Innovation, Integration & The Future Of Mental Health Services In California
In the nearly eleven years since the passage of Prop 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the California Department of Mental Health (DMH) has had the opportunity to provide increased funding for a variety of innovative new mental health initiatives – everything from prevention and early intervention programs, to new technology and training. As the mental health system continues to evolve, the goals of the MHSA programs have continued to shift as well, with a renewed focus on integration and care coordination. To kick off the 2015 OPEN MINDS California Management Best Practices Institute, Dr. Toby Ewing, Executive Director, California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, will discuss the goals for the MHSA funding for the future and his insights on the changing California market.
Toby Ewing, Ph.D.
Toby Ewing, Ph.D., has served as a consultant to the California State Senate Governance and Finance Committee for the last four years. Ewing also served as Director of the California Research Bureau from 2009 to 2011. From 1999 to 2006, he was a Project Manager with the Little Hoover Commission, an independent body charged with improving government. During his tenure, Ewing was project manager for several reports on state policy issues including mental health and child welfare.
Ewing did his undergraduate studies at Grinnell College and received a Ph.D. in Sociology from Syracuse University. Honored as a Fulbright Scholar in the mid-1990s, he facilitated and documented a complex community development initiative in Costa Rica.
In February 2015, Dr. Ewing was announced as the new Executive Director of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.
Innovation, Integration & The Future Of Mental Health Services In California
In the nearly eleven years since the passage of Prop 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the California Department of Mental Health (DMH) has had the opportunity to provide increased funding for a variety of innovative new mental health initiatives – everything from prevention and early intervention programs, to new technology and training. As the mental health system continues to evolve, the goals of the MHSA programs have continued to shift as well, with a renewed focus on integration and care coordination. To kick off the 2015 OPEN MINDS California Management Best Practices Institute, Dr. Toby Ewing, Executive Director, California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, will discuss the goals for the MHSA funding for the future and his insights on the changing California market.
Toby Ewing, Ph.D.
Toby Ewing, Ph.D., has served as a consultant to the California State Senate Governance and Finance Committee for the last four years. Ewing also served as Director of the California Research Bureau from 2009 to 2011. From 1999 to 2006, he was a Project Manager with the Little Hoover Commission, an independent body charged with improving government. During his tenure, Ewing was project manager for several reports on state policy issues including mental health and child welfare.
Ewing did his undergraduate studies at Grinnell College and received a Ph.D. in Sociology from Syracuse University. Honored as a Fulbright Scholar in the mid-1990s, he facilitated and documented a complex community development initiative in Costa Rica.
In February 2015, Dr. Ewing was announced as the new Executive Director of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.
Strategic Planning Success: How To Find The Right Path For Your Organization In A Changing California Market
If you don't know where you’re going, any road will get you there; but in an increasingly competitive health care environment, your organization can’t afford to wander aimlessly. This session will provide you with a strategic planning "roadmap" that outlines the OPEN MINDS approach to successful strategic planning. We will review why organizations need an externally-focused, resource-based approach to strategic planning and the keys to success in strategic plan implementation.
Preparing For ICD-10 From The California Provider’s Perspective
Sponsored By Welligent
The date has finally been set. After years of problems and delays, on October 1, 2015, the U.S. health care system will officially transition to the ICD-10 coding system. The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 affects everything from clinical diagnoses, billing and contracts, to health information technology (HIT) and compliance standards. The question for provider organizations: are you prepared to make the switch? While the ICD-10 transition will provide some benefits, it presents new challenges to provider organizations. In this essential session, coding and billing experts will review the major changes and implications of the ICD-10 implementation and how this shift will effect California mental health and substance abuse providers. We’ll also hear from a California provider organization about their challenges and preparations for a successful transition to ICD-10.
Rachael Clausen
Rachael Clausen is the Executive Director of Information Technology at EMQ FamiliesFirst. In her role she provides leadership in the develop and advancement of the agency technology strategy with the goal to inform and improve client care and business operations. Rachael participates in external forums to advocate for the adoption of Electronic Health Records to improve coordination of care and reduce administrative burden. She has over 20 years of experience in the implementation of Electronic Medical Records and business technologies.
EMQ FamiliesFirst is one of the largest and most comprehensive mental health treatment programs in California serving over 20,000 children and their family members annually. In addition to foster and adoption programs, the agency provides a variety of services for children with mental health issues and/or behavioral problems caused by trauma, addiction or abuse, and for children whose family is in a crisis situation.
Lisette Wright, M.A., LP
Lisette Wright, M.A., Licensed Psychologist has over 20 years of experience in the health and human service industry. She currently works exclusively in the Health Information Technology sector helping organizations with EHR selections and complex implementations, system administration, ICD-10/DSM-5 transitions, coding and revenue cycle management, Meaningful Use, care delivery models, strategic planning, and IT Assessments. Educating the industry on Health Care Reform initiatives is also a part of her work. She is the author of the one-of-a-kind teaching curriculum titled: “ICD-10 and DSM-5: Coding, Documentation and Clinical Diagnostic Criteria”© that focuses on helping coders, administrators and clinicians understand the requirements of the code sets and the CMS regulations.
Barbara Klear
Barbara Klear has been helping customers implement Welligent EHR for almost 20 years. Barbara has industry-wide billing expertise and well-versed in the types of services delivered to youths and adults including: early intervention, special education, outpatient, and residential treatment. Her involvement with Medicaid and commercial billing began when she implemented the Virginia Medicaid school billing and the school/community health services grant programs in the 1990s. From a handwritten pink CMS 1500, to a sophisticated, web-based EDI billing system, Barbara has been involved in every phase of claims submission.
Barbara is a former teacher, case manager, counselor, and family mediation specialist. She coordinated residential treatment center placements and juvenile corrections placements, as well as provided aftercare supervision of youth in Norfolk, VA. Her community involvement ranges from serving on the Virginia Youth and Family Services Board, the Virginia Commission on Family Violence Prevention, and the Virginia Medicaid Board (BMAS), to her local Community Services Board, (behavioral health, substance abuse, and early intervention services). She was on the organizing committee that led to the development of the Virginia Comprehensive Services Act, which provides a single state pool of funds to purchase services for at-risk youth and families.
Welligent is a leading cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) system that is both mobile and secure. Welligent has successfully implemented some of the largest, multi-state organizations in more than 30 states. Wherever you are, Welligent provides documentation, scheduling, and medication and caseload management access from your desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Welligent provides the software tools needed to manage all programs, services and payors from one, integrated system. Our interoperable software is fully configurable and includes features and options such as clinical records, treatment plan libraries, forms management, ePrescribing, electronic billing, and dashboard reporting.
Managing With Metrics: The Executive’s Guide To Leading In A Numbers-Based Market
In our current era of technology and metrics, it’s likely that your management team has great performance data. Now the question is how do you use that data to improve your organization’s performance? In this session, we’ll review the cornerstones of data that organizations need to drive innovation, enhance care quality, and improve operational performance. We’ll cover how to develop a best practice performance reporting system and utilize your data to make better decisions for your organizations.
Integrated Care Management For The SMI Population: What The State of Arizona Can Teach California’s Medi-Cal System
Sponsored By Relias Learning
With the recent approval of the 1915(b) Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) waiver, California’s county-based mental health system will remain in place until at least 2020. But California is also looking ahead to promote more integration between mental health and physical health services through the Medi-Cal 2020 1115 waiver. Many states across the country have taken this approach to better manage and coordinate care for the mental health population. When the state of Arizona launched its Medicaid managed care program in the 1980s, it was the first state to enroll all beneficiaries in mandatory managed care – including mental health. Over the years, Arizona has continued to implement innovative integrated health care reform initiatives for consumer with chronic conditions. In this session, Dr. Don Fowls will discuss Arizona’s integration models for consumer with serious mental illness and other complex needs – and what the lessons learned in Arizona can show California as the state moves towards more integrated models of care.
Don Fowls, M.D.
Don Fowls, M.D., is a nationally known psychiatrist and health care consultant who provides consulting services for managed care, provider based and IT organizations. He is President of Don Fowls & Associates based in Scottsdale AZ. After completing his residency in psychiatry at UCLA, Dr. Fowls practiced psychiatry in Southern California for 10 years. He developed a large, behavioral health group practice and a provider-sponsored managed behavioral health organization that managed over 500,000 members. He was Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Business Development at Value Options and its parent company FHC Health Systems for eleven years. He then joined Schaller Anderson Inc. as Executive Vice President, business development, and President and CEO of its behavioral health subsidiary.
In addition to his consulting services, Dr. Fowls has helped develop FasPsych, a telepsychiatry company, and is a board member and advisor for community based behavioral health organizations. Particular areas of interest are the health reform, integration of medical and behavioral health, payment reform, and management of high needs populations.
Leslie Mariner
Ms. Mariner has over 25 years of business development experience in health and human services. Over the past decade, she has focused her efforts on the field’s growing e-learning and training market, including her current role with Relias Learning where she leads the development of educational contracts for large provider organizations and government agencies. Prior to this endeavor, Ms. Mariner worked as the director of business development for an electronic health record software company.
Having held executive management and operations positions with community mental health and social service agencies in several states, Ms. Mariner has diverse expertise in the behavioral health, Medicaid, child welfare, intellectual and developmental disabilities, addictions, and managed care industries. She was actively involved in Arizona’s early implementation of capitated Medicaid and was one of the early CEOs of a Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) when that system was first launched. Ms. Mariner was also heavily involved in the development and implementation of the Washington D.C. Medicaid Rehabilitation waiver program and has extensive business development and sales experience with many leading national managed care organizations. She has worked as a national, senior level consultant for government entities and private sector organizations. Ms. Mariner holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work and a Masters in Business Management.
Lunch Break
Lunch On Your Own
Maximizing Your Team’s Performance: A Look At Productivity Management & Performance-Based Compensation Models
Like all service organizations, the single largest expense for health and human service organizations is talent, and the ability to manage your team effectively is a “must have” competency for organizational success. Adopting a performance-based compensation model can sometimes be the best way to ensure that you are getting the best return-on-investment (ROI) when it comes to your staff. In this session, we will discuss best practices in performance-based compensation and productivity metrics, and the major policy issues regulating these practices in the California system.
Azuree Morris, M.Ed.
Accomplished Human Resources Leader with over 17 years of expertise partnering with executive teams during successful strategic growth, outsourcing, and downsizing to accomplish changing business objectives. Ability to proactively integrate Human Resources initiatives to create a compelling and engaging company culture to drive organizational goals.
Experience working for high growth companies across behavioral health/social services and legal/professional services industries, providing both a strategic and hands-on approach to implementing human resources solutions and programs.
Ms. Morris received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Fisk University and her Masters in Human Resources Development from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Ms. Morris is active in the human resources community and has served in various volunteer capacities including Member of the Legislative Committee for the San Diego Society of Human Resources Management.
Trisha Zulic, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Trisha Zulic-SPHR, a 20+ year veteran of human resources, is a Regional Director of Human Resources for Efficient Edge.
Efficient Edge is a Human Resource Outsourcing Company performing human resource services and benefits enrollment for companies of all sizes nationwide, headquartered in San Diego, California. Trisha is the California State Director of Membership for Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), SHRM National Technology Panel Member and the former Chair of the SHRM National Conference, attended by more than 15,000 human resource professionals. Trisha is also on the Board of Advisors for Employee Benefits Adviser Magazine and been interviewed by many media sources.
Trisha’s demeanor is professional, polished and humorous with a “tell it like it is” style. She has become a well known speaker in the leadership and sales community.
Dave Carothers, J.D.
Dave Carothers represents employers in California as lead trial counsel involving single plaintiff and large complex actions including representative actions, class actions and coordinated actions, often involving hundreds of claimants. He has tried more than 75 cases to verdict in jurisdictions throughout California and has successfully defended employers in more than 50 jury trials against claims of wrongful termination, sexual harassment, breach of contract, ADA, wage and hour violations and discrimination. Drawing upon his trial experience, Carothers also advises management teams on how to be proactive, execute preventive strategies in the human resources area, and achieve positive and productive work place environments.
Navigating The Challenges Of Serving Individuals With Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities: An Update On The Transitioning California Market
Like many states, when it comes to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), California is in the midst of a transition. Over the past few years, developmental centers have been closing as more residents have been transitioned into the community and renewed efforts have focused on preventing individuals from going into institutions. This has resulted in new types of services, facilities, and partnerships – including crisis behavioral health homes for people transitioning out of institutions; programs and facilities for individuals involved with the criminal justice system who may be a danger to themselves and/or others; and services for individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI), as well as an IDD. During this session, we will discuss these system changes with the directors of three of California’s Regional Centers. We will learn about how these changes have impacted their organizations, the opportunities they see for partnership with the behavioral health system, and their thoughts on the future of the IDD market in California.
Richard Louis, III
Richard Louis, III, brings extensive experience in public and for-profit behavioral healthcare administration and business development to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Louis was formerly the Executive Director of Strategic Development and Planning, Pacific Region, for Providence Service Corporation.
Prior to OPEN MINDS, Mr. Louis served as the Assistant Director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, the 4th largest county behavioral health system in California, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations of a system serving over 50,000 unduplicated consumers annually through 31 county-operated facilities and 60 contract provider organizations.
Prior to his work with San Bernardino County, Mr. Louis was the Vice President of Government Operations for College Health Enterprises. In this role, he pioneered the development of public sector partnerships, contracts, and community mental health system joint ventures in California by creating some of the first inpatient psychiatric hospital-based, outpatient, day treatment, and institutional specialty treatment programs for county, state, and federal government agencies including L.A. County Department of Mental Health, L.A. County Probation Department, California Youth Authority, California Department of Developmental Disabilities, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security.
Mr. Louis has served in a number of leadership roles with several organizations in the community including: the California Hospital Association – Center for Behavioral Health, Advisory Board, and SCAN Health Plan – Advisory Board; the Board of Directors of the Forensic Mental Health Association of California, College Hospitals, and the Intercommunity Child Guidance Center of Whittier; and testified on behalf of the National Association of Psychiatric Healthcare Systems before President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Mr. Louis is currently a volunteer police officer with the City of Monterey Park Police Department in East Los Angeles serving since 1987 and currently holds the rank of Captain. Mr. Louis was recently appointed to the City of Claremont Police Commission in Los Angeles County.
He is a graduate of Whittier College and of the Police Academy of Rio Hondo College.
Carlos Flores
Carlos Flores is the Executive Director of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Developmental Services, Inc. (SDICDSI) and of SDICDSI’s largest program, the San Diego Regional Center for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, Mr. Flores was the Associate Executive Director of the San Diego Regional Center. His experience also includes a Governor’s appointment to manage the Prevention and Children’s Services Branch of the California Department of Developmental Services and California’s Early Start Program; Executive Director of the Redwood Coast Regional Center in Eureka, California; and, Executive Director of the Developmental Disabilities Area Board 10 in Los Angeles County. Mr. Flores also worked as a Program Manager and Service Coordinator for the East Los Angeles and Westside Regional Centers. Mr. Flores has worked in the field of developmental disabilities for almost 40 years.
Eve Rasmussen, M.S., BCBA
Eve Rasmussen has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for 25 years. She began working with children with autism in 1996. She holds a Master’s Degree in ABA from St. Cloud University. She has extensive training and experience in specialized ABA techniques including DTT, PECS, Positive Behavior Support, and PRT. She has provided consultation in classrooms and for in-home programs. She has conducted numerous workshops for school district personnel. Eve has also served as an adjunct professor for the University of West Florida.
Increasing Challenges & Opportunities In The California Children’s Service Market
The child welfare system presents challenges for citizens, government executives, legislators, and service providers – vulnerable children and families, varying measures of outcomes and performance, large budgets, and a complicated regulatory environment. In this session, we will discuss the proposed changes to the California child welfare system financing – and its likely impact on children, families, and the service providers.
Howard Shiffman
Mr. Shiffman has over 30 years of successful organizational and business experience in human service fields including expertise in executive management, strategic planning, business development, finance, marketing, market intelligence research, fundraising, and board development. He has hands-on expertise that comes from successful management and consulting with a number of programs. Prior to joining OPEN MINDS Mr. Shiffman served as Chief Executive Officer of Griffith Centers for Children, a COA-accredited, full-service treatment program for severely troubled youth and their families. He also developed one of the first offense-specific sex offender program in the United States.
Joseph M. Costa
Joseph Costa has been the Chief Executive Officer of Hillsides since 2010, a Pasadena charity that creates lasting change for vulnerable children and their families. Acknowledged as a leader in the child welfare community, Joe was selected by his peers in 2011 to serve as the Chairman of the Child Welfare League of America. He was previously on the governing body of California Alliance for Child and Family Services. He is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Joe earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and social services in 1973 from St. John’s Seminary College in Boston. In 1977, he earned his master’s degree in divinity from St. John’s Seminary, School of Theology before earning another master’s degree in social work from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work in 1986.
Debra Zanders-Willis
Debra Zanders-Willis was appointed as the Director of Child Welfare Services for the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency in March 2009, the second largest County in California. She began her career with the County of San Diego in 1989 as a Protective Services Worker, conducting child abuse investigations and assisting families to reunify with their children. During her career with the County of San Diego Ms. Zanders-Willis worked as a supervisor in adoptions, a program manager in the Central Region and an Assistant Deputy Director overseeing multiple centralized programs; the child abuse hotline, foster care/foster home licensing, county adoptions, Drug Endangered Children and Family to Family Initiatives.
Prior to her appointment as Child Welfare Director, Ms. Zanders-Willis left the County and served as the Chief Operating Officer for the YWCA of San Diego. In her role with this 100 year old organization, Ms. Zanders-Willis was responsible for programs that served victims of domestic violence and homeless families.
Ms. Zanders-Willis participates on a number of advisory boards, including The California Evidenced-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), the Chadwick Trauma-Informed Systems Project (CTISP) and serves on the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA) Executive Committee. In addition, Ms. Zanders-Willis is the Chair of the Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council (CAPCC) as well as a member of the San Diego State University School of Social Work Advisory Committee.
Ms. Zanders-Willis received National honors in 2013 when she received the Casey Family Programs Child Welfare Director Excellence in Leadership award.
A resident of San Diego, Ms. Zanders-Willis earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. She earned her Master’s in Counselor Education at San Diego State University.
Richard Knecht, M.S.
Richard Knecht, M.S., has spent the last decade serving as the Director of Placer County’s Children’s System of Care, California’s oldest fully integrated public child and family service organization. Prior to Placer, he served as Sr. Vice President at the River Oak Center for Children, overseeing program management and quality improvement, and where he lead the agency’s initial JCAHO accreditation success. Richard previously worked briefly with United Behavioral Healthcare, and Community Psychiatric Centers, serving as Chief Operating Officer at a large free-standing behavioral health hospital in Salt Lake City.
Richard serves as Chair of the Board of Director’s at ifoster, the country’s online resource portal for Foster and Kinship care youth and their providers. He has recently been appointed to assist the Departments of Health Care and Social Service’s as the state’s Transformation Manager, under it’s Katie A. versus Bonta settlement agreement.
Maximizing Your Team’s Performance: A Look At Productivity Management & Performance-Based Compensation Models
Like all service organizations, the single largest expense for health and human service organizations is talent, and the ability to manage your team effectively is a “must have” competency for organizational success. Adopting a performance-based compensation model can sometimes be the best way to ensure that you are getting the best return-on-investment (ROI) when it comes to your staff. In this session, we will discuss best practices in performance-based compensation and productivity metrics, and the major policy issues regulating these practices in the California system.
Azuree Morris, M.Ed.
Accomplished Human Resources Leader with over 17 years of expertise partnering with executive teams during successful strategic growth, outsourcing, and downsizing to accomplish changing business objectives. Ability to proactively integrate Human Resources initiatives to create a compelling and engaging company culture to drive organizational goals.
Experience working for high growth companies across behavioral health/social services and legal/professional services industries, providing both a strategic and hands-on approach to implementing human resources solutions and programs.
Ms. Morris received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Fisk University and her Masters in Human Resources Development from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Ms. Morris is active in the human resources community and has served in various volunteer capacities including Member of the Legislative Committee for the San Diego Society of Human Resources Management.
Trisha Zulic, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Trisha Zulic-SPHR, a 20+ year veteran of human resources, is a Regional Director of Human Resources for Efficient Edge.
Efficient Edge is a Human Resource Outsourcing Company performing human resource services and benefits enrollment for companies of all sizes nationwide, headquartered in San Diego, California. Trisha is the California State Director of Membership for Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), SHRM National Technology Panel Member and the former Chair of the SHRM National Conference, attended by more than 15,000 human resource professionals. Trisha is also on the Board of Advisors for Employee Benefits Adviser Magazine and been interviewed by many media sources.
Trisha’s demeanor is professional, polished and humorous with a “tell it like it is” style. She has become a well known speaker in the leadership and sales community.
Dave Carothers, J.D.
Dave Carothers represents employers in California as lead trial counsel involving single plaintiff and large complex actions including representative actions, class actions and coordinated actions, often involving hundreds of claimants. He has tried more than 75 cases to verdict in jurisdictions throughout California and has successfully defended employers in more than 50 jury trials against claims of wrongful termination, sexual harassment, breach of contract, ADA, wage and hour violations and discrimination. Drawing upon his trial experience, Carothers also advises management teams on how to be proactive, execute preventive strategies in the human resources area, and achieve positive and productive work place environments.
Navigating The Challenges Of Serving Individuals With Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities: An Update On The Transitioning California Market
Like many states, when it comes to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), California is in the midst of a transition. Over the past few years, developmental centers have been closing as more residents have been transitioned into the community and renewed efforts have focused on preventing individuals from going into institutions. This has resulted in new types of services, facilities, and partnerships – including crisis behavioral health homes for people transitioning out of institutions; programs and facilities for individuals involved with the criminal justice system who may be a danger to themselves and/or others; and services for individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI), as well as an IDD. During this session, we will discuss these system changes with the directors of three of California’s Regional Centers. We will learn about how these changes have impacted their organizations, the opportunities they see for partnership with the behavioral health system, and their thoughts on the future of the IDD market in California.
Richard Louis, III
Richard Louis, III, brings extensive experience in public and for-profit behavioral healthcare administration and business development to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Louis was formerly the Executive Director of Strategic Development and Planning, Pacific Region, for Providence Service Corporation.
Prior to OPEN MINDS, Mr. Louis served as the Assistant Director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, the 4th largest county behavioral health system in California, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations of a system serving over 50,000 unduplicated consumers annually through 31 county-operated facilities and 60 contract provider organizations.
Prior to his work with San Bernardino County, Mr. Louis was the Vice President of Government Operations for College Health Enterprises. In this role, he pioneered the development of public sector partnerships, contracts, and community mental health system joint ventures in California by creating some of the first inpatient psychiatric hospital-based, outpatient, day treatment, and institutional specialty treatment programs for county, state, and federal government agencies including L.A. County Department of Mental Health, L.A. County Probation Department, California Youth Authority, California Department of Developmental Disabilities, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security.
Mr. Louis has served in a number of leadership roles with several organizations in the community including: the California Hospital Association – Center for Behavioral Health, Advisory Board, and SCAN Health Plan – Advisory Board; the Board of Directors of the Forensic Mental Health Association of California, College Hospitals, and the Intercommunity Child Guidance Center of Whittier; and testified on behalf of the National Association of Psychiatric Healthcare Systems before President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Mr. Louis is currently a volunteer police officer with the City of Monterey Park Police Department in East Los Angeles serving since 1987 and currently holds the rank of Captain. Mr. Louis was recently appointed to the City of Claremont Police Commission in Los Angeles County.
He is a graduate of Whittier College and of the Police Academy of Rio Hondo College.
Carlos Flores
Carlos Flores is the Executive Director of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Developmental Services, Inc. (SDICDSI) and of SDICDSI’s largest program, the San Diego Regional Center for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, Mr. Flores was the Associate Executive Director of the San Diego Regional Center. His experience also includes a Governor’s appointment to manage the Prevention and Children’s Services Branch of the California Department of Developmental Services and California’s Early Start Program; Executive Director of the Redwood Coast Regional Center in Eureka, California; and, Executive Director of the Developmental Disabilities Area Board 10 in Los Angeles County. Mr. Flores also worked as a Program Manager and Service Coordinator for the East Los Angeles and Westside Regional Centers. Mr. Flores has worked in the field of developmental disabilities for almost 40 years.
Eve Rasmussen, M.S., BCBA
Eve Rasmussen has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis for 25 years. She began working with children with autism in 1996. She holds a Master’s Degree in ABA from St. Cloud University. She has extensive training and experience in specialized ABA techniques including DTT, PECS, Positive Behavior Support, and PRT. She has provided consultation in classrooms and for in-home programs. She has conducted numerous workshops for school district personnel. Eve has also served as an adjunct professor for the University of West Florida.
Increasing Challenges & Opportunities In The California Children’s Service Market
The child welfare system presents challenges for citizens, government executives, legislators, and service providers – vulnerable children and families, varying measures of outcomes and performance, large budgets, and a complicated regulatory environment. In this session, we will discuss the proposed changes to the California child welfare system financing – and its likely impact on children, families, and the service providers.
Howard Shiffman
Mr. Shiffman has over 30 years of successful organizational and business experience in human service fields including expertise in executive management, strategic planning, business development, finance, marketing, market intelligence research, fundraising, and board development. He has hands-on expertise that comes from successful management and consulting with a number of programs. Prior to joining OPEN MINDS Mr. Shiffman served as Chief Executive Officer of Griffith Centers for Children, a COA-accredited, full-service treatment program for severely troubled youth and their families. He also developed one of the first offense-specific sex offender program in the United States.
Joseph M. Costa
Joseph Costa has been the Chief Executive Officer of Hillsides since 2010, a Pasadena charity that creates lasting change for vulnerable children and their families. Acknowledged as a leader in the child welfare community, Joe was selected by his peers in 2011 to serve as the Chairman of the Child Welfare League of America. He was previously on the governing body of California Alliance for Child and Family Services. He is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Joe earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and social services in 1973 from St. John’s Seminary College in Boston. In 1977, he earned his master’s degree in divinity from St. John’s Seminary, School of Theology before earning another master’s degree in social work from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work in 1986.
Debra Zanders-Willis
Debra Zanders-Willis was appointed as the Director of Child Welfare Services for the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency in March 2009, the second largest County in California. She began her career with the County of San Diego in 1989 as a Protective Services Worker, conducting child abuse investigations and assisting families to reunify with their children. During her career with the County of San Diego Ms. Zanders-Willis worked as a supervisor in adoptions, a program manager in the Central Region and an Assistant Deputy Director overseeing multiple centralized programs; the child abuse hotline, foster care/foster home licensing, county adoptions, Drug Endangered Children and Family to Family Initiatives.
Prior to her appointment as Child Welfare Director, Ms. Zanders-Willis left the County and served as the Chief Operating Officer for the YWCA of San Diego. In her role with this 100 year old organization, Ms. Zanders-Willis was responsible for programs that served victims of domestic violence and homeless families.
Ms. Zanders-Willis participates on a number of advisory boards, including The California Evidenced-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), the Chadwick Trauma-Informed Systems Project (CTISP) and serves on the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA) Executive Committee. In addition, Ms. Zanders-Willis is the Chair of the Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council (CAPCC) as well as a member of the San Diego State University School of Social Work Advisory Committee.
Ms. Zanders-Willis received National honors in 2013 when she received the Casey Family Programs Child Welfare Director Excellence in Leadership award.
A resident of San Diego, Ms. Zanders-Willis earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. She earned her Master’s in Counselor Education at San Diego State University.
Richard Knecht, M.S.
Richard Knecht, M.S., has spent the last decade serving as the Director of Placer County’s Children’s System of Care, California’s oldest fully integrated public child and family service organization. Prior to Placer, he served as Sr. Vice President at the River Oak Center for Children, overseeing program management and quality improvement, and where he lead the agency’s initial JCAHO accreditation success. Richard previously worked briefly with United Behavioral Healthcare, and Community Psychiatric Centers, serving as Chief Operating Officer at a large free-standing behavioral health hospital in Salt Lake City.
Richard serves as Chair of the Board of Director’s at ifoster, the country’s online resource portal for Foster and Kinship care youth and their providers. He has recently been appointed to assist the Departments of Health Care and Social Service’s as the state’s Transformation Manager, under it’s Katie A. versus Bonta settlement agreement.
The Inside Perspective On Health Homes: How Other State’s Experiences Can Help California To Prepare For Health Homes
As of March 2015, 16 states had adopted Medicaid health homes and another eight have started the design and approval process for implementing health homes in their states. This is a trend that we expect to continue, as more states look to medical and health homes as their preferred model of care coordination. As California begins to explore the use of the health home model, what can providers expect? In this session, we’ll hear from officials working on the health home initiative in California, and from states that have successfully implemented health homes – and discuss their challenges, their outcomes, and their plans for the future.
George Braunstein, M.A., FACHE
George Braunstein, FACHE, M.A., Senior Associate, brings more than 35 years of experience in leading both private and public sector health and human services organizations – in both institutional and ambulatory settings.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Braunstein served as executive director of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) in Fairfax, Virginia, which provides community-based mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabled services. During his six-year tenure with the CSB, which had a $150+ million budget and over 1,200 employees, he both reduced the budget and increased service access. Mr. Braunstein also developed the organization’s first fully integrated service model that is combined mental health, substance use treatment and primary care services.
Before his role in Fairfax County, Mr. Braunstein was the executive director of the Chesterfield County CSB. In his eight years in that role, he restructured management to flatten the organization, which improved both service and budget performance and eliminated a $1.5 million deficit with no reductions in staff.
Mr. Braunstein also served as the head of behavioral health for Aurora Healthcare in Milwaukee – the largest integrated healthcare system in Wisconsin with 13 hospitals, 20,000 employees and $1.5 billion in annual revenue. He was responsible for the management of all aspects of a $40 million dollar, 800-employee multi-site integrated behavioral health service delivery system. And, Mr. Braunstein brings managed care experience to the OPEN MINDS team, having served as the director of behavioral health for Family Health Plan Cooperative, a Wisconsin HMO.
Well respected in the behavioral health community, Mr. Braunstein has served on several boards of local and national associations including the SAMHSA National Leadership Council, and the National Association of Community Behavioral Health. He is also a fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Mr. Braunstein received his Master of Science in Community Mental Health Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in History Education from Rockford College. Additionally, Mr. Braunstein completed psychotherapy training from the Family Studies Center at Northwestern University.
Morgan Cole, MPP
Morgan Cole is a Program Associate with the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Child Welfare Strategy group, providing strategic consulting and technical assistance to child welfare agencies. Prior to her current position, Ms. Cole was the Lead Health Policy Analyst with Maryland Medicaid’s Behavioral Health Division, where she led the development and implementation of statewide behavioral health initiatives including Health Homes and the 1915(i) Intensive Services for Children and Youth, as well as supporting Maryland’s integration of mental health and substance use disorder services.
Ms. Cole received a BA from Dartmouth College and a Master of Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University. She has worked internationally and domestically with non-profit organizations, rural health practices and State government to increase access to health and social support services in underserved communities.
Natalie Fornelli, M.S.
Natalie Fornelli joined the Missouri Department of Mental Health in 2008 after working for community mental health providers in Kansas, Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri. She is the Manager of Integrated Care for the Division of Behavioral Health and oversees the Community Mental Health Center Healthcare Home program, the behavioral health Disease Management Projects, and behavioral health crisis services, including Access Crisis Intervention and Emergency Room Enhancement. Natalie received her bachelor of arts in psychology and her master of science in clinical psychology from Pittsburg State University.
Rick Hoffmeister, BSN, RN
Rick Hoffmeister is a registered nurse with over 25 years nursing experience with acute and residential psychiatric nursing, home health nursing, hospice case management and long term care. Prior to coming back to State employment, he was a Clinical Care Coordinator for Kansas Health Solutions which managed the mental health benefits for Kansas Medicaid members. Mr. Hoffmeister currently works as the Health Homes Manager for the State of Kansas and is on the State team that is working on the implementation of Health Homes in Kansas.
Mental Health & The California Criminal Justice System: Moving Justice-Involved Consumers Into The Community
Overcrowding. Lack of services for inmates with mental health and substance abuse issues. Inability to provide adequate accommodations to inmates with disabilities. These issues are not unique to the California corrections system. States across the country are facing these same issues; however, California has been in the national spotlight since 2009 when the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the state to reduce its prison population, and the state responded with a major system realignment. In this important session, we’ll discuss how the corrections realignment is affecting counties, how the criminal justice system is working with offenders who have behavioral health issues, and hear from organizations serving the justice-involved population in the community – both through reentry and diversion programs.
Richard Louis, III
Richard Louis, III, brings extensive experience in public and for-profit behavioral healthcare administration and business development to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Louis was formerly the Executive Director of Strategic Development and Planning, Pacific Region, for Providence Service Corporation.
Prior to OPEN MINDS, Mr. Louis served as the Assistant Director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, the 4th largest county behavioral health system in California, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations of a system serving over 50,000 unduplicated consumers annually through 31 county-operated facilities and 60 contract provider organizations.
Prior to his work with San Bernardino County, Mr. Louis was the Vice President of Government Operations for College Health Enterprises. In this role, he pioneered the development of public sector partnerships, contracts, and community mental health system joint ventures in California by creating some of the first inpatient psychiatric hospital-based, outpatient, day treatment, and institutional specialty treatment programs for county, state, and federal government agencies including L.A. County Department of Mental Health, L.A. County Probation Department, California Youth Authority, California Department of Developmental Disabilities, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security.
Mr. Louis has served in a number of leadership roles with several organizations in the community including: the California Hospital Association – Center for Behavioral Health, Advisory Board, and SCAN Health Plan – Advisory Board; the Board of Directors of the Forensic Mental Health Association of California, College Hospitals, and the Intercommunity Child Guidance Center of Whittier; and testified on behalf of the National Association of Psychiatric Healthcare Systems before President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Mr. Louis is currently a volunteer police officer with the City of Monterey Park Police Department in East Los Angeles serving since 1987 and currently holds the rank of Captain. Mr. Louis was recently appointed to the City of Claremont Police Commission in Los Angeles County.
He is a graduate of Whittier College and of the Police Academy of Rio Hondo College.
Emmett “Tray” Thomason, LMFT
Emmett L “Tray” Thomason is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and Vice President of Clinical Services for Mental Health Systems, Inc. In addition to oversight of employment and mental health programs, Tray also supervises the San Diego Re-Entry Treatment Program, the case management and treatment provider for the San Diego County Superior Court Reentry Drug Court. Tray began his career as a mental health clinician at North County Serenity House, a residential AOD treatment facility for women and children. After completing his clinical training, Tray joined Mental Health Systems as a Lead Clinician in 2012, and quickly rose through the ranks, serving as Lead Clinician, Program Manager, and Vice President. Tray is passionate about improving the lives of the individuals and families served by his programs by adopting emerging best practices in treatment, and encouraging his staff to focus on individualized, effective treatment.
Donna Demerjian, Ph.D., LCSW
Donna Demerjian is a Regional Director with Providence Human Services. Donna oversees multiple mental health programs within Orange County, including county-contracted and commercial contracts. Donna brings diverse experience to her role within Providence, including over 27 years of direct service, program management and program development in a variety of settings, including inpatient, state hospitals, residential treatment centers and outpatient clinics. With a background in implementing and managing Full Service Partnerships, Donna has expertise in providing mental health services to clients with severe mental illness and coexisting substance abuse disorders within an integrated care framework.
David M. Richardson, Ph.D., HAS
Dr. Richardson joins Phoenix Houses of California after a long and highly successful domestic career in health care leadership that includes graduate medical education (Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science), correctional health care (Prison Health Service) behavioral healthcare management (Sunshine Health Center), managed health care operations (Kaiser Foundation Hospitals) and consultancy with community based agencies (Secure Treatment and Evaluation Program Services). Most recently, David was principle consultant with Dr. David M. Richardson and Associates a west coast firm. In addition to health care management expertise Dr. Richardson has specialized training in conflict and alternative dispute resolution. Embedded as an organizational Ombudsman he worked with physicians and their patients to resolve disputes related to health care and adverse outcomes while at Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Richardson holds/held the following certifications:
- Certified Health Services Administrator – American Correctional Association
- Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner - International Ombudsman Association
- Certified Correctional Health Professional - National Commission on Correctional Health Care
- Certified Mental Health Administrator - Association of Mental Health Administrators
- Diplomat - American College of Health Care Executive
A true advocate for children, David has published a book on dating written for teen age boys, The Play Book: 101 Things Every Player Should Know About Dating, Girls & Relationships (2011), a companion book for girls in the works, The Script: 101 Things Every Princess Should Know About Dating, Frogs & Relationships (In Press). Dr. Richardson earned a PhD in Counseling and is working on a MBA.
Mental Health & The California Criminal Justice System: Moving Justice-Involved Consumers Into The Community
Overcrowding. Lack of services for inmates with mental health and substance abuse issues. Inability to provide adequate accommodations to inmates with disabilities. These issues are not unique to the California corrections system. States across the country are facing these same issues; however, California has been in the national spotlight since 2009 when the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the state to reduce its prison population, and the state responded with a major system realignment. In this important session, we’ll discuss how the corrections realignment is affecting counties, how the criminal justice system is working with offenders who have behavioral health issues, and hear from organizations serving the justice-involved population in the community – both through reentry and diversion programs.
Richard Louis, III
Richard Louis, III, brings extensive experience in public and for-profit behavioral healthcare administration and business development to the OPEN MINDS team. Mr. Louis was formerly the Executive Director of Strategic Development and Planning, Pacific Region, for Providence Service Corporation.
Prior to OPEN MINDS, Mr. Louis served as the Assistant Director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, the 4th largest county behavioral health system in California, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations of a system serving over 50,000 unduplicated consumers annually through 31 county-operated facilities and 60 contract provider organizations.
Prior to his work with San Bernardino County, Mr. Louis was the Vice President of Government Operations for College Health Enterprises. In this role, he pioneered the development of public sector partnerships, contracts, and community mental health system joint ventures in California by creating some of the first inpatient psychiatric hospital-based, outpatient, day treatment, and institutional specialty treatment programs for county, state, and federal government agencies including L.A. County Department of Mental Health, L.A. County Probation Department, California Youth Authority, California Department of Developmental Disabilities, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security.
Mr. Louis has served in a number of leadership roles with several organizations in the community including: the California Hospital Association – Center for Behavioral Health, Advisory Board, and SCAN Health Plan – Advisory Board; the Board of Directors of the Forensic Mental Health Association of California, College Hospitals, and the Intercommunity Child Guidance Center of Whittier; and testified on behalf of the National Association of Psychiatric Healthcare Systems before President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Mr. Louis is currently a volunteer police officer with the City of Monterey Park Police Department in East Los Angeles serving since 1987 and currently holds the rank of Captain. Mr. Louis was recently appointed to the City of Claremont Police Commission in Los Angeles County.
He is a graduate of Whittier College and of the Police Academy of Rio Hondo College.
Emmett “Tray” Thomason, LMFT
Emmett L “Tray” Thomason is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and Vice President of Clinical Services for Mental Health Systems, Inc. In addition to oversight of employment and mental health programs, Tray also supervises the San Diego Re-Entry Treatment Program, the case management and treatment provider for the San Diego County Superior Court Reentry Drug Court. Tray began his career as a mental health clinician at North County Serenity House, a residential AOD treatment facility for women and children. After completing his clinical training, Tray joined Mental Health Systems as a Lead Clinician in 2012, and quickly rose through the ranks, serving as Lead Clinician, Program Manager, and Vice President. Tray is passionate about improving the lives of the individuals and families served by his programs by adopting emerging best practices in treatment, and encouraging his staff to focus on individualized, effective treatment.
Donna Demerjian, Ph.D., LCSW
Donna Demerjian is a Regional Director with Providence Human Services. Donna oversees multiple mental health programs within Orange County, including county-contracted and commercial contracts. Donna brings diverse experience to her role within Providence, including over 27 years of direct service, program management and program development in a variety of settings, including inpatient, state hospitals, residential treatment centers and outpatient clinics. With a background in implementing and managing Full Service Partnerships, Donna has expertise in providing mental health services to clients with severe mental illness and coexisting substance abuse disorders within an integrated care framework.
David M. Richardson, Ph.D., HAS
Dr. Richardson joins Phoenix Houses of California after a long and highly successful domestic career in health care leadership that includes graduate medical education (Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science), correctional health care (Prison Health Service) behavioral healthcare management (Sunshine Health Center), managed health care operations (Kaiser Foundation Hospitals) and consultancy with community based agencies (Secure Treatment and Evaluation Program Services). Most recently, David was principle consultant with Dr. David M. Richardson and Associates a west coast firm. In addition to health care management expertise Dr. Richardson has specialized training in conflict and alternative dispute resolution. Embedded as an organizational Ombudsman he worked with physicians and their patients to resolve disputes related to health care and adverse outcomes while at Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Richardson holds/held the following certifications:
- Certified Health Services Administrator – American Correctional Association
- Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner - International Ombudsman Association
- Certified Correctional Health Professional - National Commission on Correctional Health Care
- Certified Mental Health Administrator - Association of Mental Health Administrators
- Diplomat - American College of Health Care Executive
A true advocate for children, David has published a book on dating written for teen age boys, The Play Book: 101 Things Every Player Should Know About Dating, Girls & Relationships (2011), a companion book for girls in the works, The Script: 101 Things Every Princess Should Know About Dating, Frogs & Relationships (In Press). Dr. Richardson earned a PhD in Counseling and is working on a MBA.
Running A Successful Marketing Program Online: How To Use Your Website & Social Media To Your Advantage
Having a contract with a managed care company is no longer enough. With health care reform creating more choices for consumers, the effectiveness of a provider organization’s website and “online presence” (ranking, reputation, social media buzz, etc.) is more important than ever. Regardless of whether you are trying to draw in new consumers or build long-lasting relationships with existing consumers, your “online brand” (how you’re being perceived online) will be a determining factor in your success. Join us for this interactive session led by OPEN MINDS Executive Vice President of Marketing, Tim Snyder, where we explore best practices in online consumer marketing and social media and hear from health and human service provider organizations doing it right.
Timothy Snyder, Jr.
Timothy G. Snyder, Jr. brings a unique combination of marketing, business development, and online media expertise to OPEN MINDS. Since joining our team in 2008, Mr. Snyder has led over twenty strategic marketing and sales-focused projects, including comprehensive product launch initiatives, corporate re-branding/positioning projects, and website/online marketing programs for some of the largest and most influential pharmaceutical and technology organizations in the industry. In addition to his work in the consulting practice, Mr. Snyder currently oversees the marketing, public relations, and sales divisions of OPEN MINDS.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Snyder served as OPEN MINDS Vice President Of Marketing. During this time he was led the successful launch of multiple new product offerings, the re-design of the OPEN MINDS website, and the launch of PsychU.org – a free online community and resource center for professionals in the mental health community.
Mr. Snyder is a 2008 graduate of the AACSB Internationally accredited John L. Grove College of Business at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in both Marketing Communications and Business Management.
Steve Elson, Ph.D.
Bio Coming Soon!
How To Partner & Compete With FQHCs: A Guide For Community Mental Health Provider Organizations
The changes brought to the health care landscape by health care reform—a reduced uninsured population, more Medicaid managed care, the focus on primary care, increased consolidation—have left most stakeholder organizations reevaluating their role in the health care system, including the national system of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). FQHCs, as a group, are expanding their primary care capacity and delivering more behavioral health services – with some evolving into a medical home role. As mental health organizations consider offering integrated primary care/behavioral health services, whether to work with or compete with FQHCs or one of the many FQHC-like organizations, is a big question. In this session, we’ll discuss the changing role of FQHCs in the California market, how their larger role in the system poses challenges for mental health organizations, and the best approach to working (or competing) with FQHCs in your area.
Steve Ramsland, Ed.D.
Steven Ramsland, Ed.D., Senior Associate, has more than 25 years of experience in the development and delivery of health and human service programs. He has held senior leadership positions in the development of several innovative service systems including Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs, a primary care provider network, several national managed behavioral health initiatives, and innovative community programming.
Dr. Ramsland recently served as chief executive officer at Redwood Community Health, a network of 17 community health centers, with over 40 sites in northern California. The organization provides primary care, behavioral health and oral health to over 240,000 patients each year. While at Redwood he managed the implementation of an ACO, a capitated Medicaid managed care contract, and a pay-for-performance quality improvement program.
Prior to this, he was the executive director of Buckelew Programs, a leading provider of community-based, recovery-oriented behavioral health programs in Northern California. The organization provides supported housing and employment, and recovery supports, as well as two social enterprise businesses.
Dr. Ramsland was previously vice president and practice leader for United Behavioral Health’s Public Sector Practice (now Optum). In that role, he analyzed opportunities and implemented strategies to expand public sector business – and collaborated with executive leadership at United to design and build organizational capabilities in public sector behavioral health, disease management, and consumer-directed care to support revenue growth.
In addition to his work with Optum, Dr. Ramsland also served as the chief development officer and Public Sector President for Comprehensive Behavioral Care, and as vice president, Government Programs, for ValueOptions. He has worked with government policy leaders throughout the nation to develop new, recovery-oriented approaches to delivering behavioral health and integrated medical services. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of a community mental health center, SERV Behavioral Health in New Jersey.
Dr. Ramsland earned a Doctoral Degree in Psychology from Rutgers University, a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Duquesne University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and English from Trinity College.
- Areas of Expertise
- Managed care program design, development, and operations
- Management of accountable care organizations
- Integrated primary care/behavioral health service systems
- Business development – program design, payer contracting, and proposal and grant writing
- Professional Highlights
- Chief executive officer, Redwood Community Health
- Executive director, Buckelew Programs
- Chief development officer and president, Public Sector
- Vice president & public sector practice leader, United Behavioral Health
Carole Boye, MPA
Carole Boye is President and CEO of Community Alliance, a non-profit mental health agency serving adults with serious mental illness in the metro Omaha and five county area comprising Behavioral Health Region 6.
As chief executive officer of Community Alliance, Carole has led the development of a wide array of community-based services for those with serious mental illness supporting personal recovery, including implementation of a such evidence-based program models as assertive community treatment, supported employment, supportive housing and integrated care. She has also been involved in numerous change processes on the state, regional, and local level to improve behavioral health service delivery and outcomes.
Carole graduated from the University of Nebraska -Omaha with a Masters in Public Administration. She received her Bachelors degree in Social Work and Sociology from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska. She has been recognized by numerous professional and consumer groups for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of individuals who experience a major mental illness and their families.
Rocco Schiralli
Rocco Schiralli, President/CEO of Porter-Starke Services, has a collective 30 years of experience in the behavioral healthcare setting. In his current role, Mr. Schiralli oversees all day-to-day operations and plans, organizes, and coordinates the long-term goals of the 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit Community Mental Health Center (CMHC). As President/CEO, he has presided over some of the best years of the organization, which has recently received national recognition for its commitment to integrated healthcare and workplace culture.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Schiralli served for over a decade as Executive Vice President of Programs at Porter-Starke Services.
Rocco is a lifelong member of the Northwest Indiana community and serves on numerous Advisory Councils and Boards of Directors, including the Porter County Community Corrections Advisory Board, the Mental Health Corporations of America and the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers.
He was named the 2008 Outstanding Agency Professional Award by the United Way of Porter County and a 2011 Top Regional CEO by Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from Indiana University and a Master’s Degree in Psychology from West Georgia College and currently resides in Valparaiso, Indiana with his wife, Brook.
Running A Successful Marketing Program Online: How To Use Your Website & Social Media To Your Advantage
Having a contract with a managed care company is no longer enough. With health care reform creating more choices for consumers, the effectiveness of a provider organization’s website and “online presence” (ranking, reputation, social media buzz, etc.) is more important than ever. Regardless of whether you are trying to draw in new consumers or build long-lasting relationships with existing consumers, your “online brand” (how you’re being perceived online) will be a determining factor in your success. Join us for this interactive session led by OPEN MINDS Executive Vice President of Marketing, Tim Snyder, where we explore best practices in online consumer marketing and social media and hear from health and human service provider organizations doing it right.
Timothy Snyder, Jr.
Timothy G. Snyder, Jr. brings a unique combination of marketing, business development, and online media expertise to OPEN MINDS. Since joining our team in 2008, Mr. Snyder has led over twenty strategic marketing and sales-focused projects, including comprehensive product launch initiatives, corporate re-branding/positioning projects, and website/online marketing programs for some of the largest and most influential pharmaceutical and technology organizations in the industry. In addition to his work in the consulting practice, Mr. Snyder currently oversees the marketing, public relations, and sales divisions of OPEN MINDS.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Snyder served as OPEN MINDS Vice President Of Marketing. During this time he was led the successful launch of multiple new product offerings, the re-design of the OPEN MINDS website, and the launch of PsychU.org – a free online community and resource center for professionals in the mental health community.
Mr. Snyder is a 2008 graduate of the AACSB Internationally accredited John L. Grove College of Business at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in both Marketing Communications and Business Management.
Steve Elson, Ph.D.
Bio Coming Soon!
How To Partner & Compete With FQHCs: A Guide For Community Mental Health Provider Organizations
The changes brought to the health care landscape by health care reform—a reduced uninsured population, more Medicaid managed care, the focus on primary care, increased consolidation—have left most stakeholder organizations reevaluating their role in the health care system, including the national system of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). FQHCs, as a group, are expanding their primary care capacity and delivering more behavioral health services – with some evolving into a medical home role. As mental health organizations consider offering integrated primary care/behavioral health services, whether to work with or compete with FQHCs or one of the many FQHC-like organizations, is a big question. In this session, we’ll discuss the changing role of FQHCs in the California market, how their larger role in the system poses challenges for mental health organizations, and the best approach to working (or competing) with FQHCs in your area.
Steve Ramsland, Ed.D.
Steven Ramsland, Ed.D., Senior Associate, has more than 25 years of experience in the development and delivery of health and human service programs. He has held senior leadership positions in the development of several innovative service systems including Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs, a primary care provider network, several national managed behavioral health initiatives, and innovative community programming.
Dr. Ramsland recently served as chief executive officer at Redwood Community Health, a network of 17 community health centers, with over 40 sites in northern California. The organization provides primary care, behavioral health and oral health to over 240,000 patients each year. While at Redwood he managed the implementation of an ACO, a capitated Medicaid managed care contract, and a pay-for-performance quality improvement program.
Prior to this, he was the executive director of Buckelew Programs, a leading provider of community-based, recovery-oriented behavioral health programs in Northern California. The organization provides supported housing and employment, and recovery supports, as well as two social enterprise businesses.
Dr. Ramsland was previously vice president and practice leader for United Behavioral Health’s Public Sector Practice (now Optum). In that role, he analyzed opportunities and implemented strategies to expand public sector business – and collaborated with executive leadership at United to design and build organizational capabilities in public sector behavioral health, disease management, and consumer-directed care to support revenue growth.
In addition to his work with Optum, Dr. Ramsland also served as the chief development officer and Public Sector President for Comprehensive Behavioral Care, and as vice president, Government Programs, for ValueOptions. He has worked with government policy leaders throughout the nation to develop new, recovery-oriented approaches to delivering behavioral health and integrated medical services. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of a community mental health center, SERV Behavioral Health in New Jersey.
Dr. Ramsland earned a Doctoral Degree in Psychology from Rutgers University, a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Duquesne University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and English from Trinity College.
- Areas of Expertise
- Managed care program design, development, and operations
- Management of accountable care organizations
- Integrated primary care/behavioral health service systems
- Business development – program design, payer contracting, and proposal and grant writing
- Professional Highlights
- Chief executive officer, Redwood Community Health
- Executive director, Buckelew Programs
- Chief development officer and president, Public Sector
- Vice president & public sector practice leader, United Behavioral Health
Carole Boye, MPA
Carole Boye is President and CEO of Community Alliance, a non-profit mental health agency serving adults with serious mental illness in the metro Omaha and five county area comprising Behavioral Health Region 6.
As chief executive officer of Community Alliance, Carole has led the development of a wide array of community-based services for those with serious mental illness supporting personal recovery, including implementation of a such evidence-based program models as assertive community treatment, supported employment, supportive housing and integrated care. She has also been involved in numerous change processes on the state, regional, and local level to improve behavioral health service delivery and outcomes.
Carole graduated from the University of Nebraska -Omaha with a Masters in Public Administration. She received her Bachelors degree in Social Work and Sociology from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska. She has been recognized by numerous professional and consumer groups for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of individuals who experience a major mental illness and their families.
Rocco Schiralli
Rocco Schiralli, President/CEO of Porter-Starke Services, has a collective 30 years of experience in the behavioral healthcare setting. In his current role, Mr. Schiralli oversees all day-to-day operations and plans, organizes, and coordinates the long-term goals of the 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit Community Mental Health Center (CMHC). As President/CEO, he has presided over some of the best years of the organization, which has recently received national recognition for its commitment to integrated healthcare and workplace culture.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Schiralli served for over a decade as Executive Vice President of Programs at Porter-Starke Services.
Rocco is a lifelong member of the Northwest Indiana community and serves on numerous Advisory Councils and Boards of Directors, including the Porter County Community Corrections Advisory Board, the Mental Health Corporations of America and the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers.
He was named the 2008 Outstanding Agency Professional Award by the United Way of Porter County and a 2011 Top Regional CEO by Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from Indiana University and a Master’s Degree in Psychology from West Georgia College and currently resides in Valparaiso, Indiana with his wife, Brook.
California’s County Mental Health System: An Update On Policies, Programs & Funding
From the expansion of Medi-Cal, to the rapid reduction of the state prison population, to the push for innovation through Prop. 63 funding, California counties have faced many changes over the past decade – some positive, some negative; but all with their own set of challenges for county mental health programs and the service provider organizations operating within this system. During this session, our expert panel will discuss the major policy issues that are shaping California’s mental health system, as well as how these issues are changing operations for the county system, provider organizations, and consumers – now and in the future.
Steve Ramsland, Ed.D.
Steven Ramsland, Ed.D., Senior Associate, has more than 25 years of experience in the development and delivery of health and human service programs. He has held senior leadership positions in the development of several innovative service systems including Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs, a primary care provider network, several national managed behavioral health initiatives, and innovative community programming.
Dr. Ramsland recently served as chief executive officer at Redwood Community Health, a network of 17 community health centers, with over 40 sites in northern California. The organization provides primary care, behavioral health and oral health to over 240,000 patients each year. While at Redwood he managed the implementation of an ACO, a capitated Medicaid managed care contract, and a pay-for-performance quality improvement program.
Prior to this, he was the executive director of Buckelew Programs, a leading provider of community-based, recovery-oriented behavioral health programs in Northern California. The organization provides supported housing and employment, and recovery supports, as well as two social enterprise businesses.
Dr. Ramsland was previously vice president and practice leader for United Behavioral Health’s Public Sector Practice (now Optum). In that role, he analyzed opportunities and implemented strategies to expand public sector business – and collaborated with executive leadership at United to design and build organizational capabilities in public sector behavioral health, disease management, and consumer-directed care to support revenue growth.
In addition to his work with Optum, Dr. Ramsland also served as the chief development officer and Public Sector President for Comprehensive Behavioral Care, and as vice president, Government Programs, for ValueOptions. He has worked with government policy leaders throughout the nation to develop new, recovery-oriented approaches to delivering behavioral health and integrated medical services. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of a community mental health center, SERV Behavioral Health in New Jersey.
Dr. Ramsland earned a Doctoral Degree in Psychology from Rutgers University, a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Duquesne University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and English from Trinity College.
- Areas of Expertise
- Managed care program design, development, and operations
- Management of accountable care organizations
- Integrated primary care/behavioral health service systems
- Business development – program design, payer contracting, and proposal and grant writing
- Professional Highlights
- Chief executive officer, Redwood Community Health
- Executive director, Buckelew Programs
- Chief development officer and president, Public Sector
- Vice president & public sector practice leader, United Behavioral Health
Dawan Utecht
Dawan Utecht, Director of Behavioral Health for Fresno County. She has over 15+ years of senior level administrative experience in both profit/non-profit hospital settings, as well as County government. She serves on the Board of Directors of Valley Caregivers Resources Center and the Children’s and Families Commission/First Five Fresno County, both in Fresno, California.
Previous to the Mental Health Director appointment, Dawan was the CEO of Community Behavioral Health Center, a 61-bed adult acute inpatient psychiatric facility licensed under Community Regional Medical Center. Dawan oversight also included the 28-bed acute and outpatient physical rehabilitation center, and 106-bed skilled nursing and sub-acute care facility in Fresno.
In her current role at the Mental Health Director, Dawan is responsible for an annual budget of $180M, business planning and program development, quality and regulatory management, along with all other administrative duties for the Department. Currently, Dawan and her senior management are strategically planning the redesign of mental health and Drug Medi-Cal services in Fresno County in an effort to provide recovery focused care with improved access to care at all levels of the continuum.
Dawan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from University of California, Los Angeles and a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Columbia University in New York.
Manuel Jimenez, Jr., MA, LMFT
Bio coming soon
Alfredo Aguirre, LCSW
Alfredo Aguirre, LCSW, is the Director of Behavioral Health Services of San Diego County and has served in the capacity of Mental Health Director since 1999. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Network of Social Work Managers and as a co-chair of the Cultural Competence, Equity, and Social Justice Committee of the California Mental Health Directors Association. He also serves on the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch Council, a national advisory committee to the Children’s Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services under SAMHSA.
Mr. Aguirre has worked in the mental health field for over 34 years as a psychiatric social worker, staff supervisor, manager, and executive. He is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including Mental Health Person of the Year in 2008, the 2011 Hope Award for his leadership in the County of San Diego’s Mental Health Stigma Reduction Media Campaign, “It’s Up to Us,” and the 2014 NAMI California Outstanding Mental Health Director.
Alfredo received his Master’s Degree in Social Welfare in 1978 from the University of California at Berkeley, and he has a special interest in cultural competence development in systems and communities. He authored an article, “Community Mental Health Services in a Managed Care Environment: 10 Key Issues in Promoting Cultural Competence,” published in Promoting Cultural Competence in Children’s Mental Health Services (Mario Hernandez and Mareasa R. Issacs, eds.) in 1999.
How To Successfully Launch A New Service Line & Diversify Your Revenue Streams
In the current environment of changing consumer expectations, new financial models, and health care reform, one essential skill that all executives need to master is the ability to evaluate and modify current services – and to develop new services to meet the challenges and opportunities in the market. In this exciting session, we will review everything you need to know about developing a new service line. We will cover how to analyze current service lines and determine strategic options for diversification, as well as a target costing model for launching new services.
Vitka Eisen, M.S.W., Ed.D.
Dr. Eisen started in the human services field in 1982 and has a lifelong commitment to supporting people and communities struggling with addiction and incarceration. In her 30-year employment history with HealthRIGHT 360, she served in several capacities before being named Chief Executive Officer in January of 2010. She was instrumental in the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics - Walden House merger and the subsequent HealthRIGHT 360 rebranding. Dr. Eisen was named CEO of the merged entity on July 1, 2011. Dr. Eisen is a Walden House graduate, “Class of `87.” She received her M.S.W. from San Francisco State University, and her Doctorate in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
California’s County Mental Health System: An Update On Policies, Programs & Funding
From the expansion of Medi-Cal, to the rapid reduction of the state prison population, to the push for innovation through Prop. 63 funding, California counties have faced many changes over the past decade – some positive, some negative; but all with their own set of challenges for county mental health programs and the service provider organizations operating within this system. During this session, our expert panel will discuss the major policy issues that are shaping California’s mental health system, as well as how these issues are changing operations for the county system, provider organizations, and consumers – now and in the future.
Steve Ramsland, Ed.D.
Steven Ramsland, Ed.D., Senior Associate, has more than 25 years of experience in the development and delivery of health and human service programs. He has held senior leadership positions in the development of several innovative service systems including Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs, a primary care provider network, several national managed behavioral health initiatives, and innovative community programming.
Dr. Ramsland recently served as chief executive officer at Redwood Community Health, a network of 17 community health centers, with over 40 sites in northern California. The organization provides primary care, behavioral health and oral health to over 240,000 patients each year. While at Redwood he managed the implementation of an ACO, a capitated Medicaid managed care contract, and a pay-for-performance quality improvement program.
Prior to this, he was the executive director of Buckelew Programs, a leading provider of community-based, recovery-oriented behavioral health programs in Northern California. The organization provides supported housing and employment, and recovery supports, as well as two social enterprise businesses.
Dr. Ramsland was previously vice president and practice leader for United Behavioral Health’s Public Sector Practice (now Optum). In that role, he analyzed opportunities and implemented strategies to expand public sector business – and collaborated with executive leadership at United to design and build organizational capabilities in public sector behavioral health, disease management, and consumer-directed care to support revenue growth.
In addition to his work with Optum, Dr. Ramsland also served as the chief development officer and Public Sector President for Comprehensive Behavioral Care, and as vice president, Government Programs, for ValueOptions. He has worked with government policy leaders throughout the nation to develop new, recovery-oriented approaches to delivering behavioral health and integrated medical services. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of a community mental health center, SERV Behavioral Health in New Jersey.
Dr. Ramsland earned a Doctoral Degree in Psychology from Rutgers University, a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Duquesne University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and English from Trinity College.
- Areas of Expertise
- Managed care program design, development, and operations
- Management of accountable care organizations
- Integrated primary care/behavioral health service systems
- Business development – program design, payer contracting, and proposal and grant writing
- Professional Highlights
- Chief executive officer, Redwood Community Health
- Executive director, Buckelew Programs
- Chief development officer and president, Public Sector
- Vice president & public sector practice leader, United Behavioral Health
Dawan Utecht
Dawan Utecht, Director of Behavioral Health for Fresno County. She has over 15+ years of senior level administrative experience in both profit/non-profit hospital settings, as well as County government. She serves on the Board of Directors of Valley Caregivers Resources Center and the Children’s and Families Commission/First Five Fresno County, both in Fresno, California.
Previous to the Mental Health Director appointment, Dawan was the CEO of Community Behavioral Health Center, a 61-bed adult acute inpatient psychiatric facility licensed under Community Regional Medical Center. Dawan oversight also included the 28-bed acute and outpatient physical rehabilitation center, and 106-bed skilled nursing and sub-acute care facility in Fresno.
In her current role at the Mental Health Director, Dawan is responsible for an annual budget of $180M, business planning and program development, quality and regulatory management, along with all other administrative duties for the Department. Currently, Dawan and her senior management are strategically planning the redesign of mental health and Drug Medi-Cal services in Fresno County in an effort to provide recovery focused care with improved access to care at all levels of the continuum.
Dawan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from University of California, Los Angeles and a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Columbia University in New York.
Manuel Jimenez, Jr., MA, LMFT
Bio coming soon
Alfredo Aguirre, LCSW
Alfredo Aguirre, LCSW, is the Director of Behavioral Health Services of San Diego County and has served in the capacity of Mental Health Director since 1999. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Network of Social Work Managers and as a co-chair of the Cultural Competence, Equity, and Social Justice Committee of the California Mental Health Directors Association. He also serves on the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch Council, a national advisory committee to the Children’s Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services under SAMHSA.
Mr. Aguirre has worked in the mental health field for over 34 years as a psychiatric social worker, staff supervisor, manager, and executive. He is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including Mental Health Person of the Year in 2008, the 2011 Hope Award for his leadership in the County of San Diego’s Mental Health Stigma Reduction Media Campaign, “It’s Up to Us,” and the 2014 NAMI California Outstanding Mental Health Director.
Alfredo received his Master’s Degree in Social Welfare in 1978 from the University of California at Berkeley, and he has a special interest in cultural competence development in systems and communities. He authored an article, “Community Mental Health Services in a Managed Care Environment: 10 Key Issues in Promoting Cultural Competence,” published in Promoting Cultural Competence in Children’s Mental Health Services (Mario Hernandez and Mareasa R. Issacs, eds.) in 1999.
How To Successfully Launch A New Service Line & Diversify Your Revenue Streams
In the current environment of changing consumer expectations, new financial models, and health care reform, one essential skill that all executives need to master is the ability to evaluate and modify current services – and to develop new services to meet the challenges and opportunities in the market. In this exciting session, we will review everything you need to know about developing a new service line. We will cover how to analyze current service lines and determine strategic options for diversification, as well as a target costing model for launching new services.
Vitka Eisen, M.S.W., Ed.D.
Dr. Eisen started in the human services field in 1982 and has a lifelong commitment to supporting people and communities struggling with addiction and incarceration. In her 30-year employment history with HealthRIGHT 360, she served in several capacities before being named Chief Executive Officer in January of 2010. She was instrumental in the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics - Walden House merger and the subsequent HealthRIGHT 360 rebranding. Dr. Eisen was named CEO of the merged entity on July 1, 2011. Dr. Eisen is a Walden House graduate, “Class of `87.” She received her M.S.W. from San Francisco State University, and her Doctorate in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
How To Succeed With FFS: Budgeting, Billing & Revenue Cycle Management
In a fee-for-service (FFS) arrangement, sustainability depends on high-volume and low costs. This means organizations need to have an established budget, an expert revenue cycle management system, and strong referral management. In this session, we’ll explore best practices for revenue cycle management, and discuss how a focus on budgeting and billing can improve the performance of FFS contracts with payers. If your organization is in a traditional FFS relationship with a payer, this is one session you cannot afford to miss.
Jim Sorg, Ph.D.
Jim Sorg, PhD, is the Director of Care Integration and Information Technology at Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. where he manages several projects that integrate care, several integrated primary care clinics, and information technology resources that support Tarzana’s integrated care services. Dr. Sorg worked as a consultant to behavioral health organizations for many years. He received his PhD from Ohio State University's School of Public Policy and Management.
Change Management For Staff: A Facilitated Discussion Session On Leading Your Team In A Changing Market
Many executives feel that the rate of change in our field is greater now than ever before. Unfortunately, an organization’s executive team can have lots of knowledge of the market, but if they don’t have the leadership skills to develop and execute a strategy in response to that intelligence, it may be all for naught. For all leaders of service provider organizations, this means that possessing superior change management skills is a must. During this session, we will provide a supervisory framework for helping your team to thrive and for your organization to find success in a changing environment.
Lora Perry
Bio coming soon
Judith Shaplin
Judith Shaplin, a lifelong resident of rural East San Diego County, has been working with Mountain Health & Community Services, Inc. (MHCS) for over 29 years. For much of that time she has served as the agency's President & Chief Executive Officer. During her tenure, MHCS has dramatically expanded its work and its programming in order to bring resources to bear to address the mission of creating healthier, happier, and more cohesive rural and urban communities. Her vision has brought under the agency umbrella senior nutrition services, a computer learning center, mental health services, senior home visitor and case management programs, an active and vibrant community collaborative, extensive food distribution networking, disaster response and preparedness, and many other services which augment the provision of basic primary and behavioral health care services.
Ms. Shaplin is passionate about insuring that rural residents have local access to health care services that is needed for all ages. She has actively been involved in the California Rural Health Association since its inception. She has been serving in a leadership capacity on the board during her long time tenure on the board.
Ms. Shaplin, from the beginning, has been steadfast in her determination to ensure the provision of primary and behavioral health care that are geographically and economically accessible to those most in need. Persistent and effective advocacy on behalf the residents of rural San Diego County and in response to the region’s many unaddressed issues, on the local, State and Federal levels, is Ms. Shaplin’s trademark. She has brought warmth, experience, and creativity to these venues, making tedious bureaucratic processes more human, and thus more responsive.
Steven H. Jellá, M.A., MFT, PsyD
As the Associate Executive Director of all program and clinical services for San Diego Youth Services (SDYS), Steven brings his over 15 years of experience servicing the youth of our San Diego county community in managing the agency teams, filling the gaps of services available and ensuring quality clinical and programmatic services are being delivered.
He holds a Doctorate degree in psychology with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy (PsyD), M.A. degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), M.A. degree in Education with an emphasis in Multi-Cultural Counseling, Paralegal Certificate, and B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration. Steven is a licensed psychologist, licensed MFT, Clinical Member in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and AAMFT equivalent supervisor. His work in SDYS with populations like abuse and trauma, substance abuse, psychometrics, family therapy, research, and Self-injurious behaviors has led to presenting research at many national and international venues.
Since 2001, Steven has presented at the national APA and MMPI-2 conferences and spoke at the World Congress for Psychotherapy in Buenos Aires. In 2008, he won the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award at Alliant International University, the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award awarded by the AAMFT, and the B.B Robbie Rossman Annual Memorial Child Maltreatment Research Award awarded by the Institute for Violence Abuse and Trauma (IVAT). He also presented original research on adolescents who self-injure at the International Family Therapy Conference in Portugal and AAMFT annual conference in Memphis, TN. Steven has mentored undergraduate Psychology students in conducting and presenting the findings of original research at International Conferences, and has many other research studies in process.
Steven has a passion for improving SDYS clinical and programmatic work with youth by the conducting of critical research and outcome evaluation. He is currently working on his advanced training in clinical hypnosis and expanding Trauma Informed Care paradigms across other youth serving agencies.
How To Succeed With FFS: Budgeting, Billing & Revenue Cycle Management
In a fee-for-service (FFS) arrangement, sustainability depends on high-volume and low costs. This means organizations need to have an established budget, an expert revenue cycle management system, and strong referral management. In this session, we’ll explore best practices for revenue cycle management, and discuss how a focus on budgeting and billing can improve the performance of FFS contracts with payers. If your organization is in a traditional FFS relationship with a payer, this is one session you cannot afford to miss.
Jim Sorg, Ph.D.
Jim Sorg, PhD, is the Director of Care Integration and Information Technology at Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. where he manages several projects that integrate care, several integrated primary care clinics, and information technology resources that support Tarzana’s integrated care services. Dr. Sorg worked as a consultant to behavioral health organizations for many years. He received his PhD from Ohio State University's School of Public Policy and Management.
From Strategy To Action: Planning For Success In A Shifting California Market
There are shifts in the health and human service markets in many states – but few can top California in terms of both size and the magnitude of change. It appears that across the spectrum – from Medicaid, the dual eligible population, county health/humans services, corrections, support services for the ID/D population, child welfare financing, and more – “redesign” is the norm. The challenge for organizational strategy is both survival strategy for the current market turbulence and developing (and modifying with market changes) a sustainable market positioning (and business model) for the emerging landscape. In this engaging closing session, OPEN MINDS Chief Executive Officer, Monica Oss, will review all the market trends that are affecting California and the health and human service industry as a whole, and how service provider organizations can successfully navigate the future.
Closing Remarks & Raffle Prize Drawing
To close the institute, join us for our raffle prize drawing – remember, you must be present to win any of our fabulous prizes!
Closing Remarks & Raffle Prize Drawing
To close the institute, join us for our raffle prize drawing – remember, you must be present to win any of our fabulous prizes!