Craig Strickland, Ph.D. Program Director, BHTEN

Dr. Strickland has worked in the behavioral health field as an Intensive Case Manager (ICM) and as the Director of ICM services in a Philadelphia based mental health/mental retardation agency. He has taught at Bryn Mawr College and has had faculty positions at MCP/Hahnemann University, Division of Behavioral Health Education, Widener University and Springfield College, Wilmington campus. He currently is a guest lecturer in the Physicians Assistant program at Arcadia University as well as the Alcohol and Drug Counseling program at Villanova University. His interests are focused primarily on the biological etiology of mental illness, substance abuse and, in children, severe emotional disorders. He has presented at local, state and national conferences on such topics as psychopharmacology for those with co-occurring diagnoses, medication adherence, psychopharmacology and recovery, herbal treatments and the neurobiology of PTSD/chronic trauma.


Dennis L. Fisher, MM Assistant Director, BHTEN

 

Dennis Fisher has worked for over 35 years in various behavioral health settings in Philadelphia.   He began as a Registered Music Therapist at Philadelphia State Hospital, and served as the original Team Leader of the Community Treatment Teams (CTT) and as Training Specialist with both CTT/BHTEN.    Dennis combines the unique experiences of being a deinstitutionalized state employee Union Representative and a past officer of the local Mental Health Association to promote values based recovery oriented CM services.    Dennis has collaboratively authored the Philadelphia Behavioral Health Case Management Orientation curriculum.   He has presented at many local, state & national conferences. Topics have included the Community Treatment Teams' “Philadelphia Experience”, Time & Stress Management, Training Case Managers, Crisis Management and Enriching Recovery through Cultural Competence: Improving Access to Care and Engagement in Recovery.   Dennis has a B.S. in Education, a Master of Music (Music Therapy) Degree from the University of Miami and has completed post-graduate work in Health Care Administration at Penn State University.   Dennis is a certified trainer through the Crisis Prevention Institute and also holds an Advanced Certificate of Culturally Competent Human Services from Temple University.   Most recently the Department of Behavioral Health awarded Dennis and Stephan Long the "Above and Beyond Award - For longstanding compassion…and dedication…to service..." 

 

Akim J. Cooper, Data Analyst, BHTEN

 

As Data Analyst for BHTEN Akim has various job responsibilities including computer related activities such as the provision of technical support for staff and creating, troubleshooting and maintaining databases.  Akim has produced conference brochures, designed annual reports and is also involved in creating and maintaining the BHTEN Website.  Akim is responsible for researching new software and has created various forms and reports, which allows BHTEN to maintain compliance with the various academic standards associated with continuing education credits.  Akim also serves as the systems administrator for Certain software, Eventspro.  Akim has been instrumental in moving registration processes from a land mail to an internet based platform.  Akim is also responsible for the overall office management for supplies and equipment needs for both the 7th and 2nd floors.

Karen Escovitz, M.S.S. Recovery Training Specialist, BHTEN

 As Recovery Training Specialist, Karen Escovitz works closely with Philadelphia's Dept. of Behavioral Health to deliver and facilitate training related to System Transformation; the adoption and implementation of Recovery-oriented principles and practices in every aspect of behavioral health services. Karen has a background in services research, and has supervised and coordinated grant funded service-demonstration projects intended to identify and refine evidence-based service practices. She is an experienced trainer and provider of technical assistance in Recovery Principles, Evidence-Based Supported Employment, Illness/Wellness Management and Recovery, Stages of Change, Motivational Interviewing, Community Integration and use of data collection and outcome measures in service provision. Karen has worked mostly in adult mental health, but has also been involved with identifying the role of employment for people living with HIV/AIDS and their related service needs, and is a co-founder of the National Working Positive Coalition. Karen has written / edited handbooks and self-help materials pertaining to supported employment and community integration for persons living with psychiatric disabilities. Karen has a B.A. from Wesleyan University, spent three years doing graduate work at Cornell University's Dept. of Human Development and Family Studies, and has a Master's degree in Social Services from Bryn Mawr's Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.

 

Elizabeth (Liz) Harrison, M.S. Behavioral Health Training Specialist, BHTEN

 

With over 20 years experience in social work, Liz has worked to couple her clinical and business background to provide an ongoing dialogue surrounding the subject of Relationship Education. As a Family Relationship Educator/Trainer she had orchestrated trainings, seminars and conferences within the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey & Delaware and throughout the east coast. Liz is also the co-founder of 4EverMarriages and Families and current board member of the Greater Philadelphia Healthy Marriage and Family Coalition. Liz is an alumnus of the Wharton School of Business and has obtained her Masters of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania.  As a Behavioral Health Training Specialist, Liz serves as a liaison between the Behavioral Health Training & Education Network and outside stakeholders/ partners, such as DBH/MRS, to coordinate ongoing community and faith based educational conferences and events.

Tiffany Livingston, Clerical Assistant, BHTEN

 

Tiffany Livingston has been working in the administrative field for over five years. She is presently the Clerical Assistant at BHTEN starting in early May 2011. She is a continuing student at the Community College of Philadelphia, majoring in Behavioral Health/ Human Services which she hopes will lead to a rewarding and successful career as a counselor. She is also in process of becoming a published author in the near future. Ms. Livingston hopes that her employment here at BHTEN will provide additional knowledge and will broaden her interests in the behavioral health field.

 

Stephan K. Long, M.A. Behavioral Health Training Specialist, BHTEN

Stephan’s behavioral health involvement includes direct care positions of psychosocial rehabilitation counselor/supervisor, vocational counselor, outpatient therapist for children/ adults and forensic case manager. He brings to BHTEN his experience of targeted case management where he had served as the children's/adult supervisor and director in a Philadelphia based mental health/mental retardation agency. His present focus is on the training of targeted case managers to increase their quality of service provision to people in recovery. In addition, Steve is a certified instructor through the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs and a senior level certified instructor through the Crisis Prevention Institute.  He has presented Safety Training /Crisis Management, Workplace Professionalism, Staff Supervision and Cultural Competency/Health Disparities at local, state and national venues.  

Stephen Paesani, MA, MTS Children & Adolescents Training Specialists, BHTEN

 

 

Stephen Paesani serves as the Children and Adolescent Training Specialist for the Behavioral Health Training and Education Network. In this position, he works in close collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health/Intellectual disAbility Services, the Targeted Case Management Unit and providers.  Mr. Paesani works with several initiatives, including, Multiplying Connections, the PA Network for Student Assistance Services, and the BDAP Training System.  Prior to coming to BHTEN, Stephen was the Director of Project CARE, Prevention Coordinator for the Delaware County Drug & Alcohol Commission, and a high school teacher.  Stephen has an AB degree in Philosophy for St. Joseph's University, a Master of Theological Studies from Catholic Theological Union (Chicago), and an MA in Religious Studies from St. Charles Seminary, Philadelphia.
 

Sheyel Rorie, Registrar/Office Manager, BHTEN

Sheyel has worked administratively for 20 years and has been with the Behavioral Health Training and Education Network (BHTEN) for the past 10 years. She has worked as a provider of behavioral health services as a Personal Care Provider for 5 years. Sheyel obtained an Associate Degree as a Computer Specialist from Computer Learning Center. Mrs. Rorie utilizes her computer training and administrative experience to coordinate and manage registrations for trainings sponsored by BHTEN. She has also been a member of several planning committees for conferences co-sponsored with the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health/Mental Retardation Services.


Kalma Kartell White, MEd, CPRP Behavioral Health Training Specialist, BHTEN

Kalma Kartell White has a Masters Degree in counseling psychology and is certified as a psychosocial rehabilitation practitioner (CPRP) by the International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services. For the past fifteen years of the thirty-five she has worked in human services, Kalma has been providing behavioral healthcare-related instruction, training and consultation, including faculty positions at MCP/Hahnemann University, Division of Behavioral Healthcare Education as an Instructor in the Department of Psychiatriy and at MCP/Hahnemann school of Medicine, School of Allied Health professions as Clinical Assistant Professor (Adjunct). Prior to that for over 17 years she held direct service and management positions serving persons with mental health and substance use problems and their families. She has written a number of articles and presented extensively at national and regional conferences. She is particularly interested in multiple co-occurring disorders (especially mental illness and substance abuse) and the impact of issues such as trauma, human development, socio-economic status and physical health on persons needing to recover from behavioral health problems. As a participant in the Multiplying Connections Initiative, housed at The Health Federation of Philadelphia, she is active in advocating for cross-systems coordination and collaboration to improve effectiveness of human services and education for children through transformation to trauma-informed practice.