
Henry Ford Hospital
Detroit, Michigan
9/83-8/84
A.P.A. Accredited Block Internship
Department of Psychology
Lafayette Clinic
Detroit, Michigan
9/82-5/83
Behavioral Medicine Internship
Department of Psychiatry
Harper Hospital
Detroit, Michigan
9/81-6/82
Psychology Intern
Psychology Clinic
Oakland University
Rochester, Michigan
9/80-8/81
Neuropsychology Intern
Division of Neuropsychology
Henry Ford Hospital
Detroit, Michigan
9/79-8/80
Psychology Trainee
Department of Psychology
Rehabilitation Institute
Detroit, Michigan
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Instructor: Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
1/83-5/83
Abnormal Psychology
6/79-8/79
Theories of Personality
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PUBLICATIONS
Prue, D.M., Wynder, E.L., Scharf, L.S., & Resnicow, K.A. (1987). Health education
and behavioral analysis. Education and Treatment of Children, 10, 19-32.
Scharf, L.S., Leach, D.C., & Adams, K.M. (1987). Diabetes camp as a psychological
intervention: Some findings. Diabetes, 36 (suppl), 109.
Scharf, L.S., and Adams, K.M. (1984). Long-term neuropsychological impact of
retrolental fibroplasia: Review and implications. Journal of Pediatric
Psychology, 9, 303-316.
PRESENTATIONS
Jennings, D.L., Scharf, L.S., and Llerandi, C. The Walmart Brighter Futures
Project Back-to-Work Center. Invited presentation at the National Council for
Continuing Education and Training, Miami, Florida, October 2010.
Orlandi, M.A., Haley, N.J., Landers, C., Scharf, L.S., Weston, R,
Ray, K., & Colleti, D.J. The Mount Vernon Cares Project: Mobilization and
educational strategies utilized in a model community cholesterol education
program. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Public Health
Association, New York, New York, October l990.
Resnicow, K.A., Scharf, L.S., & Prue, D.M. Child health promotion. Invited
workshop at the Berkshire Conference on Behavior Analysis and Therapy, Amherst,
Massachusetts, October l986.
Scharf, L.S., Snyder, D.K., & Rutledge, A.L. Psychological aspects of
infertility: Implications for decisions regarding infertility assistance.
Graduate Award Paper presented at the Spring Conference of the Michigan
Psychological Association, Livonia, Michigan, April 1984.
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
2004-present
Member, Board of Directors
Advocates for Children and Families, Miami FL
1989-1991
Secretary/Treasurer
Division of Women's Issues
New York State Psychological Association
1986
Guest Reviewer
Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis
1983-1984
Predoctoral Research Fellowship
American Diabetes Association, Michigan Affiliate
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Miami-Dade County Psychological Association
Florida Psychological Association
Phi Beta Kappa
South Florida Society for Trauma-Based Disorders
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