Joel David Lesses

Experience

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  Maxim Yea

  Oct 2008 - Sept 2010

  Program Manager for TBI Medicaid Waiver

  Worked for a Licensed Home Care agency as a Program Manager and Service Coordinator for individuals on NYS Medicaid Waiver (i.e., TBI) coordinating services, monies and support for individuals with physical and cognitive issues (including writing and reviewing service plans) to live independently in the community. As a Program Manager, oversaw a census various types of clients. Also, oversaw the care through assessment and monitoring of clients and supervising and training HCSS, ILST, and SC.

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  Headway of WNY, Inc.

  Oct 2010 - Oct 2013

  Lead RRDS for the NHTD Waiver

  The RRDS is responsible for the development, management, administration, and monitoring of the NHTD waiver for the RRDC on a regional level. The RRDS promotes participant choice, ensures the delivery of high quality services, assists in the development of needed waiver services and oversees waiver cost effectiveness. The RRDS communicates regularly with DOH, collaborates with local government entities, service providers and advocacy groups to be an active member of the network of services and supports in the community. As the Lead RRDS, oversaw 16 companies on the NHTD Waiver in the Buffalo region and quadrupled the census on the waiver in the Buffalo region during my tenure. This program promotes independence in the community for individuals who are nursing home level of care, with various medical issues and disabilities. Show less

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  Education Training Center, Inc.

  Oct 2013 - now

  President and Executive Director

  Education Training Center, Inc. is founded with deep and impassioned curiosity and exploration of psychology. It is a 501(c)(3) not for profit offering counseling and programs through education, inclusion, guidance, and support. Education Training Center, Inc. places high value on educating individuals and our community about mental health as a potential opportunity, and through education how to enhance our support of people in mental health distress. Services include: Counseling, Consultancy, Trainings, and Community Events. Programs offered by Education Training Center, Inc. include: Unraveling Religion Podcast, Ground and Sky Poetry Series, Kyosei Meditation Program, Manjushri Press, Oak Tree Films.Education Training Center's Mission is ‘to address areas of need for individuals marginalized by mental health, trauma, and psychological distress without distinction to cause.’ Meaning we seek to address marginalization and mental health distress with a wide array of services and programs for our community. Show less

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  East House

  Oct 2016 - Oct 2018

  Education and Employment Services Program Manager

  Responsible for the overall functioning of the Education and Employment Services program including: planning, development, and implementation of coordinated and comprehensive recovery based services which improves the quality of life for each person served, implementing evidence based therapeutic programming, providing ongoing evaluation of and creation of programs/services as needed, meeting licensing and accreditation standards as set by agency performance standards, policies and procedures, providing leadership and management for the assigned program, supervising staff, providing a positive work atmosphere that reflects agency values. The Education and Employment Services department serves individuals in OMH and OASAS programs and maintains additional contracts with external agencies. Chairman of the Diversity Education and Training for East House, developed, planned and implemented the criteria for staff requirements for East House and oversaw all programming and coordination of events. Show less