Jennifer Lopez
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Recovery-oriented behavioral health leader with extensive experience supporting individuals with serious mental illness involved in the criminal justice system. Proven ability to foster peer empowerment, facilitate high-engagement groups, mentor staff, and strengthen interdisciplinary
collaboration. Recognized for building trust amongst clients, lead peer-driven groups, mentor colleagues, and improve engagement through strengths-based, person-centered support. Committed to advancing recovery culture while enhancing team performance and service delivery outcomes.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Certified Peer Specialist
CASES
Manhattan, New York
06.2022 - Current
- Delivered community-based treatment to adults with serious mental illness involved in the criminal justice system across New York City, improving engagement and continuity of care by providing intensive mobile services in shelters, hospitals, courts, and correctional settings
- Co-led biweekly psychoeducational and skills-based groups for one year, maintaining a consistent minimum attendance of 10 participants per session, fostering peer connection, empowerment, and sustained engagement in recovery goals
- Trained and onboarded three new team members, improving documentation accuracy and workflow efficiency by developing standardized templates and tracking spreadsheets for assessments, treatment planning, and progress notes.
- Facilitated interdisciplinary case conferences and staff meetings, enhancing treatment coordination and team responsiveness to high-risk client needs.
- Reduced psychiatric crises and safety incidents by providing real-time crisis intervention, de-escalation strategies, and risk management planning in community and forensic settings.
- Implemented person-centered treatment plans for high-risk clients, enhancing stabilization and compliance with court mandates through integration of risk assessment findings and individualized recovery goals.
- Increased client stability and successful community integration by coordinating medical care, public benefits, housing placements, and supportive services that addressed social determinants of health.
Program Director
Wonderful Life Adult Daycare
Brooklyn, NY
02.2018 - 05.2021
- Directed all aspects of program operations, including clinical services, compliance, fiscal oversight, food service, maintenance, and contract performance, achieving regulatory adherence and consistent attainment of service delivery benchmarks.
- Led and supervised multidisciplinary staff, establishing measurable performance targets that enhanced accountability and aligned with contract requirements.
- Recruited, hired, and trained program personnel, strengthening service quality and retention through structured onboarding, professional development initiatives, and ongoing performance evaluations.
- Enhanced program outcomes and compliance readiness through implementation of Quality Assurance reviews, internal audits, and corrective action plans aligned with NYC DOH, DFTA, and FDNY standards.
- Developed and implemented evidence-informed program curricula addressing relapse prevention, stages of change, motivational interviewing, parenting skills, and health education, enhancing participant engagement and goal attainment.
- Facilitated interdepartmental meetings and case conferences, improving communication and service coordination for timely treatment planning and discharge documentation completion.
- Organized onsite and offsite professional development trainings.
Education
Some College (No Degree) -
Borough of Manhattan Community College
New York, NYSkills
- Peer Support & Lived-Experience Advocacy
- Recovery-Oriented Practice
- Crisis Intervention & De-escalation
- Motivational Interviewing
- Treatment Engagement & Retention Strategies
- Group Facilitation & Psychoeducation
- Care Coordination & Systems Navigation
- Interdisciplinary Case Conferencing
- Community Resource Development
- Documentation & Compliance Standards
- Quality Improvement Initiatives
- Mentorship and conflict resolution
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
Certification
NYC Certified Peer Specialist Certificate
Timeline
Certified Peer Specialist
CASES
06.2022 - Current
Program Director
Wonderful Life Adult Daycare
02.2018 - 05.2021
Some College (No Degree) -
Borough of Manhattan Community College