Dr. Chara L. Bowie, LPC-S

Experience

• 

  Tyche Inc.

  Aug 1998 - Aug 2000

  Interim Administrator/Case Manager

  Due to emergency became interim Administrator and oversaw facility operations.Provided case management for juveniles sentenced by the courts to serve 12 to 18 months in a restricted group home.Oversaw daily needs of juveniles including education, mental health and health care programsMaintain communication with juvenile probation officers and courtsSupervised Direct care Staff

• 

  DePelchin Children's Center

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2007

  Staff Clinician III

  Market Baytown Satellite program to schools, court system, and community organizations. As a result clientele increased by 50%.Supervised interns and built 2 homeless teenage mothers programs from grant to inception partnering with Salvation Army, Star of Hope, Convenant House of Texas, August Place and local apartment complexes and rental properties.Provided case management, individual, play, group, family therapy, crisis intervention, community referrals, assessments and diagnosis to children, adolescents, adults, and families with numerous psychological disorders.Facilitated life skills, anger management, divorce, and parenting classes to numerous populations throughout Harris County including CPS and court referrals. Facilitate school groups for Katrina survivorsMaintained relationship with school districts, other United Way Agencies, and local courts to ensure a continued referral base.Conducted presentations to schools and community. Show less

• 

  University of Houston

  Jan 2000 - Jun 2002

  Adjunct Faculty

  Taught family ecosystem class. Class size 100+ students.

• 

  Continuum Healthcare, LLC

  Jul 2006 - Nov 2007

  Administrator

  Obtain Medicare approval to operate a Community Mental Health CenterManage a Community Mental Health Center providing a Partial Hospitalization/Intensive Outpatient program for chronically mentally ill adults, seniors and outpatient services to juveniles and families. Maintain budget, compliance, create policy and procedures, monthly reports, supervise interns, conduct in-service trainings on mental health issues.Oversaw HR, Transportation, Nursing, Psychiatry, Outreach, and Clinical DepartmentsCoordinate and collaborate with community organizations. Show less

• 

  Private Practice

  Jan 2007 - Dec 2023

  Therapist

  Manage all aspects of private practice including financial oversite, budget, planning, promotion, and managed care private and public contracts.Provide individual, play, couples, and family therapy, evaluations, and treatment planning to children, teenagers, and adults. Areas of specialty are childhood trauma, depression, and sexual abuse

• 

  Harris County Precinct 2

  Nov 2007 - now

  • Promoted to lead a newly formed cluster of departments dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for constituents, driving initiatives to improve community well-being, and developing a comprehensive, data-driven strategic plan for sustained impact.• Oversee a multi-million-dollar budget, including philanthropic contributions and a diverse portfolio of local, state, and federal grant funds secured through Precinct2gether Inc., ensuring efficient allocation and compliance with funding regulations.• Lead a team of direct reports managing Healthcare & Social Services, Special Programs, Transportation, and Economic Development departments, cultivating a positive, high-performance culture while driving the successful execution of the organization’s vision and ensuring the effective implementation of strategic objectives.• Manage strategic collaborations and partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure accountability, seamless program implementation, and effective emergency response and disaster preparedness, while delivering sustainable services to the most underserved communities.• Serve as the Commissioner’s representative at community events, including board meetings, public interviews, press conferences, and special initiatives, while coordinating with elected officials and community leaders to strengthen relationships and drive key initiatives. Show less As a part of the Executive Leadership team, I manage strong relationships with Harris County Public Health, Harris Health, and the Harris Center to develop initiatives that increase access and address social determinants of health.Led Precinct 2 Covid Response efforts by developing distribution models, research, and strategic planning of testing and vaccine access. Worked with Harris County Public Health and others business and organizations to improve the outcomes of Precinct 2 residents. Hosted over 500 vaccine events and administered over 40,000 vaccine doses to residents of our most vulnerable populations. Oversee million-dollar contracts including the first of its kind in the United States, ACCESS2HEALTH smart pods. Oversee collaborations, and partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure accountability, adequate program implementation and continued services for our most underserved residents.Direct the operational, financial, and personnel aspects of the new HealthCare and Social Service Division including, forecast and plan programs that focus on improving quality of life, reduce health disparities, and create a pathway for health equity for all constituents.Work in tandem with Precinct2gether Inc. grants and non-profit administration to identify opportunities, secure donations, sponsorships and to successfully execute grant funded programs and services.Create partnerships with community organizations, universities, businesses, local agencies, elected officials, and community leaders to foster opportunities to develop innovate services and increase awareness of our programs.Represent Harris County, Precinct 2 Commissioner within the community, as part of local committees, boards, ARPA workgroups, events and public speaking opportunities. Show less Managed daily operations, finances, and personnel across multiple departments including Community Centers, Youth and Senior Programs, Grants, Transportation, and Veterans Services. Oversaw 12 County Community Centers, 5 program areas, 3 special programs, and a fleet of 28 buses with 15 direct reports and 100+ staff.Planned and maintained county departmental and nonprofit program budgets, ensuring prudent stewardship of funds and robust internal controls. Developed strategic plans for departmental growth and tracked progress towards objectives.Oversaw compliance of Precinct2gether Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and program regulations to sustain nonprofit status. Reported accurate participation, income, and expense data to the Board of Directors.Planned annual in-services for all staff levels, including recruitment, hiring, training, counseling, mentoring, performance evaluations, and salary planning in alignment with Precinct 2 human resources policies.Developed marketing materials and implemented strategies to enhance nonprofit program revenue, resulting in increased foundation grants, federal grants, fundraising, sponsorships, and donations.Represented the County Commissioner within the community and local committees, fostering collaboration with businesses, community agencies, leaders, and constituents to recruit volunteers, raise program awareness, and innovate new services.Organized and executed fundraisers, special events, and community programs throughout Precinct 2, aligning initiatives with the Commissioner’s vision to address the social determinants of health and enhance residents' quality of life. Show less

  • Executive Director of Operations

    Jun 2023 - now

  • Director Of HealthCare and Social Services

    Sept 2020 - Jun 2023

  • Director of Community Programs

    Nov 2007 - Sept 2020
• 

  College of Healthcare Professionals

  Mar 2021 - now

  Adjunct Professor/Interim Program Director

  Teach new mental health certification program classes.