DENISE Garcia, LMFT
Oakland,CA
Summary
Dedicated licensed mental health leader with proven track record of successfully managing projects and initiatives and achieving desired business objectives. Skilled in developing and executing strategies, managing budgets and resources, and leading cross-functional teams. Consistently produces tangible outcomes that exceed expectations. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges to best enhance the organization and promote success.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Administrator
Telecare Jay Mahler Recovery Center
05.2021 - Current
- Manage all aspects of the day to day operations of the crisis residential program partnering with Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH)
- Ensure regulatory compliance and actively overseeing quality assurance performance improvements
- Collaborate with all corporate departments and outside consultants and represent the program to state/county agencies, community partners, and consumer groups
- Manage strategic planning activities of the program and maintaining a relationship with internal and external stakeholders
- Establish staffing requirements for all departments, directing the recruitment, selection, and when necessary, disciplinary action within the program
- Manage the program within allocated budgetary parameters and collaborate in the development of the fiscal budget
- Ensure compliance of Telecare's policies and procedures
- Review all licensing requirements of staff and provide clinical supervision
- Provide all department training as required or as needed
- Collaboration for preparation with Community Care Licensing, Department of Health Care Services, Internal Quality Assurance, and CARF accreditation
- Establish culture of the program and create initiatives that reinforce the culture.
Interim Director of Staff Development
Telecare Corporation
Villa Fairmont Mental Health Rehabilitation Center
07.2023 - Current
- Trained new employees on proper protocols and customer service standards.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue and working with other programs to meet their compliance.
- Developed and delivered new hire training programs and continuous professional development.
- Mitigated business risks (DHCS & CARF) by working closely with staff members and assessing performance.
- Created and managed continuous improvement classes and training programs targeted to new and non-engaged employees.
- Reduced operational risks while organizing data via Relias to forecast performance trends.
- Collaborated with department supervisors to identify talented employees and plan out paths for development and promotion.
- Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural trainings in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.
- Improved office efficiency by effectively managing internal communications and correspondence.
- Generated and analyzed reports to monitor employee engagement and attrition trends.
Administrator
Telecare Hope House
09.2021 - 06.2023
- Manage all aspects of the day to day operations of the crisis residential program partnering with Contra Costa Behavioral Health (CCBH)
- Ensure regulatory compliance and actively overseeing quality assurance performance improvements
- Collaborate with all corporate departments and outside consultants and represent the program to state/county agencies, community partners, and consumer groups
- Manage strategic planning activities of the program and maintaining a relationship with internal and external stakeholders
- Establish staffing requirements for all departments, directing the recruitment, selection, and when necessary, disciplinary action within the program
- Manage the program within allocated budgetary parameters and collaborate in the development of the fiscal budget
- Review all licensing requirements of staff and provide clinical supervision
- Collaboration for preparation with Community Care Licensing, Department of Health Care Services, Internal Quality Assurance, and CARF accreditation
Clinical Director
Telecare ATLAS FSP/AOT/MIST
06.2016 - 05.2021
- Ensure that the program complies with all applicable laws and regulations and keeps informed about changes in regulations with assistance of administrator
- Ensures compliance with Telecare's policies and procedures and HIPAA regulations
- Reinforce the importance of culture and assist with creating initiatives for all programs
- Outstanding customer relations skills with Department of Mental Health, Department of Health Services, Jails, Hospitals, Court officials, and overall community partners
- Assisted with CARF, Medi-Cal, and QA audits as well as DMH on-site visits
- Oversee and monitors accuracy of medical records.
- Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
- Developed and implemented strategic plans enabling facility to meet budgetary and quality assurance goals.
- Performed event coordination for larger parties and gatherings.
Team Lead
Telecare TABS (AB109 Countywide)
08.2014 - 06.2016
- Directed and supervised the AB109 outpatient program multidisciplinary team and day to day coordination
- Provided sensitivity to multi-cultural populations with co-occurring severe mental illness and justice involvement
- Completed clinical assessments, documentation, and treatment planning
- Partner with leadership to improve quality of care
- Abided by ACT standards and followed all policies, procedures and standards of care
- Established strong customer and community relations (i.e., probation officers, courts, police, jails, etc.) Assessed safety risks and effectively managed crisis situations in and out of the office
- LPS designated to complete 5150 holds and provide linkage and resources to members with co-occurring severe mental illness
- Outreaching in jails, hospitals, community in an effort to link to appropriate services.
- Participated in cross-functional team-building activities.
- Evaluated employee skills and knowledge regularly, training and mentoring individuals with lagging skills.
Mental Health Therapist Intern
Pacific Clinics
05.2013 - 08.2014
- Observed and monitored client behavior and responses to treatment.
- Worked collaboratively with other mental health professionals to provide consistent care and minimize diversion.
- Provided comprehensive case management services, psychosocial assessments, created treatment plans and connected clients and families to appropriate resources.
- Developed goal-oriented psychoeducational and activity therapy groups to improve clients' level of functioning.
- Guided clients in effective therapeutic exercises integrated from Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
- Directed family-centered, strengths-based, culturally competent and individualized intakes and assessments.
- Completed one-on-one counseling with broad range of clients suffering ADHD, Major Depression, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Conduct Disorder and substance issues.
Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee
Riverside County Department of Mental Health
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Maintained accurate and thoroughly documented notes and client records in accordance with licensing standards.
- Conducted intake and needs assessments to set therapeutic goals and establish professional relationships with clients.
- Delivered counseling services to children and their families with familial issues.
- Assisted clients in locating resources for housing services and financial assistance.
- Collaborated with other mental health professionals to create comprehensive treatment plans.
- Performed individual and group psychotherapy and conducted teletherapy sessions to help clients pinpoint emotions underlying personal and relational conflicts.
- Countered problematic behavior with healthy alternatives to enhance mental, emotional and physical wellness and increase energy.
- Collaborated with social services, referral sources and other treatment professionals to meet patient care needs.
- Leveraged practice management software to complete weekly progress notes, update quarterly treatment plans and maintain patient records.
Education
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
LMFT 11212803.2019
Master of Arts - Marriage & Family Therapy/Counseling Psychology
Argosy University
Ontario, CA06.2013
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of California Santa Barbara
Goleta, CA06.2010
Skills
- Best Practices and Standards
- Customer Satisfaction
- Standard Operating Procedures Understanding
- Budget Administration
- Community Mental Health Programs
- Inpatient Crisis Treatment
- Program Management
- Staff Performance Assessments
- Policy Implementation
- Human Resource Management
- Recruitment, Staffing, and Retention
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Affiliations
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
- Clinical Preceptor-Adams State University-Colorado
- Clinical Preceptor-Concordia University-Irvine
- Clinical Preceptor-Walden University
- Clinical Preceptor-University of Southern California (USC)
Timeline
Interim Director of Staff Development
Telecare Corporation
07.2023 - Current
Administrator
Telecare Hope House
09.2021 - 06.2023
Administrator
Telecare Jay Mahler Recovery Center
05.2021 - Current
Clinical Director
Telecare ATLAS FSP/AOT/MIST
06.2016 - 05.2021
Team Lead
Telecare TABS (AB109 Countywide)
08.2014 - 06.2016
Mental Health Therapist Intern
Pacific Clinics
05.2013 - 08.2014
Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee
Riverside County Department of Mental Health
01.2012 - 01.2013
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Master of Arts - Marriage & Family Therapy/Counseling Psychology
Argosy University
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of California Santa Barbara