Joy Bennink, LMHC, CAP, ATR
Tallahassee,FL
Summary
With 24 years of post-graduate experience, this versatile clinician and manager excels at collaborating with diverse stakeholders to achieve objectives, enhance productivity, and streamline operations. Expertise lies in providing exceptional mental health and substance abuse services, implementing effective management strategies, and driving performance improvements.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Director of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
Department of Juvenile Justice
05.2015 - Current
- Served as Interim Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, summer 2018, February 2021 – February 2022
- Assists in Contract Procurement as technical expert in mental health & substance abuse services and assures compliance with DJJ mental health/substance abuse services rules and standards for specialized treatment services
- Assists in contract development, review and standardization with Prevention, Probation, Detention, and Residential services program areas to assure compliance with Florida Statutes, DJJ mental health rules, guidelines and standards for specialized treatment services
- Serves on several State Health Improvement Plan priority area workgroups, Statewide Drug Policy Advisory Council, Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council, Steering Committee on Problem Solving Courts, and other committees/councils as assigned
- Coordinates department-wide mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability services for DJJ youths with a focus on Detention and Probation
- Assists in development of detailed policies and guidelines for staff and contracted mental health and substance abuse providers to implement Department and Legislative directives efficiently and effectively regarding mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability services
- Provides Technical Assistance to DJJ staff, DJJ providers, and the general public regarding Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Disability services in Florida
- Assists Director of MHSA Services with providing oversight of the electronic medical records system, reviews provider staff qualifications, supervises staff who specialize in detention clinical monitoring, special projects as assigned
- Provides routine professional presentations at conferences and state-sponsored events
Clinical Director
Twin Oaks Community Services
12.2013 - 05.2015
- Provided direct services to clients of all ages in outpatient setting (screening, assessment, treatment planning, treatment services, discharge planning and referring out)
- Administrative oversight and clinical supervision/training with staff
- Quality assurance
- Developed and implemented therapeutic programming for varying age groups and Medicaid recipients
- Managed referrals from a transition home for women and children, including women on probation/conditional release
- Assisted Twin Oaks with DJJ residential programs and Quality Improvement efforts; contracted as crisis counselor/advocate as needed in for alleged sexual trauma (PREA) events
Clinical Director
Twin Oaks Juvenile Development, Inc.
02.2008 - 12.2013
- Provided Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Disability treatment services to 156 youth within 4 DJJ Behavioral Health Overlay Services programs and 1 DJJ Developmental Disability program
- Provided administrative oversight and clinical supervision, clinical training, crisis management, and quality assurance for clinical team: assistant clinical director, 12 Master’s level therapists, 8 case managers, 16 Behavior Technicians, and various student intern programs
- Provided supervision, training and support for direct care staff to include suicide prevention services, emergency mental health and substance abuse services, DSM diagnoses, Crisis Intervention, ADHD, communication skills, adolescent development, cognitive behavioral therapy, stress management/relaxation, Trauma Informed Care, Developmental Disability, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), etc
- Served on multiple subcommittees within the larger agency of TOJD; assisted the corporate Quality Services Director to revise Facility Operating Procedures, and to implement evidence-based services within the agency (e.g., CARF Accreditation, DCF Substance Abuse Licensure, compliance with Medicaid/AHCA, selection and implementation of evidence-based treatment curricula, editing RFP/ITN proposals, etc.)
- Chairperson for the facility’s Community Advisory Board
- Developed and implemented therapeutic programming for varying age groups and sub-populations within the program (multiple contracts)
- Consulted with management teams at the programs and corporate office
- Served as the Designated Mental Health Authority for the facility, coordinating with psychiatrist, psychologists, non-licensed therapists, administration, various internship programs, Behavior Analysts, and direct care staff
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
AMH Associates
07.2006 - 05.2008
- Provided mental health and substance abuse services (screening, assessment, treatment planning and reviews, individual therapy, group counseling, family counseling, crisis management, suicide prevention services, and referrals) for male and female juvenile offenders in the Leon Regional Juvenile Detention Center; provided weekly clinical supervision to non-licensed mental health clinical staff; rotated on-call services every other weekend
- Provided Mental Health and Substance Abuse assessment and counseling services to outpatient children/adolescents as part of DJJ prevention/probation contracts in Suwannee County
- Subcontracted to provided assessment and counseling part-time with Florida Therapy Services to adults and children through Medicaid/Magellan and private pay/sliding fee who were recently discharged from inpatient psychiatric hospitalization or referred privately
Clinical Services Director
Twin Oaks Community Services
01.2006 - 10.2007
- Supervised a team of clinical staff providing services in the Liberty County school system
- Supervised a team of clinical staff providing services in a level 6 residential DJJ program serving 40 male juvenile offenders
- Offered training, supervision, and clinical support to staff; provided assessments, crisis management, group therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy to clients
- Coordinated Mental Health and Substance Abuse services for the Liberty County school system and the DJJ residential program for children and adolescents receiving services through Medicaid/Magellan
- Served as Designated Mental Health Authority for the DJJ program
Lead Residential Therapist
The Henry and Rilla White Foundation, Inc.
12.2000 - 12.2005
- Manager for clinical staff in 4 Mental Health overlay residential DJJ programs in north Florida
- Liaison between Dept of Juvenile Justice programs and White Foundation clinical staff
- Trained new employees, conducted monthly staff meetings with clinical staff, and conducted monthly monitoring of clinical documentation
- Primary (non-licensed) therapist for 24 male adolescent offenders
- Promoted in May 2003 from “Residential Therapist” serving one DJJ program to “Lead Therapist” managing clinical services in 4 DJJ programs while continuing to provide direct services to caseload
- Residential overlay primary therapist conducting assessments, weekly individual therapy sessions, weekly anger management groups, “special topics” group therapy (for specific issue sets such as grief, fatherhood, abuse survivors, substance abuse intervention services, etc.), treatment planning, psychiatric referrals and coordination, documentation, and treatment team collaboration with direct care staff working with 24 male juvenile offenders
- Worked under direct clinical supervision of Nicola Shea Hughes-Brand, Ph.D./LCSW and Patsy Schossler, LMHC as a Registered MH Counselor Intern
Art Therapist
Community Intervention Center
06.2000 - 12.2000
- Conducted art therapy groups with at-risk adolescents after school while finishing Master’s thesis project
- Provided in-home individual and family counseling to elementary school clients and families with learning disabilities/behavioral problems (under the clinical supervision of an LCSW)
- Provided training to staff on art therapy
Education
Doctoral Candidacy - Art Therapy
The Florida State University
05.2003
Master of Science - Art Therapy
The Florida State University
12.2000
Bachelor of Science -
The Florida State University
12.1998
Skills
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
- Relationship and Team Building
- Strategic Planning
- Program Management
- Staff Coordination
- Employee Relations
- Crisis Management
- Consulting
- Technical Writing
- Program Oversight
- Policy analysis
References
- Tracy Shelby, Ph.D., Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, (850)570-9001, Tracy.Shelby@fldjj.gov
- Rita Smith, DNP, MPH, APRN, Chief Medical Officer, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, (850)717-2415, rita.smith@fldjj.gov
- Charles Chervanik, COO, Twin Oaks Juvenile Development, Inc., (Former Assistant Secretary, DJJ Residential Services), (850)643-8049, cchervanik@twinoaksfl.org
- Karen Friedman, MSW, Quality Services Director, Twin Oaks Juvenile Development, Inc., (850)933-9385, kfriedman@twinoaksfl.org
Publicationsandawards
- Mental Health Consultant of the Year, 10/01/22, DJJ Office of Health Services
- Volunteer of the Year Award for Social/Civic category, 03/01/17, Tallahassee Democrat
- Employee of the Quarter, 03/01/13, Twin Oaks Juvenile Development
- Bennink, J., Gussak, D., & Skowran, M., The Role of the Art Therapist in a Juvenile Justice Setting, The Arts in Psychotherapy, 30, 163-173, 2003
- Bennink, J.E., The effects of a school art therapy enrichment program used with artistically gifted and talented first and second grade children, Master’s thesis, The Florida State University, 2000
Qualifications
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH8585), Florida Department of Health
December 2005 – present
Qualified Supervisor, Florida Department of Health – Clinical Social Work and Mental Health Counselor registered interns seeking licensure
January 2010
Certified Addictions Professional (#5476), Florida Certification Board and International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium – Alcohol and Drug Counselor May 2012
Certified Guardian Ad Litem Volunteer & Certified Educational Surrogate
January 2016
Registered Art Therapist (#02-195)
September 2002
Training requirements met as set forth in Rule 64B4-7.007 F.A.C. to practice juvenile sex offender therapy
January 2018
Timeline
Deputy Director of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
Department of Juvenile Justice
05.2015 - Current
Clinical Director
Twin Oaks Community Services
12.2013 - 05.2015
Clinical Director
Twin Oaks Juvenile Development, Inc.
02.2008 - 12.2013
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
AMH Associates
07.2006 - 05.2008
Clinical Services Director
Twin Oaks Community Services
01.2006 - 10.2007
Lead Residential Therapist
The Henry and Rilla White Foundation, Inc.
12.2000 - 12.2005
Art Therapist
Community Intervention Center
06.2000 - 12.2000
Master of Science - Art Therapy
The Florida State University
Bachelor of Science -
The Florida State University
Doctoral Candidacy - Art Therapy
The Florida State University
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