Melissa Donahue, LCSW/ LICSW
Plymouth
Summary
Dynamic clinical social worker and seasoned administrator with extensive experience providing diverse perspectives for clients, human resource partners, and community members. A strong commitment to fostering mental wellness is demonstrated through impactful roles in crisis intervention and as the director of an employee assistance program, prioritizing proactive outreach and education to support individuals before challenges escalate. Engaging in company orientations, trainings, and critical incident support debriefings offers invaluable opportunities to advocate for mental health as an essential element of overall well-being. Passionate about empowering others, each interaction highlights the profound impact that compassionate support can have during life's most challenging moments.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Consultant/Independent Contractor
R3 Continuum
09.2025 - Current
- Critical Incident Responder, Licensed Mental Health Professional
Supervisor
Canvas Health Services
07.2025 - Current
- Coordination of all aspects of the Canvas Health County Mobile Crisis Services system within Carver County including 24/7 Mobile Crisis Response including the mental health backup on-call system for evenings and weekends.
- Built strong relationships with clients to deliver emotional support and companionship.
- Working with division directors to establish program priorities, policies, and procedures.
- Providing crisis assessment and intervention, clinical supervision and other clinical services.
Director
Baptist Memorial Healthcare Dba Concern Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
09.2017 - 06.2025
- Oversee Clinical and Administrative staff.
- Providing in person, virtual, and/or hybrid trainings to partner organizations on a variety of subject matters
- Conducting critical incident stress debriefing support groups
- Responsible for the yearly budget and all financial issues.
- Market our array of services to expand client base beyond the current 70,000+ covered lives internationally.
- Provide therapy to clients when needed
- Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning.
- Leveraged professional networks and industry knowledge to strengthen client relationships.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
Director of Mobile Crisis
Alliance Healthcare Services Previously Southeast Mental Health Center
05.2014 - 09.2017
- Oversee over 60+ employees to provide clinical consultation
- Build and strengthen relationships with other providers in the community
- Change and build policy to improve procedures for the agency and patients as to assist in organization receiving an accreditation through CARF
- Community Health Collaborative Project with Memphis Fire Department to reduce recidivism for patients returning to Emergency departments and the 911 call center
- Provide monthly trainings for directly managed staff as well as others agencies such a the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officers
- Implemented innovative programs to increase employee loyalty and reduce turnover.
Crisis Specialist II
Alliance Healthcare Services previously Southeast Mental Health Center
06.2013 - 05.2014
- Provide crisis intervention, crisis stabilization counseling, and short-term community support to individuals and their families by phone and mobile outreach to individuals in psychiatric emergencies
- Diagnosis and begin patients treatment process
- Provide clinical documentation to MCO’s on patients need for treatment
- Partner with hospitals and other providers to determine the most clinically appropriate decision
- Refer patients to the lowest level of appropriate care in the community
- Collected, arranged, and input information into database system.
Therapist/ Needs Assessor/ Discharge Planner
Community Behavioral Health (CBH)
04.2012 - 06.2013
- Leading Psycho Education and Process Groups
- Provided individual and group therapy to adults patients experiencing biopsychosocial stressors.
- Completed assessments and planned customized treatments, applying wide range of resources.
- Counseled individuals, groups or families to help understand problems, deal with crisis situations and develop realistic action plans.
- Discharge Planning by connecting Clients with needed assistance within the community while collaborating with family/ friends
- Worked with utilization review to establish prior authorization for timely discharges.
Student Internship
Meritan: Stepping Stones: Specialized Foster Care Services
05.2011 - 07.2011
- Conduct assessments of potential foster patients to determine the pairing of medically fragile foster children
- Perform home environment assessments
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
Masters Student Internship
G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center: Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) & Outpatient Services
01.2011 - 05.2011
- Assist in reducing the use of inpatient psychiatric care through intensive case management.
- Clinically monitoring and assessing these dually diagnosed Veterans.
- Co-facilitation of combat support groups for Veterans
- Analyzed problems and worked with teams to develop solutions.
- Explored new modalities of care and approaches to streamline processes to impatient patient care.
Bachelors Student Internship
Rankin County Department of Children Services: Children and Families Investigation
01.2010 - 05.2010
- Investigate and document reported allegations of emotional, sexual, physical, and verbal abuse within the home
- Attend court hearings to advocate on behalf of the children
- Arrange placement with abused children who were unable to remain in the home environment
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
- Adaptable individual with exceptional interpersonal skills and talent for building relationships. Known for delivering outstanding service and enhancing client satisfaction. Focused on fostering positive interactions and creating collaborative environment.
Education
Master of Social Work - Social Work
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS05.2011
Bachelor of Social Work - undefined
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS05.2010
Skills
- Crisis Intervention, Mental Health, Community Outreach, Psychotherapy, Clinical Supervision, Diagnosing, Presentations, Case Management, Developing Policy and Procedure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Fundraising, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Presentations
Affiliations
- American Red Cross: Midsouth July 2016- Present
- Breakaway Running for a Cause: St Jude Team December 2014-Currently
- Catholic Charities May 2015- Present
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Trainer
- EAPA Pyramid Chapter April 2020-Currently
- Habitat for Humanity- Blue Hat Trainer August 2015- Currently
- Memphis Fire Department: CHF Program & Community February 2015- Present
- Paramedic Trainer
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW- 886967808) March 2010- Present
Certification
- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) Since 2021
- CSTAG Level 1 Trained (Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guide) July 2025
- Dialectical Behavior Therapist (DBT) August 2025
- Disruptive Event Management through R3 Continuum
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Tennessee
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Minnesota
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (TF-CBT)
- Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certified- Nonviolent Intervention
Timeline
Consultant/Independent Contractor
R3 Continuum
09.2025 - Current
Supervisor
Canvas Health Services
07.2025 - Current
Director
Baptist Memorial Healthcare Dba Concern Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
09.2017 - 06.2025
Director of Mobile Crisis
Alliance Healthcare Services Previously Southeast Mental Health Center
05.2014 - 09.2017
Crisis Specialist II
Alliance Healthcare Services previously Southeast Mental Health Center
06.2013 - 05.2014
Therapist/ Needs Assessor/ Discharge Planner
Community Behavioral Health (CBH)
04.2012 - 06.2013
Student Internship
Meritan: Stepping Stones: Specialized Foster Care Services
05.2011 - 07.2011
Masters Student Internship
G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center: Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) & Outpatient Services
01.2011 - 05.2011
Bachelors Student Internship
Rankin County Department of Children Services: Children and Families Investigation
01.2010 - 05.2010
Bachelor of Social Work - undefined
Mississippi College
Master of Social Work - Social Work
Jackson State University
Awards
Shining Star: Employee of the Quarter Spring 2013, Senior Social Work Award, 2009-2010