Department Directory

Adult System of Care

Our adult system of care manages both mental health and substance use services for adults.

Adilen Cruz

Director of Adult System of Care
E-mail: acruz@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (786) 507-7459

Behavioral Health Services

Our behavioral health services department oversees all mental health and substance use services across our system.

Carol Caraballo

VP of Behavioral Health Services
E-mail: ccaraballo@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (786) 507-7468

Care Coordination

Care Coordination is the systematic management of the System of Care to ensure that individuals with the highest level of need are being linked to community-based care and provided the appropriate supports to ensure that their treatment needs are properly addressed.

Adilen Cruz

Care Coordination Department Manager
E-mail: acruz@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (786) 507-7459

Children’s System of Care

Our children’s system of care manages both mental health and substance use services for children and youth.

Learn more about Children’s System of Care

Maria Guajardo

Children’s System of Care Manager
E-mail: mguajardo@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (305) 860-0637

Child Welfare Coordination

Communications

The Communications Department manages a variety of internal and external communications, marketing, social media, media relations, public relations, civic engagement and community relations opportunities.

Carrie Ann Perez

Communications and Projects Consultant
E-mail: cperez@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (954) 483-7578

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

Thriving Mind’s CQI team is committed to the development, implementation, and quality assurance of the network with priority given to those areas that impact individuals served and their families. As such, SFBHN systematically monitors and evaluates subcontractor services with the aim of improving the process, outcome, and efficiency of integrated healthcare services delivered to consumers. Quality Assurance takes place through a variety of methods, including but not limited to:

• Monitoring network providers for contract compliance
• Investigate and trend complaints and incidents
• Monitoring performance and outcome measures
• Review of compliance and quality elements of each provider through the Provider Report Card
  Monitoring of a network provider’s ability to effectively and accurately execute evidence-based practices, emerging trends, and promising practices, such as, Integration of Primary and Behavioral Healthcare, Trauma Informed Care, Cultural and Linguistic Competence, and a Recovery Oriented System of Care
• Evaluate network provider services through secret shoppers

Joanna Cardwell

VP of CQI
E-mail: jcardwell@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (786) 507-7455

Contracts and Procurement

Our contracts and procurement group manages all contracts with providers across our system and offers procurement opportunities to the providers.

Jessica Rodriguez

VP of Contract Management
E-mail: jrodriguez@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (786) 507-7458

Executive Team

Our executive team consists of John Newcomer, M.D., president and CEO; Steven Zuckerman, Senior VP and CFO, and Laura Naredo, Senior VP and COO.

Judy Hickson

Executive Assistant
E-mail: jhickson@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (786) 235-7147

Finance

Our finance team is responsible for budgeting, funding allocations, accounts payable, invoice processing, and general accounting.

Jose Vempala

VP of Finance
E-mail: jvempala@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (786) 507-7452

Grants

Thriving Mind’s Grants department develops resources, researches funding sources, and writes proposals to a variety of governmental entities and organizations. In addition, the Grants department prepares contract proposals in accordance with business goals and objectives, administers major contracts, and documents. Through its funding in partnership with the network providers, Thriving Mind functions as a liaison to federal and non-federal grantor agencies and subcontracting institutions.

The goal is to secure grants and external funding opportunities to implement, expand, and enhance services and activities that advance key priority areas identified in the Strategic Plan.

Housing

Thriving Mind’s Housing Coordinator and Housing Peer are committed to finding safe, affordable, stable housing for individuals with mental health and/or co-occurring diagnoses; Ensuring that these individuals receive the necessary support services to be successful in the community.

Fany Flores

Housing Coordinator
E-mail: fflores@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (786) 456-6468

Human Resources

Human Resources is responsible for providing financial, administrative, and clerical services, which includes processing and monitoring accounts payable, bank deposits and payroll. The Human Resources Coordinator administers a variety of human resources activities and programs, including those related to staffing, compensation, benefits ,training and workplace safety.

Julie Ortiz

Human Resources Coordinator
E-mail: jortiz@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (305) 858-8776

Information Technology and Data Analytics

Johnny Guimaraes

VP of IT and Data Analytics
E-mail: jguimaraes@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (305) 858-1332

Peer Services

Our Peer services team is available to assist the peer community to better serve our consumers. The role of our Peer team is to:

• Answer the Consumer Hotline (1-888-248-3111) and provide counseling, information and referrals
• Provide technical assistance and training to Peer Specialists at provider agencies
• Participate in bimonthly Consumer Network meetings
• Provide Peer Specialist Support and Peer Specialist Certification meetings
• Oversee three Florida Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Teams and provide utilization management

Nathanael Prada

Peer Services Manager
E-mail: nprada@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (786) 507-7472

Prevention System of Care

Thriving Mind South Florida provides Prevention of substance abuse and promotion of wellness (positive mental health) services in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties as part of a continuum of behavioral health care for individuals and their families.

Prevention refers to the proactive approach to preclude, forestall, or impede the development of substance abuse or mental health related problems. These strategies focus on increasing public awareness and education, community-based processes, and incorporating evidence-based practices. The program’s services are designed to prevent the development of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, promoting a general health and well-being.

The vision of the Thriving Mind Prevention System of Care is to provide substance abuse prevention and wellness promotion services, raise awareness, foster collaboration, and enhance the efforts of community programs and coalitions for the enrichment of youth, families, and communities.

Lina Castellanos

Community and Systems Integrator and
Director of Prevention
E-mail: lcastellanos@thrivingmind.org
Phone: (786) 507-7447

Research and Evaluation

Thriving Mind’s vision is that solid research and evaluation will help move behavioral health forward as a necessary and essential service for children, adults, families, and programs. Data is gathered at multiple levels and used to sustain programs and monitor fidelity. The team works with the network, community, and state partners to ensure measuring service provision for policy-relevant outcomes. The data-driven approach to manage funding to best meet the community’s needs. The evaluation data is used as a powerful tool for communicating with stakeholders.

Through the use of data collection, evaluation, and analysis strategies, Thriving Mind strives to:

• Ensure financial strength and programmatic accountability to achieve performance outcomes and standards in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible
• Identify gaps in services and specialized needs
• Identify priority populations including, but not limited to criminal justice involved, child welfare involved, individuals served in need of trauma informed care, and co-occurring
• Use the collection and analysis of data to improve the network and network provider compliance and when necessary incorporate improvements into action plans.