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HARRISBURG (January 22, 2021) — Governor Wolf announced today that he has nominated Alison Beam as the next Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Beam will succeed Dr. Rachel Levine, who was recently selected by President Biden as his Assistant Secretary of Health.
With many years of experience in the health care arena, one of Acting Secretary Beam’s first priorities will be executing the Department of Health COVID vaccination plan. Prior to her nomination as the Secretary of Health, Ms. Beam served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Tom Wolf.
RCPA President and CEO Richard S. Edley commented, “Acting Secretary Beam’s work with policy development, legislative initiatives, communications, and stakeholder engagement involving multiple state agencies will prove invaluable in helping Pennsylvania move forward to combat the current COVID crisis and all of its far-reaching implications for the health and human services community. As all PA citizens know, focus on and success in this area will be critical. RCPA extends our sincere congratulations and we are very optimistic as to what the future holds for this administration, and for the Commonwealth as a whole.”
Read the Governor’s official press release here.
About the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA):
With well over 350 members, the majority of who serve over 1 million Pennsylvanians annually, Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) is among the largest and most diverse state health and human services trade associations in the nation. RCPA provider members offer mental health, drug and alcohol, intellectual and developmental disabilities, children’s, brain injury, medical rehabilitation, and physical disabilities and aging services, through all settings and levels of care. Visit www.paproviders.org for more information.
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MEDIA, PENNSYLVANIA — CareLink Community Support Services announced today that Gary Woomer has been appointed Interim CEO of the nonprofit agency. Mr. Woomer, an experienced leader and mental healthcare professional, succeeded Eileen M. Joseph and assumed responsibilities on December 10, 2020. Ms. Joseph retired from CareLink after leading the agency for nearly 40 years.
“Eileen Joseph had been a part of CareLink since 1981 and steered the agency through phenomenal growth,” said CareLink Board Chair Scot Stetka. “We appreciate her contributions and wish her well.”
Mr. Woomer joined CareLink as a Program Director in 1999, and has since served as a Regional Director, Vice President of Program Operations, and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to his tenure at CareLink, Mr. Woomer was employed at Prime Care, Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
“Gary Woomer has been with CareLink for more than 20 years,” Mr. Stetka said. “He stepped into his new role equipped with a wealth of industry experience, strong leadership skills, and a comprehensive understanding of the agency. We are confident that he can maintain the momentum necessary to keep CareLink moving forward as Interim CEO.”
Mr. Woomer received an Executive Leadership Certificate from the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute at Bryn Mawr College in 2019, a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of St. Francis in 1998, and a bachelor’s in psychology from Shippensburg University in 1989. He is currently a member of the Philadelphia Alliance of MH/MR/SA Agencies, the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association, the Montgomery County Association for Excellence, and the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
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Since 1959, CareLink Community Support Services has been dedicated to providing people with mental illness and developmental disabilities with the caring support they need to live, work, and participate in the community with dignity and independence. Today, CareLink serves individuals in 33 community programs throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.
Media Contact:
Kate Rosin
CareLink Community Support Services
[email protected]
(610)-874-1119, ext. 613
www.carelinkservices.org
Lesley Corey, who brings with her a 29-year career in behavioral healthcare and developmental disabilities, will become the Executive Vice President/COO of Step By Step, Inc. effective January 4, 2021.