Tara Thomas Email & Phone Number

Augusta, Maine, United States

- Act as manager of statewide HIV care database (CAREWare). Planned and implemented major database upgrade, including virtual trainings based on evaluation of user needs, coordination with IT staff, and troubleshooting errors with the developer.- Responsible for all service utilization forecasts, health outcomes monitoring, and performance evaluation for Ryan White Part B services, including creation of needs assessments, performance measures, annual monitoring and evaluation reports, and multi-year service and quality improvement plans.- Clean and analyze all HIV care data for federal reporting and internal quality and performance monitoring.- Monitor all data collection activities, conduct process improvement initiatives, and provide recommendations to improve workflow. - Create budgets and projections, monitor and reconcile monthly expenditures, and work with accounting staff to closeout federal grants annually.- Act as lead trainer for HIV care program staff. - Assist with writing federal grant proposals, writing requests for proposals, and evaluating submitted applications for funding.- Conduct subgrantee site visits to review compliance with contractual standards.- Developed a paperless system for processing eligibility documents and requests for housing and dental assistance, established formal follow-up procedures, and trained staff to implement system to increase efficiency and accountability during the COVID-19 pandemic.- Lead for virtual federal Comprehensive Site Visit in September 2020, including developing checklists and timelines in consultation with federal Project Officer and consultants, updating policies and procedures, developing presentations, gathering required materials, and scheduling virtual meetings on four tracks simultaneously. Presented on pilot of virtual model during a national HIV/AIDS Bureau webinar in January 2021.

Augusta, Maine

- Continued to act as CAREWare database administrator.- Onboarded Tuberculosis Control Program into CAREWare, including deduplicating four data sources, assigning individual IDs to all clients, creating and customizing the Provider domain, and providing training to users.- Analyzed data and produced reports, including needs assessments, annual monitoring and evaluation reports, cost forecasting and analyses, and multi-year service and quality improvement plans.- Planned, executed, and led all quality management activities for the HIV care program, including development of contracts and performance measures, outcomes monitoring, implementation of quality improvement activities, and provision of training and technical assistance.- Planned, executed, and led process to develop Statewide Coordinated Statement of Need for 2012 and 2016, including facilitation of diverse stakeholder group, developing needs assessments, analyzing data, and writing plan.- Assisted with writing federal grant proposals, writing requests for proposals, and evaluating submitted applications for funding. - Created and updated as needed program policies, procedures, contract riders, and data collection tools. - Participated in and facilitated small groups as part of lean process and idea teams.- Conducted subgrantee site visits to review compliance with contractual standards.- Established, managed, and maintained social media presence for Maine CDC; monitored social media sites for trends and information; responded to public comments and inquiries as needed.- Developed public health communication strategies and materials for Maine CDC, including policy development, training, and consultation; provided messaging and talking points for specific activities or emerging issues.- Conducted research protocol reviews on Maine CDC Institutional Review Board.- Provided copy editing and language access review of documents as needed and requested.

Augusta, Maine

- Updated Maine CDC privacy policy; served as resource for privacy-related questions, complaints, and compliance issues; facilitated bimonthly privacy committee meetings.- Provided guidance and assistance with various data-sharing agreements, both internal and external.- Served on Maine CDC Institutional Review Board and HealthInfoNet security work group.- Provided statewide technical assistance to HIV case management providers and MaineCare related to CAREWare database; served as statewide database administrator. - Chaired Ryan White Quality Management Task Force, facilitating monthly meetings and guiding process to update Statewide Standards for Service for HIV Case Management, including quality measures and standardized paperwork.- Developed and implemented training curriculum for new HIV case managers.- Prepared and presented reports on HIV case management data and data quality for a variety of audiences, including advisory groups and federal partners.- Created training materials for new federal reporting requirements that were highlighted as “Tool of the Month” on national technical assistance website, March 2009.- Served in this role until management-initiated reclassification of job duties.

Portland, Maine

- Provided statewide technical assistance to HIV case managers using various databases to store client- and service-level data, transitioned users to CAREWare system, and provided ongoing training and assistance related to CAREWare. - Compiled HIV/AIDS data for quarterly and annual statistical reporting to local, state, and federal funding sources.- Produced annual programs report, including statistical tables, graphs, and narrative detailing demographic profiles and outcomes for prevention, case management, housing, and residential programs for staff, board of directors, clients, and funders.- Created fiscal monitoring tools and worked with Finance Director to ensure accurate financial reporting and forecasting.- Drafted annual program evaluation plans, including quality improvement measures, for prevention, case management, housing, and residential programs.- Provided training and consultation to staff about privacy and confidentiality-related issues, contract and regulatory compliance, and quality improvement.- Responsible for contract and regulatory compliance for prevention, case management, housing, and residential programs, including policy and procedure development.- Wrote grant proposals and renewals for HIV prevention and case management programs as well as statewide HIV/AIDS housing program.- Presented 90-minute workshop Implementing a Statewide Data & Evaluation System Using CAREWare at National Ryan White Grantee Meeting, August 2008.

Portland, Maine

- Wrote grant proposals, renewals, and outcome monitoring reports for City of Portland, State of Maine, HUD/HOPWA, United Way, and other private funders.- Drafted policies, procedures, and paperwork for HIV/AIDS case management and statewide HIV/AIDS housing programs. - Responsible for data collection, outcomes evaluation, analysis of epidemiological data, and contract and regulatory compliance for prevention, case management, housing, and residential programs for people with HIV/AIDS.- Created detailed statistical tables, graphs, and narratives describing the socio-demographic characteristics and transmission risk of persons living with HIV in southern Maine.- Contracted through US HHS/HRSA to provide statewide technical assistance for confidential HIV case management database, including database design, training, and consultation to users.- Oversight of HIPAA privacy program to safeguard the health-related data of clients living with HIV throughout the state. Provided training and consultation to staff about privacy and confidentiality-related issues to assure the protection of these highly sensitive data. - Worked with the State of Maine HIV, STD, and Viral Hepatitis program to streamline statewide statistical reporting of HIV cases.- Served on statewide Ryan White Advisory Committee’s subcommittee on quality assurance.- Participated in US CDC Evaluation Institute; Atlanta, GA, June 2005.- Participated in National Pilot Project for testing and training on HUD’s new annual progress report, including observations and suggestions related to data collection methods, summer 2005.

Portland, Maine

- Office management, technical/network support, human resources functions for agency of 30 FTEs.- Licensing and regulatory compliance for prevention, case management, housing, and residential programs for people living with HIV/AIDS.- Served as head of HIPAA implementation committee, drafted all related policies, trained all employees then provided oversight of privacy program to safeguard the health-related data of clients living with HIV. Provided training and consultation to staff about privacy and confidentiality-related issues. - MaineCare billing for targeted HIV case management.- Maintenance of confidential HIV case management database in Microsoft Access.- Monthly, quarterly, and annual HIV case management reports to city and state funders. - Supervised 1 FTE Administrative Assistant and up to 10 administrative volunteers/work-study employees.

Portland, Maine

- Responsible for all aspects of office management, technical/network support, and human resources.- Support to Executive Director and Board of Directors through merger process.- Support to Development program, including annual fund and major fundraiser activities.- Maintenance of confidential donor database in GiftMaker Pro.- Maintenance of confidential HIV case management database in Microsoft Access.- Monthly, quarterly, and annual HIV case management reports to funders.- Supervised up to 15 administrative volunteers and work-study employees.

Augusta, Maine

- Analyzed confidential statewide epidemiological data for all clients engaged in HIV case management statewide for calendar year 2007.- Created detailed report with statistical tables, graphs, and narratives describing the socio-demographic characteristics, transmission risk, and services utilized by persons living with HIV statewide who accessed Ryan White case management.- Reported observations about data and needs for data quality improvement.

Portland, Maine

- Managed all annual fund activities, including periodic bulk mailings.- Responsible for maintaining confidential donor database using Donor Perfect software.- Provided administrative support to Development Director through beginning stages of capital campaign.- Office management for Portland satellite office.

Portland, Maine

- Provided text and design to update agency brochure and develop first agency annual report.- Wrote and formatted text for Art Auction catalog.- Chaired silent auction committee for major Art Auction fundraiser.- Maintained confidential donor database and confidential client files.

Middletown, New York

- Wrote features and briefs for daily and weekly publications.- Compiled market analysis for web site development, including detailed tables and narrative report comparing local web site features to that of the newspaper.

Portland, Maine

- Reception, multiple phone line coverage, general office assistance, confidential medical filing, assistance with bulk mailings and special events.- Assistance with Medicaid billing.

Middletown, New York

- Wrote articles, briefs, and calendar items for weekly publications.- Provided general office support to newsroom, including: filing, multiple phone line coverage, fax management, phone transcription, and dictation.

Middletown, New York

- Wrote articles, briefs, and calendar items for business section.- Collected local statistics and updated graphics to run in daily and weekly publications.- Provided administrative and research support to business staff, including investigative series on local congressman whose campaign accepted illegal donations.- Entered survey data into database for marketing department.- Data entry and filing for newsroom library.

New Paltz, New York

- Copyediting for scholarly journal as needed.

Applied Research & Evaluation Certificate Program

Completed 4 credits toward graduate certificate

Master Of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Creative Writing

Taught a one-hour graduate-level seminar based on critical thesis

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Media Studies: Writing

Activities and Societies: Honors ProgramGraduated Magna Cum Laude and with General University Honors

Education record

Activities and Societies: Honors ProgramTransferred to University of Southern Maine