Tara Belfast

Experience

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  College of William and Mary

  Jun 2003 - Aug 2003

  Research Assistant

  * Worked with mice four days until thirty days of age with fetal alcohol syndrome* Administered alcohol to subjects, whose effects of alcohol were observed at a later date* Trained and tested subjects for context conditioning* Predicted that alcohol-exposed subjects will show less freezing in the context during the test because of impaired memory

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  Office of Residence Life

  Sept 2003 - May 2006

  Resident Assistant

  * Facilitate development of community by creating opportunities for residents to interact* Plan, organize and implement programs that meet needs of residents* Assume responsibility for identifying, reporting and correcting safety and security concerns * Educate residents about safety and security measures* Develop and maintain relationships with residents and College personnel* Serve as a resource, referral, and communication agent

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  Office of Multicultural Affairs

  Sept 2003 - May 2006

  Student Worker

  * Clerical work (filing, copying)* Helped organize on-campus events * Created posters to publicize activitiesAssisted other office staff with any projectsServed as liaison between student & faculty/staff community to enhance programming.

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  Child and Family Connection

  Feb 2005 - May 2006

  Student Intern

  Complete referrals for parents, using the NACCRRA database * Contact and follow-up with parents about available child care* Conduct surveys for parents regarding improvement of the center* Update information about child care centers in Hampton Roads by speaking with Directors* Assist other office staff with any projects

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  Mt. Gilead Christian Academy

  Jul 2005 - Aug 2005

  Student Intern

  Organized front office records* Put together registration packets for future applicants* Assisted lead and assistant teachers to better take care of the children TRAINING

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  Merrimac Center

  Sept 2006 - Mar 2013

  Counselor III

  Maintain basic discipline and control, and supervise youth in their daily routinesEnsure communication between all levels of staff and management is accurateObserve youth to detect potentially dangerous situations. Assist youth in relieving anxiety through counseling and activitiesConduct investigations of incidents that occur in the facility to determine appropriate consequences Prepare clear and concise reports summarizing findings and conclusions with documentary evidenceReceive written and/or verbal complaints & inquiries from staff, visitors and/or parents; and prepare responses and/or processe requests for information.Actively applies evidence based practices utilizing our Cognitive Behavior Training techniques and skillsServe as acting supervisor in the absence of shift supervisorWilling to provide coverage for other teamsAct as Controller in the absence of shift Control Room Operator, with knowledge of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)Dispense medications to residents on a daily basis Show less

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  Destiny's House In-Home Residential

  Apr 2010 - Dec 2014

  Home Counselor

  Assist individuals with intellectual disabilities in learning or performing daily living skills. Empower our youth and their guardians to explore practical outlets for managing stress and anger.Rebuild the lives of each individual we serveMake home and community contacts in accord with clients'needs Conduct & arrange the necessary services for each client according to their treatment plan.Schedule psychological assessments as needed for clients needing services.Interface with clinician to ensure continuity of age-appropriate services for youth as they progress towards discharge.Chart and record services according to agency standards.Have and maintain a current driver's license to transport youth as necessary. Establish a rapport with clients and families to ensure progress with treatment plans; and plan activities to complement youth's needs. Show less

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  Virginia Commonwealth Challenge

  Jul 2011 - Sept 2011

  Mentor

  Tracks cadet progress in the Post-Residential Phase of the Challenge ProgramAssists the cadet with the implementation of the life plan that each cadet develops in the residential phasePlans and completes a community service project with the cadet before graduationParticipates in off-site visits and visits ChalleNGe Program site to takes part in relevant activities (i.e., graduation)

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  Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board

  Dec 2014 - Mar 2018

  Program Manager

  - Performs, plans and supervises a team of others engaged in the administration of mental status evaluations and consumer assessments, the development of consumer service plans, the linkage of consumers to service providers, the monitoring ,assisting and documenting of progress, counseling and crisis intervention, hospital liaison, consumer discharge planning and after care coordination, agency liaison, consumer advocacy and related activities.- Assists in assessing consumer needs and preparing service plans; provides input into overall program.- Assigns cases to residential counselors. - Participates in the recruitment, interviewing, orientation and training of staff.- Participates in inter- and intra-agency team and management meetings and coordinated the implementation of policy and procedure change at the unit level.- Interacts with law enforcement, judicial, health providers, and other agency departments and other service providers to facilitate services. - Backs up the manager and residential counselors in their absence.- Monitors expenditures. Show less

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  Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

  Mar 2018 - now

  Provide programmatic and administrative leadership, direction and support to advance DBHDS vision of a person-centered, data driven, integrated, resiliency- and recovery oriented comprehensive systems of responsive behavioral health and developmental disability services and supports for individuals across the Commonwealth. Provide subject matter expertise, project management and administrative oversight in the development of new/current initiatives and services related to serious mental illness and substance use disorder. Support the development of ongoing systems transformation including Systems Transformation Excellence and Performance for VA (STEP-VA), and behavioral health Medicaid services enhancement for all populations (mental health, substance use, or co-occurring mental health, substance use disorders and individuals involved with criminal justice systems). Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the implementation of an array of deliberately chosen services that make up a comprehensive, accessible system for those with serious behavioral health disorders. Support critical programs, funding allocations to communities throughout the Commonwealth, and agency initiatives such as STEP VA, behavioral health enhancement, and crisis system transformation. Plan and distribute the disbursements of State General and Federal funds for services and programs. Develop, monitor, and evaluate community services programs to ensure effective operational functioning; and promote the effective use of federal, state, and regional resources. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to deliver innovative solutions to existing and newly identified systemic concerns through the development of provider capacity, education and technical training and assistance to the behavioral health providers throughout the state. Plan, manage, and coordinate multiple, diverse, yet interrelated projects. Show less Responsible for planning, developing, implementing, monitoring and supporting the Commonwealth’s public system of behavioral health services for adults, through policy development, strategic and operational planning, consultation and training within the assigned DBHDS region. Monitor the delivery of federal Mental Health Block Grant and Substance Abuse Block Grant programs and services in the Community Services Boards. Supporting program evaluations across SAMHSA, and providing oversight of agency quality improvement and performance management activities. responsible for the development and tracking of evaluation indicators that help identify negative and positive trends in the community, and management of programs that address behavioral health conditions and promote overall wellness of individuals, families, communities, and tribal communities. Represent the Office by providing subject matter expertise in the collection, analysis, and reporting of community evaluation data and represent the Center on agency-wide committees and workgroups involved in data collection and evaluation. Encourage continuous quality improvement; deliver ongoing support and technical assistance to the CSBs and regional programs for capacity-building, program development and effective operational functioning. Provide effecting and efficient communication between DBHDS and CSBs and regions. Promote the effective use of federal, state and regional resources. Collaborates with the regional public behavioral system leaders. CSB clinical leadership, key stakeholders on communities, workgroups, task forces, councils and others as required/needed in sport of these objectives. Respond to inquiries, requests for funding, clarification or interpretation of information from internal and external constituents and customers. Perform day to day administrative tasks and functions that support the office and agency. Show less

  • Behavioral Health Program Manager

    May 2021 - now

  • Behavioral Health Regional Consultant

    Mar 2018 - May 2021