Dr. Mark Echols, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

Greater New York City Area

As Assistant Director of Quality Improvement for Child Welfare Programs, I oversee quality improvement for all child welfare programs in New York City, Westchester, Dutchess, Sullivan and Orange County. In addition, I am responsible for quality improvement in our group home programs and preventive care in Dutchess and Orange County. My related responsibilities are conducting audit responses for any corrective action in Agency audits. I track the timely submission of all required reports and collaborate with the Foster Care, Preventive, and Group Homes to keep them in compliance. I also supervise the Quality Improvement Coordinator and Family Team Conference Facilitators.

As the QA Coordinator for Foster Care, I help develop measurable goals for outcome or evidence based programs. This includes preparing reports which are submitted to program and administration in order to ensure program compliance with agency policies. Related responsibilities include ensuring compliance with government regulations (particularly ACS & OCFS), conducting onsite reviews/audits; and assisting in incident investigations. As the FTC Coordinator I am responsible for supervising FTC staff and coordinating the logistics of Family Team Conferencing. This includes ensuring the timely scheduling and submission of family team conferences and reports by the FTC Facilitators. Related responsibilities includes reviewing and improving the critical decision making processes regarding a child safety,well-being and permanency..

I was trained under the Annie Casey Foundation Facilitation Model. As a FTC Facilitator I met with birth parents and families to discuss their progress towards achieving the goal of re-unification for children in foster care. I also met with foster parents and children to discuss their progress towards achieving alternative permanency goals of adoption, fit & willing relative, and independent living. In addition to this, I also addressed issues of safety and permanency while facilitating conferences.Additional ResponsibilitiesAs a supportive function for the foster care and therapeutic foster boarding home programs, I reviewed and audited progress notes for corporate compliance. Case reviews included evaluating whether required contacts with foster children, birth parents, and foster parents have been made per ACS guidelines. Furthermore, case reviews ensured all social, safety, mental health needs were addressed in an appropriate and timely manner.

I create curriculum for online continued education courses. This includes writing professional papers on a variety of topics with measurable objectives with an accompanying quiz and PPTs based on the paper's content. I also collaborate with the curriculum design team to create current topics of interest for continued education in the health and human services field.

As a Case Planner, I worked with birth parents towards achieving the goal of re-unification or permanency for their children in foster care. I referred biological parents to substance abuse programs, mental health services, parenting skills classes, domestic violence classes, and other court mandated services (specific to each case). I also arranged visitation between birth parents and their children (this included monitoring visits to ensure the safety of children and to encourage positive interaction). In addition, I arranged and collaborated with clinical staff to address children’s on-going needs (medical and mental health). I also documented all efforts made for families, and provided progress reports & testimony to New York Family Courts.

As a Follow Up Worker I maintained a caseload of 75-150 students. In addition I monitored the academic & personal progress of students in the Summer Twilight Program. Additional duties included generating statistical reports from data collected from students. I provided tutoring and employment services for students in the program, as well as providing referrals to counseling when necessary.As a Basic Skills Instructor I provided classroom instruction in basic English and Math.

As a Procedural Coordinator I organized special education meetings. I also monitored the progress of special education providers to ensure that students were getting their necessary services.

Doctor Of Philosophy, Human Behavior

Dissertation Title: CAN RESILIENCY IN BLACK ADOLESCENT MALES BE CORRELATED WITH PARENTING STYLE? Successfully Defended September, 2014.

Master Of Science, Counseling Studies

Graduate Program, History

Bachelor Of Arts, History

Associate Of Applied Science, Business Management