AJA RILEY BENNETT
BEAVERTON,UNITED STATES
Summary
Passionate clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in behavioral health (BH) care management, community mental health, health equity advocacy, and family wellbeing fields. Highly skilled at relationships building with diverse stakeholders. Knowledgeable & skilled in coordinating affordable, accessible, integrated behavioral health services. Trained and experienced in social justice and healthcare advocacy for BIPOC, socio-economically under resourced and historically exploited & excluded populations. Holds extensive experience in commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare behavioral healthcare account implementation and management. Poised to continue professional growth and development in the area of behavioral health clinical quality improvement.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Owner & Mental Health Therapist
JUBILEE HOLISTIC COUNSELING & CONSULTING LLC
08.2021 - Current
- Specializes in trauma-informed, culturally responsive MH therapy with a clinical focus on treatment of people of color through intergenerational trauma recovery
- Provides a range of services including evidence-based individual therapy interventions, employee assistance program counseling, and mandated EAP referrals
- Completes assessments, initial evaluations, and develops individualized treatment plans supporting client centered goals; and routinely reviews progress to ensure quality and effectiveness of treatment
- Exceptionally strong ability to build strong therapeutic relationships with clients
- Works collaboratively with managed care companies to refer clients to needed healthcare service providers and programs; and consults with medication providers and other healthcare professionals regarding client progress and treatment planning for optimal integrative care
- Provides private practice development consultation services to Black/AA MH therapists seeking to open and operate an individually owned private practice
- Developed intake forms, client documents regarding practice policies and procedures, client rights and responsibilities, and other practice documents.
- Oversees scheduling, intake, marketing, business budget planning and administration, accounting functions, insurance contracting & credentialing, and claim processing
- Maintains HIPAA compliant EMR system, policies, and processes; adheres to government regulations, contract requirements. and general liability rules.
Behavioral Health Care Coordinator
CAREOREGON
01.2020 - Current
- Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with health plan members, community partners, and treatment providers to coordinate high quality member care and improve overall member health outcomes
- Supports attainment of member-centered care plan goals through planning and facilitating interdisciplinary care team meetings, case consultations and encouraging member engagement in care related planning & decision-making
- Provides disease management education and coaching to optimize members' self-management and motivation to adhere to treatment recommendations
- Successfully advocates for inclusivity in member access to culturally responsive healthcare provider options and culturally specific high quality treatment services to support healthy equity and reduce experiences of bias and racism in healthcare treatment
- Initiates and effectively manages interdepartmental written & verbal communication to address and resolve barriers to member access to medically necessary care
- Advocates for and problem solves to standardization and improve departmental care coordination processes and workflows
- Improves member engagement and success in treatment by effectively utilizing strong clinical skills and knowledge of evidence-based treatment practices to coach, educate and support BH providers with member treatment and care coordination
- Leverages specialized knowledge of BH treatment options; BH related medical necessity criteria; and clinical best practices to assist BH providers in coordinating member transition to more clinically appropriate treatment programs, when indicated.
Program Specialist
TRILLIUM/CENTENE
10.2018 - 01.2020
- Provided care coordination services for children & youth in ODHS custody & covered through Trillium OHP; Maintained 98% rate of member health assessment completion for all foster care program members
- Provided evidence based parenting and symptom education, as well as community resource linkage to substitute caregivers to preserve member foster care placement & reduce traumatic effects of multiple substitute care placements
- Developed Trillium OHP Foster Care Care Coordination Program policy & procedure documents, program workflows and job aids based on OHA and DHS administrative rules and contractual requirements
- Routinely researched & updated program P&Ps and works flows to ensure ongoing compliance with OHA and ODHS administrative rule changes
- Gathered and maintained program metric data to meet OHA reporting standards
- Provided short term mental health crisis counseling to pregnant mothers while facilitating their access to evaluation for clinically indicated BH services (Smart for Your Baby Program).
EAP & Behavioral Health Care Manager
MHN/HEALTHNET/CENTENE
04.2008 - 10.2018
- Provided clinical assessment, referral, & coordination of behavioral health treatment for health plan members
- Managed intensive care management services to address high utilization rates, improve treatment adherence, remove barriers to care, & coordinate treatment for members' with complex and co-occurring BH disorders
- Completed medical necessity reviews for inpatient and outpatient behavioral health treatment requests following Interqual guidelines, CMS rules, and account specific requirements
- Maintained superior audit scores on case audits and 100% audit scores on all URAC & NCQA record audits
- Managed clinical review process for OP mental health single case agreement requests
- Assisted VP, Clinical Director, and Clinical Manager with designing and implementing new Employee Assistance Program (EAP) including updating clinical assessments, workflows, and EAP authorization process
- Served on clinical process development teams for the design and implementation of the Outpatient MH treatment review process, Complex case management process; and Autism ABA treatment authorization process
- Researched and updated policy and procedure documents regarding departmental and organization workflows
- Led project that developed national and regional health plan community resource databases
- Provided EAP management consultation services to contracted corporate human resource departments, department managers, and supervisors.
Home Health Social Worker
HEARTLAND SOCIAL WORK SERVICES
08.2012 - 09.2013
- Participated in care planning in collaboration with the patient and healthcare team to identify effective interventions that will help the patient meet rehabilitation, treatment goals, and improve quality of life
- Educated and instructed patients, family members, or other patient representatives in community resources to promote the patient's health, safety, well-being, and independent living.
Family & Youth Specialist
SAFY, INC
04.2003 - 08.2005
- Provided case management & home-based MH supportive services to foster youth
- Educated adolescents on independent living skills & assisted with preparation for emancipation
- Provided training to foster care parents.
Licensed Social Worker - Adult Mental Health
CENTER FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
03.2004 - 06.2005
- Provided community MH case management services to caseload of 35 adults living with SPMI and co-occurring disorders; provided community resource linkage; faciliated access to clinically indicated MH services.
START (Sobriety Treatment & Recovery Team) Social Worker III
CUYAHOGA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
03.2001 - 09.2001
- Completed CPS investigations & provided ongoing case management services to pregnant women with SUD concerns
- Coordinated parental access to SUD assessments and treatment, & provided recovery support
- Testified weekly in Cuyahoga Drug Court on client's treatment progress to facilitate family preservation and/or reunification.
Education
Master of Social Work (MSW) -
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
05.2007
Master of Public Administration (MPA) -
CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY
05.2004
Bachelor of Social Work -
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
05.2001
Skills
- Experienced in treating various emotional, psychological, and behavioral issues and clinical disorders
- Highly Competent in Clinical Interviewing and Diagnosing
- Skilled in Treatment planning & Utilization of Evidence Based Clinical Interventions & Therapeutic Approaches
- Experienced in Behavioral Health Utilization Management
- Clinical Quality Improvement
- Regulatory Compliance
- Business Development & Management
- Contract Management
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Clinical Documentation and Reporting
Certification
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers, 10837, Active
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, 51548, Active
- Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), IEPA, 56286, Active
Timeline
Owner & Mental Health Therapist
JUBILEE HOLISTIC COUNSELING & CONSULTING LLC
08.2021 - Current
Behavioral Health Care Coordinator
CAREOREGON
01.2020 - Current
Program Specialist
TRILLIUM/CENTENE
10.2018 - 01.2020
Home Health Social Worker
HEARTLAND SOCIAL WORK SERVICES
08.2012 - 09.2013
EAP & Behavioral Health Care Manager
MHN/HEALTHNET/CENTENE
04.2008 - 10.2018
Licensed Social Worker - Adult Mental Health
CENTER FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
03.2004 - 06.2005
Family & Youth Specialist
SAFY, INC
04.2003 - 08.2005
START (Sobriety Treatment & Recovery Team) Social Worker III
CUYAHOGA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
03.2001 - 09.2001
Master of Social Work (MSW) -
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
Master of Public Administration (MPA) -
CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Social Work -
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers, 10837, Active
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, 51548, Active
- Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), IEPA, 56286, Active
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