Congratulations to Christopher Waiters, from NorthEast Treatment Centers (NET Centers) for his selection as one of ten participants for the 2024–25 Cohort for the College for Behavioral Health Leadership Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow Program! This cohort will meet for the next 11 months and will explore how to collectively influence others to create communities rooted in resilience and healing. We all look forward to learning from Chris’ experience!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lancaster, PA, October 10, 2024 – Community Services Group (CSG), a leading provider of mental health and intellectual disability services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Jones as Vice President of Mental Health Services and Aimee Tsikitas, LCSW, as Vice President of Mental Health Treatment Services. Melissa and Aimee will both be joining the Executive Leadership Team. Jim Martin has also been promoted to the newly created Chief of Clinical Innovation within Mental Health Treatment Services [read full release].
Fortifying the Future: Data Privacy & Security in Behavioral Health AI
Tuesday, October 22 at 2:00 pm ET
In the behavioral health world, few things are more intimate and private than a provider’s conversation with a client.
Keeping those sessions secure—and complying with always-evolving government regulations and ethics concerns — is a top priority for behavioral health organizations looking to implement an AI tool.
On October 22 at 2 11 am PT / 2pm ET, join Eleos Health for a 1-hour virtual discussion on “Fortifying the Future: Data Privacy & Security in Behavioral Health AI.”
Facilitated by Eleos Health’s VP of Customer Success Nisheeta Setlur, attendees will hear from behavioral health AI experts Raz Karmi, CISO of Eleos, and Rony Gadiwalla CIO of GRAND Mental Health, as they break down:
Register here and secure your spot. If you can’t make it live, we will send you a recording to watch at your leisure.
Diana Ramsay, CEO of The Ramsay Group and an RCPA member, was honored with the W.E.W. Cultivate Pillar Award in September. Women Elevating Women (W.E.W.) is an organization created to empower and uplift multicultural women, foster community, and guide their success. These awards are given to women who exemplify professional excellence and an unwavering commitment to their communities, solidifying their positions as leaders in their industries.
RCPA member CMU has announced the following staff updates:
Patrick Slattery has been named Chief Executive Officer of The CMU and joins the organization after more than 30 years in various direct care and leadership roles across multiple organizations including KidsPeace and Sheppard Pratt Health Systems. Patrick brings a servant leadership approach to the team and is especially excited to continue vital partnerships with Dauphin County and the many outstanding providers and stakeholders who impact the lives of the more than 5,000 people and their families served each year. Relationships are the key, and he is grateful for the positive collaborations with CMU Board President, Doug Hill and his board colleagues, outstanding Dauphin County Commissioners George P. Hartwick, III, Justin Douglas and Mike Pries and Dauphin County Human Services leaders, Director Randie Yeager, Administrator Andrea Kepler and Deputy Mental Health Administrator Rachael Clifton.
Dan Sausman has retired from The CMU effective 9/13/2024 after 42+ years of service. Dan is widely recognized as an expert in the field and among the finest people with whom I have worked. His impact on our organization, colleagues and community will endure for many years to come as we continue to provide our services at the highest levels. Dan lives and breathes the mission, vision and values of our organization leaving a legacy of service that we can all aspire to emulate.
William “Bill’ Price IV is promoted to the role of Director of Mental Health Services and leads all related services from Administrative/Intake to Blended Case Management (BCM) service delivery. Bill has an extensive background in forensic mental health and is a dynamic leader with more than 18 years of service to CMU and nearly 30 years in the field. Bill has a strong “can do” approach and is always quick with a smile and great attitude!
Amber Wolferd is promoted to the role of Director of Developmental Servies and leads all Intellectual Developmental Disability/Autism (IDD/A) services from Intake to Supports Coordination and Early Intervention/Service Coordination. Amber is succeeding long time Director Dan Sausman after his 42+ years of service. Amber brings a relentless enthusiasm for our mission along with technical skills aimed at continuous quality improvement to perfect the craft of Supports and Service Coordination.
Sarah Freeland is promoted to the role of Deputy Director of Developmental Services and leads the team of Supports Coordination Supervisors who help roughly 1,500 people via 28 Supports Coordinators. Sarah has served the mission of the organization in various roles over the past 7 years and shares Amber’s enthusiasm for creating the most impressive teams of Supports Coordinators to benefit those we serve across all of Dauphin County.
Sarah Mumper is promoted to the role of Director of Operations and leads all Human Resources efforts as well as Accounts Payables and building operations. Sarah must be cloned as she is a true force of nature on the team! With more than 7 years of service to CMU, she brings unparalleled dedication and commitment to our mission.
Randi Rosati is promoted to the role of Human Resources Specialist and leads the payroll function as well as associate onboarding and recruitment. Randi has served CMU for more than 15 years and forms the dynamic duo of Sarah and Randi as the organizational glue that keeps us all together.
Jeremy Shaffer is promoted to the role of Director of Information Technology and leads our Help Desk team as well as driving the network, billing, and electronic health record systems. Jeremy has served CMU for more than 20 years and applies his vast technical skills along with a deep empathy for the work that we do each day.
Congratulations to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical/Medical Officer Yolanda Graham, M.D., FAPA, DFAACAP, who was recently elected president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s (AACAP) Regional Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (RCCAP) of Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.
Graham, who joined RCCAP in 2020, previously served as secretary (2021-23) and president-elect (2023-24), before being elected president in June 2024.
The mission of AACAP and its regional councils is to “promote the healthy development of children, adolescents and families through advocacy, education and research, and to meet the professional needs of child and adolescent psychiatrists throughout their careers.”
“I am honored to be elected president of RCCAP of Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey,” said Graham. “Taking on this esteemed leadership role will allow me to serve as a representative of our regional council at AACAP’s general assembly meetings where I can elevate issues that impact our field to a national level. This includes recommending policy changes, best practice guidelines and system of care reforms that will ultimately benefit Devereux and the individuals and families we serve.”
Strengthening outreach; increasing advocacy
In her new position, Graham hopes to further the critical mission of RCCAP and AACAP to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and adolescents throughout the region.
“Chief among my goals is to provide greater outreach to early career psychiatrists, encouraging their active participation in RCCAP and AACAP, and strengthen engagement with medical students to cultivate the next generation of child and adolescent psychiatrists,” explained Graham. “I also hope to increase advocacy for children and adolescents by partnering with other child-serving trade organizations. Finally, recognizing the importance of a strong and cohesive leadership team, I want to develop a comprehensive onboarding training program for all new RCCAP board members.”
Engaging youth, families
Prior to taking on her role as president of RCCAP of Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, Graham was invited by AACAP President Tammy Benton, M.D., to serve as lead author for a chapter in a compendium, titled “Bringing the village to the child: Addressing the crisis of children’s mental health.” The compendium was published in July 2024 in the journal, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America.
Graham’s chapter – “Engaging youth voice and family partnerships to improve children’s mental health outcomes” – focuses on promoting active participation of families and youth in mental health systems of care.
“Youth and families are the true experts on their own strengths, needs and preferences. By elevating their perspectives, we can ensure our interventions and support systems are meeting them where they are now,” Graham noted. “This collaborative approach fosters a heightened sense of investment and engagement with youth and parent peer supports, and can lead to improved outcomes and sustainable change. Prioritizing the inclusion of families and young people is an essential component of building a mental health system that works for everyone.”
Learn more about Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.
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