Maryland Nonprofits awards Service with Distinction Awards to five coworkers at The Coordinating Center

Millersville, Maryland—The Coordinating Center, Maryland’s statewide, premier nonprofit care coordination organization for children and adults with disabilities and complex needs, is excited to announce that Maryland Nonprofits has awarded five Service with Distinction Awards to the following coworkers at The Coordinating Center: Amanda Dayton, John Cannistra, Beth Groves, Maureen Tabor, and Sheryl Nickel. Maryland Nonprofits’ Service with Distinction Awards recognizes nonprofit employees, in positions that are not often formally celebrated, but who are critical to our work and deliver significant commitment, integrity, compassion, and caring for their organization and their communities. Awardees will be recognized during an audiovisual presentation and in a printed booklet at the Maryland Nonprofits’ 30th Anniversary Celebration, ‘This is the moment to care…and CELEBRATE!’, on July 28, 2022, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD.

“We are thrilled to honor the accomplishments of Amanda, John, Beth, Maureen and Sheryl at Maryland Nonprofit 30th Anniversary Celebration. The Coordinating Center is a long-standing supporter of Maryland Nonprofits. Since 2000, we have maintained certification under Maryland Nonprofits Standards for Excellence program, which certifies nonprofits according to measures of ethical practices and accountability. We are proud to be a sponsor of “This is the moment to Care…and CELEBRATE,” and look forward to celebrating other nonprofit professionals who are doing incredible work in Maryland to ensure individuals, families and communities have access to vital services and supports,” says Teresa Titus-Howard, PhD, MHA, MSW, President and CEO, The Coordinating Center.

Meet the Awardees:
Beth Groves is a Community Health Worker who has been with The Coordinating Center since 2005. She is a strong advocate for adults with complex medical needs and chronic conditions, helping them navigate life after being discharged from the hospital with dignity and grace. Beth does an amazing job of meeting people where they are, literally and figuratively, with absolutely no judgement. She is skilled at motivational interviewing, listening, identifying barriers to care, accessing resources to overcome social determinants of health, and supporting others to become self-advocates. She successfully guides her clients through application processes dependent upon their abilities and collaborates with multiple community partners to ensure client needs are met, providing warm transitions to appropriate long-term resources when needed.

Maureen Tabor is a Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical (LCSW-C) in Maryland, and a Certified Case Manager (CCM) with experience in trauma-informed care and community-based services. Since 2016, Maureen has served as a Clinical Care Coordinator at The Coordinating Center for the Rare and Expensive Case Management (REM) program, which provides community case management services to over 4,000 people with diagnoses rare and expensive to treat. Maureen’s ability to navigate her clients’ social determinants of health is exemplary. It is not uncommon to find her making an extra visit with a client to complete a housing application, advocating for community systems to think outside-the-box for the adoption of a foster child to be expedited, or locating funding resources for items not covered by Medicaid. As a Maryland Board of Social Work Examiner’s approved supervisor, Maureen volunteers three hours per month to provide clinical group supervision to newer social workers at The Coordinating Center who wish to advance their licensure.

Sheryl Nickel is a Certified Case Manager and Pediatric Nurse (licensed in Maryland and Washington, D.C.) with 14 years of nursing experience in pediatrics (hospitals and hospice). Since 2017, Sheryl has served as a Clinical Care Coordinator at The Coordinating Center, providing exceptional case management services and advocacy for Model Waiver clients. Clients and families report that Sheryl is kind, caring and willing to assist to overcome any barriers to support them. For example, Sheryl is assigned to a rural section of Southern Maryland where there is a significant nursing shortage. Proactively, she participated in a Maryland statewide Nursing Workgroup to seek resolution for the shortage and implemented an electronic notification system to match clients with available nursing services, by alerting nursing agencies when a client was in need of support. Sheryl goes above and beyond supporting her clients, attends weekly program meetings with our State Funder, is a member of The Coordinating Center’s Transitioning Youth and Bereavement Committees and Pay for Performance work group and participates in strategic planning meetings for transition of the program into a new documentation system.

Amanda Dayton is a R.N. Care Coordinator with VIPhysicians&Kids, a new medical home program at The Coordinating Center that was established in 2019 to improve health outcomes and quality of life for children and youth with special health care needs and their families. Amanda played an instrumental role in helping to develop the new program, improving the lives of the families she serves and engaging providers in their care. Her approach with providers is always polite, professional, and warm and her warm “bed-side manner” comes across through virtual meetings and phone calls. Amanda has a keen ability to lift others up through encouraging words and communication style (both verbal and nonverbal). Even under stress, she maintains her patience, calmness, and warmth. She is empathetic and is very good at meeting coworkers and clients where they are. Always wanting to give back, Amanda serves on The Coordinating Center’s Bereavement Committee and takes initiative to send sympathy cards to client and families and she enjoys sending birthday cards to coworkers.

John Cannistra, a Supports Planner II, has been at The Coordinating Center for one year. As a new Supports Planner for our Community First Programs, John had to quickly learn four complex Medicaid programs, which provide supports planning services to older adults and individuals with disabilities who live and want to remain in the community or are living in a Maryland nursing facility and want to move to a home. John has the unique ability to take what is complicated and simplify it so that he can do what he loves best – helping others thrive in the community of their choice. With a degree in psychology and experience in behavioral health, John is an asset to his team. John is motivated, passionate, knowledgeable, and caring. He is also a team player, sharing resources with coworkers and taking initiative when our team needs mentoring or assistance.

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Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Millersville, Maryland, The Coordinating Center is a nonprofit organization that provides care coordination for individuals with complex medical needs and disabilities and their families.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging:
At The Coordinating Center we aim to dismantle inequalities within our policies, systems, programs and services by embracing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) and leading with respect, acceptance and compassion. It’s what makes us exceptional in achieving our mission and drives us to deliver culturally competent and effective care coordination services. We believe we are stronger together.

Megan Bazzett, MS, CPRP, CFRP, Appointed Director, Community First Programs

Millersville, Maryland—The Coordinating Center, Maryland’s statewide, premier nonprofit care coordination organization for children and adults with disabilities and complex needs, is excited to announce Megan Bazzett, MS, CPRP, CFRP from Harford County as its next Director, Community First Programs (CFP). As CFP Director, Ms. Bazzett will provide oversight of The Center’s supports planning services for more than 3,000 Marylanders statewide, enrolled in one of Maryland Medicaid’s Home and Community Based Services Programs (HCBS) and/or Waiver. HCBS enable people with disabilities and older adults to live at home and/or transition from nursing homes to homes in the community.

Previously, Ms. Bazzett served as Chief of Operations for a multi-jurisdiction community-based mental health provider offering comprehensive services to individuals across the lifespan. With 22 years of experience in behavioral healthcare and program management, Ms. Bazzett also has held leadership roles through two non-profit behavioral health organizations, serving as the Director, Community Outreach Programs and the Director, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs. Ms. Bazzett has a master’s degree in psychology from Walden University and holds the following certifications granted by the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA), formerly USPRA: Child and Family Resiliency Practitioner (CFRP,) and Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP).

“After a comprehensive search process, we found an accomplished professional, whose leadership philosophy and experience in behavioral health makes her the perfect fit for this position. Ms. Bazzett has a proven track record of success in program design and growth, as well as coworker cultivation and retention, critical skillsets, which will be leveraged to positively impact our Community First Programs team.” Sharyn King, SVP, Population Health, Care Management and Service Coordination.

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Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Millersville, Maryland, The Coordinating Center is a non-profit organization that provides care coordination for individuals with complex medical needs and disabilities and their families.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging:
At The Coordinating Center we aim to dismantle inequalities within our policies, systems, programs and services by embracing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) and leading with respect, acceptance and compassion. It’s what makes us exceptional in achieving our mission and drives us to deliver culturally competent and effective care coordination services. We believe we are stronger together.

Visit www.coordinatingcenter.org for more information.

Meet The Team – VIPhysicians&Kids

Contact us here: 410-987-1048 ext 1650
VIPK@coordinatingcenter.org

Fay Alexander is a Certified Community Health Worker with VIPhysicians&Kids and brings 15 years of experience in social services. As a military spouse, Fay has lived and worked in several states and overseas. Fay has worked with people with disabilities and health care resource needs, including military families, seniors in long-term care and independent living facilities, and adults with traumatic brain injuries. Now that Maryland is home, Fay feels lucky to be working at The Coordinating Center where patient-centered care is a top priority. Fay serves on Maryland’s Community Health Worker Advisory Committee and chairs The Coordinating Center’s Fundraising Committee. She is also a member of the Quality Council and the Transitioning Youth Workgroup. In her free-time Fay enjoys hiking, working out, reading, watching movies, and playing games. Fay holds a master’s degree in human relations from The University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University of Maryland.

Amanda Dayton is a Registered Nurse with VIPhysicians&Kids. Amanda has been with the program from its inception as a key component to where the program is today. Amanda worked at Johns Hopkins in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 14 years prior to moving on to focus on assisting families in their day to day lives to meet not only medical needs, but social, emotional and mental needs as well. Amanda is a volunteer for her local animal shelter and her church in the children’s ministry. She enjoys spending her time outside with her husband of 16 years and their four children.

Kim Oveson is a Certified Community Health Worker with VIPhysicians&Kids. Kim has been with The Coordinating Center for four years, previously providing Supports Planning services for people with disabilities and complex needs. Driven by a passion for helping others, Kim takes pride in providing a person- centered approach when assisting patients. Kim has been working in the health and human services field for 11 years. Kim holds a master’s degree in clinical health science from Saint Francis University and a bachelor’s degree in community health science from Towson University. She is married with two children. Kim enjoys spending time outside with family and hiking. Her favorite quote is “what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Laura Smith, RN, BSN, CHPPN is a Registered Nurse with VIPhysicians&Kids. Laura has 12 years of nursing experience working in the fields of Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care, Pediatric Emergency Nursing, and Neonatal Nursing. Laura graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. Laura is dedicated to working with children and their families to promote physical, emotional, and social well-being, and encouraging families to advocate for their health and psychosocial needs.

 

Teresa Titus-Howard Named President/CEO of The Coordinating Center

Millersville, Maryland—The Coordinating Center, Maryland’s statewide, premier nonprofit care coordination organization for children and adults with disabilities and complex needs, is excited to announce Teresa Titus-Howard, PhD, MHA, MSW, as its next President/CEO. Dr. Titus-Howard will succeed Karen-Ann Lichtenstein, who retired at the end of May after 35 years with the organization.

Dr. Titus-Howard joins The Coordinating Center with more than 25 years of health care delivery experience, with extensive expertise in consumer advocacy, public-private partnerships, policy, payment reform, clinical expertise, and compliance oversight. Recently, Dr. Titus Howard was Vice President, Federal Health Management and Solutions at Telligen, Inc., where she oversaw federal health contracts for the organization.  She is a well-respected leader in the areas of performance measurement and quality improvement, learning and action networks, and healthcare innovation drawing from her prior experience with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) where she co-founded the Learning and Diffusion Group for CMS Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Center (CMMI) and led the reorganization of the Quality Innovation Network Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) program for CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality Improvement Group.

“After a comprehensive search process and thorough succession plan, the Board of Directors is pleased to have chosen the best individual to assume leadership of The Coordinating Center,” said Tom H. Hall, chairman of The Coordinating Center’s Board of Directors. “Teresa has a proven track record of advancing the health care delivery experience, with strong leadership in advancing public-private partnership. This combined with her dedication to community, quality and outcomes management make Teresa uniquely qualified to lead The Coordinating Center successfully into the future.”

Photo courtesy of Jason Putsche Photography.

The Coordinating Center’s Board of Directors Elect New Officers

The Coordinating Center is pleased to announce its new Board Officers, Thomas H. Hall, Chair of the Board and Dianne Feeney, Vice Chair.

Thomas H. Hall, President of Saltgrass LLC and CEO of Heywood Oil & Gas LLC has more than 30 years of experience in the areas of marketing, development, and government relations. He has worked with companies such as Tierco Group, Premier Parks Inc., and Six Flags Inc. Mr. Hall has served on The Center’s Board for six years.

Dianne Feeney, B.S.N., M.S., has served as the Associate Director for Quality Initiatives for the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission since 2008. Prior to her work with The Commission, Ms. Feeney was the Senior Vice President of Operations and Vice President of the National Quality Forum, a national consensus development membership organization. Ms. Feeney has served on The Center’s Board for three years.

Both Tom and Dianne have a deep passion for our mission and bring talent, expertise and energy to the table. We look forward to their leadership and helping us continue to strengthen our mission of partnering with people of all ages and abilities to achieve their aspirations for independence, health, and meaningful community life,” said Karen-Ann Lichtenstein, CEO.

Jalisa Powell Completes Towson University Professional Leadership Program

Jalisa Powell, Community Transition Liaison and Training Coordinator at The Coordinating Center, recently completed the Towson University Professional Leadership Program for Women, a professional development program dedicated to increasing the capacity for leadership and influence for women leaders in Greater Baltimore. Towson University honored Powell and the entire 2017 class at a ceremony held May 23 at the Towson University Marriott Conference Hotel.

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Board Chair Named to Top 100 Women

Congratulations to Elizabeth Weglein, The Coordinating Center’s Board Chair, for being named one of The Daily Record‘s Top 100 women of 2017. Ms. Weglein is the CEO of the Elizabeth Cooney Personnel Agency and has served on The Center’s Board of Directors for the past six years.
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The WISH Program Helps Seniors Remain Healthy and Independent

The Coordinating Center is helping seniors in Montgomery County and parts of Prince George’s County remain healthy and out of the hospital, providing coaching and care coordination through the WISH Program. Since October 2016, the WISH Team has helped more than 300 seniors.

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Vice President, Quality and Outcomes Management Appointed to a National Quality Forum Committee and University of Maryland School of Nursing Advisory Board

MEDIA RELEASE
Colby Bearch, MA-SF, MA-M, BA, RN, CDONA, Vice President, Quality and Outcomes Management at The Coordinating Center has been reappointed to the National Quality Forum’s Care Coordination Steering Committee. The committee will review performance measures in care coordination, including those focused on patient experience of care, health information technology, transitions of care and structural measures. (more…)