Alex Ruth
Peoria,AZ
Summary
Accomplished Justice Program Administrator with a proven track record at Arizona’s State Medicaid agency, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). Expert in strategic planning and program implementation, adept at fostering government relations and analyzing policies. Skilled in both criminal justice and behavioral health, demonstrating significant contributions in justice-involved Medicaid member care and reentry policy reform.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Justice Program Administrator
State of Arizona, AHCCCS
Phoenix, AZ (Hybrid)
12.2022 - Current
- Serves as the agency’s lead and subject matter expert for justice system initiatives, which are aimed at ensuring that the healthcare needs of Arizona’s justice-involved Medicaid members are immediately addressed post-release from a jail or correctional facility.
- Creates and maintains functional partnerships with Arizona’s justice system stakeholders including the Arizona Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR), county jails, probation and parole, and juvenile detention facilities to streamline interagency efforts to reduce recidivism.
- Oversees justice system liaisons at each AHCCCS contracted Managed Care Organization (MCO) to provide technical assistance and ensure that contractual reentry agreements are maintained.
- Leads agency workgroups and regularly presents to local and national audiences on new federal justice opportunities including the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) and Arizona’s forthcoming 1115 Reentry Waiver.
- Responsible for reviewing and amending justice-specific reentry policies and State Plan Amendments (SPA).
- Assists in grant application writing process to secure funding necessary to advance justice-specific operations.
- Streamlines program processes related to data sharing and intergovernmental agreements by implementing efficient administrative procedures, resulting in improved workflow and resource allocation.
- Regularly assesses justice metrics and reporting to transparently inform the public about AHCCCS justice initiatives.
- Develops strategic plans for program growth, identifying key areas for expansion and improvement based on federal guidance and stakeholder feedback.
Psychometrist/Mental Health Evaluator
Maricopa County Correctional Health Services
Phoenix, AZ
12.2018 - 12.2022
- Administered an assessment battery to in-custody defendants who were navigating competency and/or competency restoration proceedings to objectively determine a defendant’s readiness to stand trial.
- Ensured reliable test results by maintaining up-to-date knowledge of psychometric tools and best practices.
- Provided valuable insights into patient cognitive functioning through careful observation during test administration sessions.
- Prepared reports that assisted the mental health team in the ongoing evaluation of defendants in a restoration program, which assisted in efficient navigation through the judicial process.
- Observed and evaluated in-custody mental health patients for court-ordered treatment.
- Prepared petitions for court-ordered evaluation, as appropriate.
- Testified as the court-appointed representative for patients meeting criteria for court-ordered treatment.
Justice System Liaison & Court Coordinator
Molina Healthcare (acquired Magellan, Jan 2021)
Phoenix, AZ
09.2018 - 12.2022
- Collaborated with justice system agencies to ensure health plan members with complex healthcare needs received care coordination and immediate access to appropriate services upon release from jail or prison.
- Proactively interviewed justice-involved members who were preparing for reentry from jail or prison to create an individualized transition plan, which would comprehensively address any physical, behavioral or health-related social need prior to and following a members release.
- Prepared referrals to appropriate community providers to ensure that appointments were scheduled and completed within seven days of a member’s release date.
- Provided training and technical assistance to internal and external stakeholders to enhance reentry coordination for adult and juvenile members.
High Needs Case Manager
Arizona Youth & Family Services
Phoenix, AZ
06.2015 - 09.2018
- Managed a complex caseload while continually assessing and prioritizing client and family needs.
- Developed treatment plans and crisis plans to meet the unique needs of the client while maintaining and personally auditing all associated chart documentation.
- Regularly coordinated and communicated with members of the Child and Family Team, facilitated medication reviews and psychiatric evaluations for children prescribed psychotropic medication, connected families to natural and community-based resources and supports, and processed referrals for additional wrap around services.
- Attended weekly staffing and supervision meetings to maintain best practices and to mitigate barriers in complex cases.
- Managed crises as they arose while representing the agency professionally in a clinical environment.
- Assisted in the development of organizational policies and procedures, ensuring consistency and quality across all case management services.
- Collaborated with healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive support for clients with complex medical issues..
- Mentored new case managers in best practices, contributing to a supportive work environment and increased team efficiency.
Senior Behavioral Management Specialist
Arizona Youth & Family Services
Phoenix, AZ
08.2014 - 07.2015
- Developed unique interventions to support children and adolescents diagnosed with complex psychiatric conditions to help improve upon existing coping mechanisms and the child’s ability to emotionally regulate.
- Provided education to family members about mental health diagnoses, treatment options and interventions which could help support the child while they were experiencing an episode of emotional dysregulation.
- Led trainings and in-field observations to improve the quality of documentation prepared by Behavioral Health Technicians (BHTs).
- Selected to participate in chart audits as a result of reliably providing excellent documentation and maintaining agency best practices.
- Promoted safe and therapeutic patient care through consultation and supervision, communication and interactions.
- Interviewed patient and family to obtain psychosocial history.
- Delivered crisis intervention and assisted families in understanding complexities of mental health diagnoses.
Research Assistant, Human Cognition
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
08.2010 - 05.2013
- Assisted Ph.D. candidates in the university’s human cognition laboratory with their research proposals by running participants, collecting, coding and analyzing data, maintaining accurate and detailed records of interviews and questionnaires and maintaining confidentiality of participants.
- Participated actively in regular meetings with fellow researchers to discuss project updates, challenges faced, and lessons learned during ongoing activities.
- Organized research materials, maintaining a well-ordered workspace conducive to productivity.
- Maintained open lines of communication with project leads and team members for effective collaboration on common goals.
- Conducted literature reviews to support hypothesis development and identify gaps in existing knowledge.
- The resulting data were presented in in the following psychological journal articles: Effect of emotionally arousing negative image on judgments about news stories. Old DominionUniversity, 2013; Mood and creativity: The mediating role of attention. Old Dominion University, 2012; Trust judgments and the hindsight bias effect. Old Dominion University, 2010.
Education
Master Of Science - Forensic Psychology
Southern New Hampshire University
Hooksett, NH05.2018
Bachelor Of Science - Clinical Psychology
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA05.2013
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Program Implementation
- Government Relations
- Policy Analysis
- Policy and Grants Writing
- Criminal Justice
- Corrections & Reentry
- Juvenile Justice
- Behavioral Health
- Data Analysis
- Meeting Facilitation & Presentation
- Program Leadership
Timeline
Justice Program Administrator
State of Arizona, AHCCCS
12.2022 - Current
Psychometrist/Mental Health Evaluator
Maricopa County Correctional Health Services
12.2018 - 12.2022
Justice System Liaison & Court Coordinator
Molina Healthcare (acquired Magellan, Jan 2021)
09.2018 - 12.2022
High Needs Case Manager
Arizona Youth & Family Services
06.2015 - 09.2018
Senior Behavioral Management Specialist
Arizona Youth & Family Services
08.2014 - 07.2015
Research Assistant, Human Cognition
Old Dominion University
08.2010 - 05.2013
Master Of Science - Forensic Psychology
Southern New Hampshire University
Bachelor Of Science - Clinical Psychology
Old Dominion University