Oversaw innovation of compliance, risk management initiatives. Implemented risk controls with leaders in Clinical, Daycare, Finance, Food Service, HR, IT, Medical, Operations, Purchasing, and Quality Assurance to assess activities that threatened the safety, security, assets, reputation, and success of the company.Analyzed regulatory environment, served as subject-matter expert on rules for mental health and substance use disorder treatment; defined controls to monitor compliance, reduce risk, and improve quality of care.Demonstrated to employees/the community our commitment to conducting business in a legal, ethical manner through responsible corporate conduct.Monitored effectiveness of preventative/corrective measures.Prevented, detected, confronted unethical/criminal conduct. Outlined sanctions for failing to report suspected problems or encouraging/permitting non-compliant behavior.Created hub for regulations, guidelines; industry standards, legal/business trends.Developed new systems, policies, procedures to ensure culture of compliance, non-intimidation, non-retaliation.Facilitated discussions to identify risks, assess the likelihood and impact, prioritize, and develop strategies.Reviewed compliance/risk items. Responded to all complaints and grievances.Chaired Corporate Compliance Committee; developed charter, annual compliance work plan; reduced exposure to lawsuits, settlements, civil damages and penalties, criminal sanctions, and program exclusion; used Lean process mapping, root cause analysis to prevent/address issues; trained board members, staff in compliance.Monitored billing, payments (including overpayments/disclosures), medical necessity, quality of care, confidentiality, governance, mandatory reporting, incident management, credentialing, and required training.Developed, maintained fire safety, disaster plans.Prepared proposals, reports for executives/board.Cultivated positive relationships; served in industry forums and workgroups.

Led 17 staff and oversaw compliance of the agency's programs with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and policies. Assessed the efficiency and compliance of state programs and facilitated quality improvements throughout the Hudson Valley district of State Operations Office Region Four. Provided oversight and support for Medicaid Compliance, Incident Management, Policies, Plans of Corrective Action, Health Information Management, Electronic Health Records, and Family Care. Collaborated with department administrators to refine evaluation plans for key initiatives and used evaluation findings to inform program development, decision making, and practices. Provided consultation and assistance concerning federal, state, and agency standards; regulatory requirements; and techniques used to monitor, evaluate, and improve programs.Problem-solved with agency leadership and counsel (including Jonathan's Law and litigation holds), monitoring all incidents to ensure adequate protections, and reviewing after-hours reports, Exit Conferences, and Statements of Deficiency. Completed site visits for audit readiness.Served on the Policy and Procedure Committee, reviewing all policies for all departments in the agency.Served on the Incident Review Committee; focused on trends and implementation of best practices.Changes resulted in an overall reduction of incidents, cycle time for submission of documentation, and reopening of cases by standardizing the closure process; reduced self-disclosures for Medicaid payback by 78% in one year; streamlined site visit planning and review tools to ensure audit readiness for all programs and reducing cycle time of reports to one business day; implemented a comprehensive new records system, resulting in a one business day cycle time for records requests; developed three year cycle for regionalizing and updating all policies; and chaired a committee that reduced variance of guidance documents at all 150+ sites from 138 to 28.

Conducted on-site inspections of licensed mental health programs including inpatient, outpatient and community residential facilities to determine compliance with regulations. Prepared final recommendations and written reports for renewal of certification and the issuance of an operating certificate. Maintained knowledge and familiarity of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations and Mental Hygiene Law. Interpreted OMH policy as it applies to specific situations involving State and local providers.Investigated complaints, documented findings, and prepared reports.Processed Mental Health Provider Data Exchange (MHPD) requests, including EZ Prior Approval Reviews (EZ PARs) and Administrative Actions (AAs).Provided technical assistance to programs licensed by OMH.Developed tracking tools (MOR, PIP) and training manuals. Worked with technology services to create reports that improved efficiency and automated several tasks (NIMRS, CAIRS).As part of the state-wide Lean Six Sigma Deployment (in partnership with Toyota), began the Empire Belt certification process by redesigning and standardizing processes to reduce the overall time to generate draft reports, as well as a variety of ancillary duties that impacted this outcome. The systems created were at or well above all targets beginning the second month after implementation.Developed a New York City-wide comprehensive schedule for over 700 licensed programs in a three year cycle, ensuring that monitoring needs were projected, staff resources were evenly allocated, recertification deadlines were met, and unscheduled additions to the state system were prioritized to increase efficiency and reduce wait time for new community resources to receive an operating certificate.Volunteered for State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) and increased contributions and donor base by nearly 50% in the first year.

Hired as Rehabilitation Counselor II but served as the supervisor for the Intensive Treatment Unit, coordinating a multi-disciplinary treatment team to address the needs of the most difficult clients on an inpatient unit.Developed tracking tools to ensure compliance across multiple disciplines; increased compliance to at or above 90% for most performance improvement measures.Completed Quality Management tasks as assigned.Reviewed quality and quantity of incidents and developed strategies to minimize volume and severity of incidents.

Supervised over 50 staff, ensuring quality evaluation, psycho-education, and after-care planning on aninvoluntary inpatient unit with an average of 180 youth per month; oversaw all scheduling.Developed a training manual for all aspects of therapy aide, counselor, and case management positions.Implemented several initiatives that reduced errors, including tracking sheets and automated spreadsheets for monthly reports that saved the company approximately 10 hours per month in administrative costs.Prepared monthly evaluations using insurance pre-certification utilization review to maximize funding while decreasing length of stay; developed and implemented training tools for staff to meet this goal.

Completed comprehensive evaluations for children placed involuntarily on an inpatient unit (Children’s Crisis Stabilization). Assessed suicidal risk, psychosocial history, presenting problems, family concerns, mental health history, and support systems.Completed pre-certification with insurance companies.Completed discharges and aftercare planning/follow-up appointments based on specific case needs.Volunteered to cross-train in discharge planning to assist program with weekend needs. Placed on a regular schedule with additional tasks due to work performance.Implemented several initiatives that reduced errors, including tracking sheets and step-by-step instructions for new employees. Created spreadsheets for monthly reports that saved the company approximately 10 hours per month in administrative costs.Frequently commended by Program Director due to communication from families who received excellent service and supportive information on resources while in stressful situations.

Developed curriculum, presented materials, and facilitated group learning for bachelor’s and master’s level staff on a contractual basis.As part of the BEST series, educated attendees on topics such as positive youth development, engaging difficult youth, gender considerations, youth culture, developing curriculum on a budget, technology and youth, and current trends in the field.

Provided in-home substance abuse supportive counseling and case management services to prevent removal of children (or to facilitate family reunification) while educating clients on recovery, sobriety, free/low-cost family friendly events, conflict resolution, relapse prevention techniques, coping skills development, safety planning, structured/age-appropriate activities, relationship dynamics, healthy boundary development, budgeting, resume-building, stress management techniques, and community resources.Utilized the Parenting for Change model as a tool to foster improved confidence and competence in clients’ role as a caregiver.Acted as liaison to the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Drug Court) to provide treatment to specialized populations and to reduce the number of substance-exposed newborns and women delivering children while incarcerated.Developed and oversaw a campaign to match funder requirements for in-kind donations; raised over $30,000 in less than four months.Assisted in establishing and designing program methods to evaluate program success; prepared reports for funders.

Managed a program that paired at-risk youth with professional artists and included the implementation of Junior Achievement curriculum, computer literacy classes, and mentoring programs. Supervised artists, staff, and youth with a focus on documentation, youth development, and curriculum delivery; created new policy-based methodology that improved overall performance.Prepared quarterly and annual program evaluations using statistical data to efficiently utilize funding to serve the greatest number of youth; contracts operated at over 138%.Developed outreach plans which increased enrollment by 63% in three months, allowing for program expansion tailored to the needs of the community and the hiring of additional staff.Developed marketing plan to increase community involvement, resource development, direct fundraising, and financial support.

Assisted in every aspect of the program, focusing on positive youth development, arts education, and job training for over 100 youths ages eight to 17. Co-facilitated youth, artist, and business planning meetings to ensure that children learned the process of the corporate structure, that goals and objectives were met, and that behavior issues were addressed.Created a system for information tracking that increased compliance with funder requirements by 27% while ensuring that all staff completed regular data collection.Developed regular curriculum for program delivery, individualized activities for behavioral challenges, and special workshops for increasing parent involvement.Prepared quarterly and annual program evaluations using statistical data to efficiently utilize funding to serve the greatest number of youth; contracts operated at over 138%.Developed outreach plans which increased enrollment by 63% in three months, allowing for program expansion tailored to the needs of the community and the hiring of additional staff.Recruited and trained volunteers for special events.Developed marketing plan to increase community involvement, resource development, direct fundraising, and financial support.Ceased employment temporarily January - April 2009 to provide emergency care to disabled family member. Returned as program supervisor.

Supervised, developed programming for, and trained 16 staff to promote independent living skills for over 100 people with serious mental illnesses/co-occurring disorders to reduce hospital recidivism.Ensured that staff sustained quality-contact visits, monthly insurance fee-for-service contracts, preparation for inspections of HUD-funded housing, and quarterly reports to the State.Designed and implemented computerized tracking systems that saved management 28 hours per week, allowing more direct supervision and increasing staff performance by 48% across measured domains.

Coordinated agency, church, hospital, and community-based services in a professional and advocacy capacity to address individual client needs based on treatment goals in an out-patient clinic. Scored 95% and above on performance measures through chart audits.Resolved client issues through liaison with other service providers: education, benefits (e.g. Social Security, Medicaid), continuity of care, gaps in service coverage, vocational training, etc.Maintained clinical records, administered assessment tools, and conferred with doctors for a caseload that averaged between 75 and 110 clients.Received numerous merit-based awards from direct supervisor and executive management team.