Deanna Brown
Hilliard
Summary
Motivated and empathetic mental health professional with a proven track record of delivering effective and ethical care. Expertise in nonprofit program management, crisis intervention, and fundraising drives a commitment to fostering positive, supportive environments. Seeking a challenging role that leverages skills to make a meaningful impact in the mental health sector. Passionate about enhancing community well-being through innovative solutions and compassionate support.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Program Manager
NAMI Jacksonville Florida
08.2024 - Current
- Directed strategic planning, management, and execution for over 20 different NAMI Jacksonville mental health programs simultaneously, ensuring exceptional quality and program fidelity.
- Proactively assumed additional roles—overseeing finance, operations, and communications—to maintain organizational continuity and deliver effective programs.
- Led outreach campaigns and established key partnerships with local agencies, resulting in consistent growth in program enrollment and community impact each year.
- Advocated for mental health awareness and secured vital resources and funding. Supervised and developed a small team of 5 coordinators and over 100 volunteers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
- Managed compliance and daily operations while implementing robust data collection and reporting systems to promote continuous improvement.
- Oversaw the entire grant writing process—from identifying opportunities and developing proposals to creating budgets and submitting successful applications—leading to numerous funded initiatives.
- Mentored team members on productivity and performance strategies, enabling them to meet organizational goals.
- Conducted regular performance evaluations and tailored professional development plans, improving staff retention and satisfaction.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams and leadership to resolve technical, financial, and operational challenges, ensuring smooth program delivery.
- Streamlined workflows and introduced process improvements, reducing administrative bottlenecks and boosting efficiency.
- Identified potential risks and obstacles, clearly communicating impacts and mitigation strategies to the team.
- Participated in pilot youth program launches, analyzing feedback and outcomes to enhance program quality.
- Used data-driven decision-making to refine strategies and optimize participant results.
- Managed daily administrative and program operations, ensuring full compliance with organizational policies and external regulations.
- Developed, implemented, and refined logistics workflows, operational procedures, and detailed reports.
- Established rigorous data collection protocols and reporting systems to monitor outcomes and support ongoing improvement.
- Researched and applied industry best practices to enhance training and program content.
- Facilitated interactive workshops and provided individualized training to strengthen staff and volunteer capacity.
- Prepared high-quality briefs, memorandums, and reports for executive leadership, the board, and external stakeholders, demonstrating advanced writing and presentation skills.
- Managed post-award grant reporting, tracking key performance indicators and compiling data-driven progress reports to ensure continued funding and transparency.
- Supported recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training of new staff and volunteers.
Family Navigator
NAMI Jacksonville Florida
08.2023 - 08.2024
- Provided support to family members and caregivers of individuals living with mental health conditions.
- Acted as a vital link between families and community family programs.
- Responsibilities included assessing and planning family programs, navigating resources, and offering education, advocacy, and empowerment to individuals.
- Developed program implementation and maintenance plans.
- Collected, organized, and entered information into database systems.
- Conducted outreach to families and community partners to find ways to address social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
- Helped families navigate the social services system, including navigation within our NAMI programs, accessing resources, and connecting with other support services.
- Created and executed programs to promote children's mental health and well-being.
Intern
NAMI Jacksonville Florida
05.2023 - 08.2023
- Assisted peer-led staff in delivering awareness programs and presentations to the community.
- Participated in training and professional development under the supervision of the Executive Director.
- Supported the nonprofit organization with data collection and documentation.
- Developed a helpline manual for volunteers.
- Sorted and organized files, spreadsheets, and reports.
- Prepared project presentations and reports to assist senior staff.
Education
M.D. - Mental Health And Wellness
Grand Canyon University
Arizona05-2025
Bachelor’s Degree - Human Services
Florida State College of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida08.2024
Skills
- Strategic leadership
- Effective communication
- Analytical problem-solving
- Analytical skills
- Team leadership
- Strategic development
- Event management
- Grant proposal development
- Crisis management
- Technical writing
- Program performance analysis
- Policy and procedure improvements
Certification
- Licensed Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in the State of Florida with Designation as Adult and Family
Timeline
Program Manager
NAMI Jacksonville Florida
08.2024 - Current
Family Navigator
NAMI Jacksonville Florida
08.2023 - 08.2024
Intern
NAMI Jacksonville Florida
05.2023 - 08.2023
Bachelor’s Degree - Human Services
Florida State College of Jacksonville
M.D. - Mental Health And Wellness
Grand Canyon University