JESS STEINBRENNER

Provide leadership for county Human Services operations, partnering in strategic direction, organizational performance, budget stewardship, and cross-system service integration across complex Human Services programs. Lead supervisors and multi-disciplinary teams in advancing quality improvement, regulatory compliance, program development, and community partnership strategies while serving as a strategic partner to the Director, and exercising broad delegated authority to ensure continuity of executive leadership.

• Collaborated with community partners to enhance service delivery and accessibility.

• Led clinical operations for four state-run facilities in the region, including Fergus Falls Community Behavioral Health Hospital, Fergus Falls Community Addiction Recovery Enterprise, Alexandria Community Behavioral Health Hospital, and Wadena Minnesota Specialty Health Systems Intensive Residential Treatment.
• Oversaw organizational leadership in clinical service delivery, ensuring compliance and standardization through audits and process checks.
• Developed and delivered clinical training while leading state-wide clinical improvement and quality initiatives to enhance service delivery.
• Provide clinical education, updates, and supports related to implementation of policies, procedures, and process improvement projects.
• Supported development of clinical leadership through recruiting, hiring, and onboarding, including conducting competency evaluations.
• Work collaboratively to address staff shortages in planful and creative ways, including development / oversight of the region's first mobile mental health position.

• Delivered individual and group therapy for adults under civil commitment in inpatient psychiatric setting. Provided clinical direction on person-centered behavioral interventions, including education, demonstration, and feedback/support for staff. Evaluated and revised interventions in collaboration with multidisciplinary team. Facilitated weekly clinical supervision sessions for behavior assistants, social work, and peer support staff, including agency interns. Led hospital's active treatment team, collecting, calculating, and evaluating data related to program delivery and patient utilization. Led clinically relevant QAPI projects and participated in MHSATS-wide and DCT-wide policy workgroups.
• Co-led Fergus Falls CBHH's Integrated Conflict Management Systems (ICMS) team. Delivered education and relational learning events to enhance conflict competency among staff. Acted as DHS ICMS Facilitator, providing professional education and conflict facilitation services across DHS.
• Provided counseling services to clients experiencing mental health challenges.
• Developed individualized treatment plans based on client assessments and needs.
• Facilitated group therapy sessions to promote peer support and healing.

• Delivered social work case management services for patients in an inpatient psychiatric setting, including bio/psycho/social assessment, treatment plan writing, discharge planning, family education, and court reporting. Facilitated weekly multidisciplinary treatment team meetings, including acting as a liaison to county case managers, parole officers, and family members. Deliver clinical support / consultation to the social work team, including supervision of interns. Managed a caseload of individual therapy patients. Facilitated group programming. Represented the social work team within QAPI meetings. Provided back-up for Mental Health Professional (including therapy and clinical supervision of behavior assistant staff) as needed. Developed & facilitated onsite morale committee to promote improved employee relationships.
• Collaborated with teams to develop and implement human services programs.
• Conducted assessments to identify client needs and service eligibility.
• Facilitated training sessions for staff on policy updates and best practices.

• Provided direct services for individuals and families living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, including individual / caregiver assessment, development of client-centered support plan, family education sessions, emotional support, caregiver skill development, and referral to identified services. Organized educational events via conferences, civic group presentations, and community-based educational series, often in partnership with area healthcare agencies and/or nonprofit agencies. Promoted agency services and dementia education via radio programming, written materials, outreach events, professional education / CEU opportunities. Served as a consultant for staff in long term care settings. Spearheaded advocacy work, including local, state, and national legislative engagement (including supporting Western MN constituents in engagement of advocacy efforts). Oversaw physician outreach efforts, including partnering with large healthcare systems to promote population based screening for early detection of MCI, thorough dementia workup, and utilization of direct referral to Alzheimer's Association services upon diagnosis. Facilitated evidence based Family Memory Care program. Developed and delivered specialized programming to meet unique needs of individuals with early stage Alzheimer's as well as Young Onset Alzheimer's.
• Provided supervision of St Cloud, MN office staff and interns. Managed the budget for both Western MN offices. Authored grant applications, including submission of subsequent required grant reports. Oversaw the recruitment, education, retention, and supervision efforts for support group facilitators and agency volunteers throughout Western Minnesota.
• Led program development for community outreach initiatives addressing Alzheimer's awareness.
• Collaborated with stakeholders to create educational resources for caregivers and families.
• Coordinated training workshops for volunteers and staff on Alzheimer's care practices.

• Provided care consultation services (and other evidence-based interventions) to families living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia throughout western Minnesota (21 county area). Organized and offered community and professional education opportunities, in collaboration with healthcare and nonprofit agency partners.
• Provided support to families navigating Alzheimer’s care options.
• Conducted assessments to identify individual needs and resources.
• Facilitated educational workshops on Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving strategies.

• Co-facilitated a variety of wellness programs at the Cancer Care & Research Center, including "I Can Cope," the General Cancer Support Group, and the Caregiver Support Group.
• Delivered social services on med-surg floor at Lake Region Healthcare, addressing patient needs and enhancing care coordination.
• Conducted client assessments to identify needs and develop care plans.
• Collaborated with healthcare teams to facilitate patient support services.
• Assisted in crisis intervention to address immediate client concerns.

• Offered information and education to Otter Tail County residents on emergency preparedness topics via press releases, websites, newspaper articles, and television interviews. Served as a media point of contact during times of declared emergency. Utilized the National Incident Management System.
• Developed public communication strategies for county initiatives and services.
• Managed media relations to enhance community awareness of county programs.
• Created informative content for newsletters, websites, and social media platforms.

• Promoted increased understanding and use of the county's environmental programs via education and outreach events throughout Otter Tail County. Fostered partnerships with cities, school districts, business / industry to promote effective use of waste reduction programs including waste audits, consultation, and ongoing education efforts to promote staff participation in waste reduction efforts / large system change. Authored materials (brochures, newsletters, website submissions, press releases, signage). Worked collaboratively with community partners to plan, organize, host events for promotion of waste reduction techniques. Provided tours of county facilities (recycling center, transfer stations) to promote understanding of and support for programs. Worked closely with department directors and county elected officials to identify and address community waste reduction needs.
• Oversaw several large-scale waste reduction projects (planning, educating, executing) including ISD 544's 'green' move into newly constructed Kennedy Secondary School.
• Participated in county technology committee meetings to discuss and advance technology initiatives.

• Provided direct care services for youth in a secure residential treatment setting, including group and recreational activities. Collaborated with the interdisciplinary team for identifying treatment needs and progress toward goals. Provided support and guidance to Youth Counselor 1 staff.
• Facilitated group counseling sessions for youth in intensive treatment programs.
• Developed individualized treatment plans to address specific emotional and behavioral needs.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance care strategies for clients.

• Managed caseload of adoptive and foster families across six-county area around Pierre, SD, and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe / Eagle Butte community. Led recruitment, training, homestudy assessment, and maintenance of foster care licenses. Supervised children post-termination of parental rights, providing emotional support, recruiting adoptive families, overseeing transitional services, and managing court reporting and adoption finalization. Completed on-call CPS duties, including assessments, emergency removals, and placement support for children facing abuse or neglect.
• Mentored and trained new CPS workers throughout central South Dakota, providing ongoing support to enhance consistency and effectiveness in practice.

• Protected the safety and well-being of adolescents in an intensive residential treatment program.