Dave Oostenbrug

About Dave Oostenbrug

I’m a multilingual professional with 4 years of supported employment experience working with people with IDD, behavioral health, and substance abuse disorders. My favorite parts of the job are motivational interviewing, resume development, and connecting with local employers to understand their unmet needs.At the Providence Center I empower jobseekers with significant barriers through the employment process: identifying their skills and matching them to open positions and progressive employers across the state of Rhode Island. This job has nourished my ability to empathize deeply and to find creative solutions to time-sensitive problems. As a Bilingual Employment Specialist, I use my knowledge of Spanish and French everyday to connect with my clients in the language they\'re most comfortable. This allows me deeper insight into their values, their ways of thinking, and allows for more individualized support tailored to each client.In my personal life I’ve tattooed friends, backpacked the Rockies, lived abroad, and moved across the country. I\'m an Eagle Scout and proud recipient of a Fulbright scholarship, which allowed me to live in Russia for a year after college to teach English at Saratov State University and study Russian intensively. I’m also a Texas transplant in New England and enjoy long walks on the beach with hopes of spotting a shark 🦈

Experience

1. Bilingual Employment Specialist

   The Providence Center

   Aug 2025 — Present · Providence, RI, US

   Supporting a caseload of 40+ jobseekers on three clinical teams through the employment process: skills development, case coordination, resume writing, interview skills, job development, benefits counseling, job onboarding and retention- Participating member of the IPS Steering Committee, Staff Training Committee and DEI Advisory Council- Certified Bilingual (Spanish) and supporting clients in French where appropriate

Education

• University of North Texas

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Geography