Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Publications
Timeline
Generic

Heather Mermel

Summary

Dedicated, passionate healthcare leader with fifteen plus years of experience in the behavioral health sector, including managed care and community-based provider system; in depth knowledge of the children's system of care, including NYS Medicaid State Plan and Waiver services; extensive advocacy and public policy experience with research, analytics, ability to work cross-systems in coalitions, with government officials, policymakers and stakeholders; experience in child, youth and family policy and program development; ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment; writing and verbal communication skills; and networking skills.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Children's Services

Healthfirst
09.2017 - 10.2023
  • Develop and implement policies, procedures and workflows for the development of the Children's Services program model
  • Provide operational oversight and monitor program implementation to ensure optimal functioning in key areas including: utilization of children's services, coordination and quality of patient care, progress towards identified program outcomes and adherence to regulatory guidelines
  • Make recommendations based on findings to the Children's Services Medical and Clinical Director and core team members
  • Work collaboratively with Business Operations, Medical and Clinical Directors, Children's Managers and internal departments including configuration, claims, network, clinical and quality to ensure development of appropriate metrics for children's services
  • Analyze and translate State regulatory and contractual guidelines into an implementation plan to ensure program compliance
  • Primary contact and partner with State and City government serving children and youth, policymakers, physical health, behavioral health, child welfare, and other community-based children's services providers to develop and implement policies and programs that will enhance the children's system of care
  • Represent Healthfirst at City and State meetings to promote coordination between managed care and the systems of care for children in NYC
  • Co-chair of the Children's Health Home/Managed Care Organization committee, Foster Care clinical and MCO only committee.

NYS Strategic Initiatives Director

Beacon Health Options
10.2015 - 08.2017
  • Analyzed and translated the NYS Medicaid Managed Care Organization Children's System Transformation Requirements and Standards into an implementation plan, consisting of both internal and external components
  • Facilitated and led planning, organization and management of internal implementation workgroups for NYS's Children's Medicaid Redesign Plan
  • Developed and led communication and meetings with Beacon's Plan Partners regarding the Children's Medicaid Redesign
  • Member of NYS Children and Adolescent Health VBP Subcommittee and Clinical Advisory Group and “First 1,000 Days on Medicaid Initiative” Workgroup.

Government and Community Liaison Manager

Beacon Health Options
  • Developed work plan and assisted with the implementation of the behavioral health/medical integration requirements to ensure that Beacon is in compliance with NYS Behavioral Health (BH)/Health and Recovery Plans (HARP) initiatives
  • Developed and presented tools and training materials, as required, to support BH/HARP initiatives for special populations including First Episode Psychosis and Transition Age Youth
  • Worked closely with subject matter experts and internal departments including configuration, network, clinical, quality, knowledge management and operations to support various tasks related to achieving business objectives
  • Engaged, strengthened and maintained effective partnerships with State and City government agencies, community leadership, stakeholders and providers to improve the delivery of a coordinated system of care
  • Participated and represented Beacon in relevant stakeholder, planning, development and advocacy meetings
  • Met regularly with representatives from designated NYS and NYC child-serving agencies
  • Member of New York State Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Children's Health and Behavioral Health Subcommittee.

Director of City and Federal Policy and Advocacy

The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, Inc.
  • Prepared and presented the agency's policy positions through testimony, advocacy materials and communications means
  • Led The Coalition's advocacy in Washington, D.C
  • Monitored and analyzed Federal, State and City legislation and annual behavioral health budgets
  • Participated in several committees including the NYS Office of Mental Health Children's Mental Health Planning Advisory Committee (MHPAC) and the NYS Office of Mental Health Children's Ambulatory Care Rate Restructuring Committee.

Director of Policy and Advocacy for Children and Families

The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, Inc.
01.2005 - 01.2015
  • Developed and implemented The Coalition's policy and advocacy agenda and activities related to children, youth and families
  • Cultivated and worked in partnership with key elected and appointed officials, staff, policymakers and related governmental bodies and leaders at the state and local levels to adopt and implement policies that will enhance the behavioral health sector in New York City and State
  • Represented The Coalition in public and in private forums, meetings, workgroups
  • Coordinated and staffed The Coalition's Children, Youth and Families' committee
  • Actively participated in New York State Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Children's Health and Behavioral Health Subcommittee and NYS Office of Mental Health's Children's Day Treatment Workgroup
  • Member of Children's Citywide Oversight Committee, School-Based Mental Health Subcommittee of the Federation and Campaign for Effective Behavioral Health Supports for Students.

Senior Associate for Policy and Program Development

The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, Inc.
  • Developed and implemented advocacy strategies on the full range of issues that impact the mental health and substance abuse sector
  • Advocated with government officials at the State and City level and their staff
  • Wrote and provided testimony at City and State legislative oversight hearings on issues related to the behavioral health sector
  • Monitored and analyzed State and City legislation and annual behavioral health budgets
  • Worked with behavioral health providers and government officials in allocating funds designated for the behavioral health sector and improving programmatic and fiscal models of services/programs
  • Participated in several committees including the Federation's Citywide Children's Committee, School-Based Mental Health Subcommittee and Early Childhood Subcommittee, and the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York
  • Promoted from Policy Associate in June of 2008.

Intern

Mental Health Association of New York City
01.2004 - 01.2005
  • Coordinated and implemented educational workshops and programs on depression in adolescence, suicide and bullying for youth, parents and professionals
  • Implemented mental health screening programs in New York City Public Schools
  • Researched and presented various mental health topics including treating children and adolescents with antidepressants.

Research Administrator

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
01.2002 - 01.2003
  • Oversaw the $1.5 grants program: recruited and advertised for research and pilot grants, coordinated the review process, monitored status of each grantee via gathering progress reports, monitored progress of the awardees, reported and disseminated information on all recent research findings, liaison between organization and Scientific Council
  • Organized suicide prevention conferences, including Survivors of Suicide Workshop and Youth Suicide Prevention Workshop
  • Coordinated the College Screening Project which helps to identify college students at risk for depression and suicide, analyzed all data from the Student Health Questionnaire, liaison between participating Universities, Scientific Council and the foundation
  • Developed, implemented and analyzed data for research projects examining the risk and rate of suicide, including the Suicide Data Bank Questionnaire
  • Coordinated and participated in Suicide Data Bank workshops.

Education

M.P.H. Sociomedical Sciences - Health Promotion/Disease Prevention

Columbia University
05.2005

B.S. Behavioral Neuroscience -

Lafayette College
05.2002

Skills

  • Organized and Detail-Oriented
  • Problem-Solving
  • Supervisory Experience
  • Microsoft Office Proficiency
  • Critical Thinking
  • Verbal and Written Communication
  • Staff Management
  • Project Management
  • Operations Management
  • Strategic Planning
  • Rules and Regulations
  • Public Speaking

Publications

Petit, J., Sheola, R., & Mermel, H.R.   The Transformation of New York’s Children’s Behavioral Health System: Specialty Care Matters, Behavioral Health News [New York], Winter 2017, 20, 36 


A Prescription for expanding school-based mental health services in New York Public Elementary Schools. Citizens Committee for Children of New York, Inc., 2013 


Letter: Mental Care for Children, The New York Times, 12 April 2012, https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/opinion/mental-care-for-children.html 


Attempted Suicide by Adolescent Latinas: A Public Health Concern, Salud Mental [New York], Summer 2007, 10 


Hendin, H. Maltsberger, J.T. Szanto, K. Rabinowicz, H. Desperation and other affective states in suicidal patients, Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 2004, 34, 4, 386 – 394


Hendin, H. Maltsberger, J.T. Haas, A.P. Szanto, K. Rabinowicz, H. Factors contributing to therapists’ distress after the suicide of a patient, The American Journal of Psychiatry, 2004, 161, 1442 – 1446


 

Timeline

Director of Children's Services

Healthfirst
09.2017 - 10.2023

NYS Strategic Initiatives Director

Beacon Health Options
10.2015 - 08.2017

Director of Policy and Advocacy for Children and Families

The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, Inc.
01.2005 - 01.2015

Intern

Mental Health Association of New York City
01.2004 - 01.2005

Research Administrator

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
01.2002 - 01.2003

Government and Community Liaison Manager

Beacon Health Options

Director of City and Federal Policy and Advocacy

The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, Inc.

Senior Associate for Policy and Program Development

The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, Inc.

M.P.H. Sociomedical Sciences - Health Promotion/Disease Prevention

Columbia University

B.S. Behavioral Neuroscience -

Lafayette College
Heather Mermel