PRESENTATION

Ensuring Positive Outcomes in Vulnerable Children 

Thursday, December 5 | 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Over the past two years, Merakey USA has actively collaborated with several states to evaluate and enhance their preventative services for children and families. This initiative aims to reduce the necessity for more intensive care by providing early intervention and support services. The cornerstone of Merakey's successful partnerships lies in their rigorous and comprehensive research, which has been pivotal in forming alliances with states, counties, training centers, and payors. Merakey's approach is multifaceted, requiring a deep understanding of both federal and state regulations. This ensures that their programs are compliant and can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems. By engaging with key stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare providers, and community organizations, Merakey has been able to tailor evidence-based programs to meet specific local needs effectively. The impact of Merakey's efforts has been significant. Between July 2023 and December 2023, the company facilitated the creation of four million dollars' worth of new services. These services are designed to provide comprehensive support to children and their families, aiming to mitigate issues before they necessitate more serious intervention. The success of these initiatives has not only demonstrated the efficacy of Merakey's programs but also spurred further interest and engagement from additional states and counties. Merakey's dedication to enhancing preventative services through strategic partnerships and evidence-based approaches underscores their commitment to improving the lives of children and families. Their continued growth and the expanding interest in their services highlight the critical need for such interventions and the positive outcomes they can achieve.

Learning Objectives: 

• Learners will be able to identify key strategies for building and maintaining effective partnerships with states, counties, training centers, and payors, drawing from Merakey USA's collaborative efforts in developing preventative services.
• Learners will be able to navigate federal and state regulatory environments and collaborate with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and smooth integration of new services, as demonstrated by Merakey USA.
• Learners will develop skills in collaborative program development, including joint planning, resource sharing, and coordinated implementation.

About the Presenters

Rebecca Richwine, MS Becki Richwine is the Senior Vice President for Merakey's Children & Family Services, responsible for overseeing all program operations and driving clinical and business development. She began her career at Merakey in 2007 as the Regional Director of Autism Services. Becki’s leadership has been instrumental in significantly expanding program operations, while she continues to foster new ideas to improve programming for all Merakey children’s services. In her over 20 years of experience, Rebecca has focused her career on delivering high quality services to all individuals in need and skilling operational and clinical leaders to help fulfill that mission. Rebecca has not presented nationally snice the Pandemic, however, has spoken local at Vistage Worldwide events, local school districts and slated to speak in September at Pennsylvania's Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association on Merakey's effectiveness of implementing some of the first Family First Services in the State.
Athena Mandros  Athena Mandros leads business development for Merakey’s Division of Children and Family Services. She is responsible for initiating new program development and guiding the division’s strategic focus. Her work includes tracking trends, finding emerging services, replying to requests for proposals, and reviewing potential acquisitions. Most recently, Ms. Mandros has stood up the Division’s prevention services including new child welfare programs that prevent system involvement.  Prior to working with Merakey, she was a program manager for a behavioral health Independent Provider Association focused on value-based care and an editor for a human services trade publication. Ms. Mandros received a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in healthcare administration from SUNY Oswego. In her over ten years of experience, Ms. Mandros has promoted using data to drive decision making, ensure fidelity to best practices, and improve care for the children and their families.