Job Description

Currently I am the Behavioral Healthy Quality Assurance and Compliance Specialist working on the PS ROTA-R grant. In this position I work with the ROTA-R team to first, help assess the current needs of Rural Treatment and Service Providers related to education on the prevention, treatment and recovery of persons with a drug use disorder, with specific focus on opiates and methamphetamines. Additionally, I work with the ROTA-R team to help locate Subject Matter Experts on topics for needed trainings, help coordinate in-person and webinar trainings and help handling logistics of calls and trainings. I also work to create needed products for the Rural Service Providers and communities in collaboration with the CASAT Media Team. I am also responsible for the website medial related tasks for ROTA-R.

Years at CASAT/Positions Held

I worked at CASAT from 2002 – 2005 as the Project Manager for the Nevada Practice Improvement Collaborative (PIC), as well as the Principle Investigator of the Women’s Alliance to Strengthen Treatment Access and Retention (WASTAR).

I have been in my current position with the ROTA-R Grant since February 2023.

Work History

I graduated from UNR with a B.A. in Psychology and minor in Criminal Justice and a M.A. in Counseling and Educational Psychology with Addiction Emphasis through CASAT. I was part of the very first CEP Addiction Specific Graduate Degree ceremony in 1999.

I am a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor and was previously licensed as a Clinical Supervisor. I very proudly received the “Gary L. Fisher from Scholarship to Service Award” from CASAT in 2012 for my years of work in the Nevada Treatment field.

Prior to working at CASAT, I worked as:

• A Counselor and Clinical Supervisor for an Inpatient Treatment Center in Las Vegas
• The Director of Policy Management for a large Addiction & Recovery Based Healthcare group writing policy and developing programs for more than 60 treatment centers throughout the US
• The Executive and Clinical Director of several Opioid Treatment Centers in the State of Nevada & traveled as the company trainer related to policy and quality assurance and compliance
• A counselor at a Women’s Residential Treatment Center
• Owned an LLC that was geared towards consultation and training on CARF Regulations for OTP service treatment providers
• An online teacher for CEP 154 for UNR
• Developed and taught courses related to OTPs for both CASAT and Brown University

Personal Bio

I grew up in Northern California where most of my family currently still resides. I moved to Nevada in the early 90’s and have lived in either Las Vegas (Henderson) or Reno since that time. Currently I reside in Henderson, Nevada, with my teenage daughter, two very energetic corgis and one cat. Outside of work, I spend lots of time working as part of PTA Board for my daughter’s school, helping with numerous activities throughout the school year. My daughter and I also are members of the National Charity League (NCL) where we help with different philanthropies year round. My daughter is also a competitive dancer, on her 11th year of dancing, which takes up most of the time we have left in our days! When I do get some free time, I love swimming, playing with my dogs, doing any type of arts and crafts and hanging out with my friends.

Grants I Work On

PS ROTA-R