Staff
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Vic DiGravio President/CEO 508.647.8385, x11 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Vic DiGravio has been President/CEO of ABH since July 1, 2007. Under his leadership, ABH is a leader in addressing public policy and financing issues impacting behavioral healthcare services in Massachusetts. ABH and Vic played leading roles in the Campaign to Strengthen Human Services which resulted in enactment of Chapter 257 of the Acts of 2008 and the Campaign for Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery which led the successful fight to repeal the sales tax exemption on alcohol sold in stores. Soon after becoming President/CEO, Vic, in partnership with the Board of Directors, led an effort to rebrand the organization to better position it as the preeminent association representing community-based mental health and addiction treatment organizations.
Vic serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (The National Council). He is also Chair of The National Council's Association Executives Group which is comprised of state association directors from across the country. Vic is a graduate of Connecticut College and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and has extensive experience in governmental affairs and the not-for-profit sector. Prior to joining ABH in 2006, he served for six years as Chief of Staff to Massachusetts Senate Majority Leader Frederick Berry. In this leadership role, he directed all staff work on legislative, media and constituent matters and served as liaison to state and local officials. Vic worked on the passage of Massachusetts’ Mental Health Parity law and increased funding for Early Intervention services as Chief of Staff to Senator Berry. |
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Sara Hartman Vice President, Mental Health 508.647.8385, x13 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Sara Hartman, LICSW, currently serves as Vice President of Mental Health for ABH. Although her focus is primarily mental health, her experience includes substance abuse issues as well. Sara provides staff support for the Community-Based Flexible Supports (CBFS) Committee, Methadone Treatment Providers Committee, Billing, Rules, Regulations & Policy Committee, the Managed Care Committee and the PACT providers. She is the primary staff person responsible for overall managed care issues. Trained as a Clinical Social Worker, Sara practiced in public and private mental health and child guidance clinics for 10 years and managed Mental Health Programs for Bay State Health Care – a large Massachusetts HMO – from 1985-1993. Subsequently, she managed the Boston Region provider network for Mental Health Management of America (MHMA) in the first Medicaid carve-out contract. Sara came to ABH in 1998, one year prior to its merger with the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (ADAA). | |
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Constance Peters Vice President for Addiction Services 508.647.8385, x15 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Constance Peters, MSPA, is ABH’s Vice President for Addiction Services and is ABH's primary representative for community-based provider organizations that deliver services to people with substance-use disorders. She represents ABH members with state and national agencies, administration officials, the state legislature and Congressional delegation. Connie serves as staff to the ABH committees on Acute Treatment Services (ATS), Clinical Support Services (CSS), Transitional Support Services (TSS), Residential Recovery, Driver Alcohol Education (DAE)/Second Offender Aftercare (SOA), Structured Outpatient Addiction Treatment (SOAP), Psychiatric Day Treatment and Partial Hospitalization (PDT/PH) and the ABH/Bureau of Substance Abuse Services Executive Team. In addition, Connie is Vice President to the Board of Directors for the State Associations for Addiction Services and is a member of its Public Policy Committee and Practice Committee. Connie possesses over 20 years of experience working with state and federally funded programs for people with mental health and substance use disorders and other disabilities. She holds a Master of Science in Public Affairs degree from the John W. McCormack Institute at the University of Massachusetts in Boston and a Bachelor's degree from Wheaton College in Norton. | |
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Kerry Whelan Vice President for Public Policy and Research 508.647.8385, x14 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Kerry Whelan, currently serves as ABH’s Vice President for Public Policy and Research. Kerry directs state and federal legislative activities, including the development of policy and advocacy strategies. In this role, Kerry conducts policy, regulatory and budgetary analyses, writes legislative and regulatory testimony and prepares briefing materials, action alerts, and updates for members and staff. She also works in collaboration with national provider associations on federal legislative issues and advocates for behavioral health policy, legislative and budgetary issues with Congressional staff. She has primary responsibility for health care reform policy within ABH and represents ABH on health access coalitions. Kerry staffs the Quality and Outcomes Committee and the Human Resources Committee. Prior to working at ABH, Kerry served as the Chief of Staff to Senate Majority Leader Frederick E. Berry. She graduated from Suffolk University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2003. |
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Jessica Hammond Director of Children's Behavioral Health and Member Services 508.647.8385, x16 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Jessica Hammond, LCSW, currently serves as ABH’s Director of Children's Behavioral Health and Member Services. She is responsible for planning and executing all ABH sponsored events including the Annual Provider Celebration, Association Meetings and the Annual Meeting. Jessica coordinates membership activities and serves as the primary point of contact for prospective members. She is responsible for developing marketing materials and managing the ABH Website. Jessica serves as the Project Coordinator of the Massachusetts Standardized Documentation Project (MSDP). She also assists with the preparation of public policy briefing materials and provides staff support to the ABH Board of Directors. Jessica is the point person for CBHI and other children services and serves as staff to the ABH Children’s Policy Committee, Children's Services Committee and In-Home Therapy Committee. She holds an MSW degree from Boston University and she served as a researcher at the Boston University’s School of Social Work. Prior to joining ABH, Jessica worked for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and was the Program Coordinator for Families First Parenting Programs in Cambridge. | |
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Ellen Caliendo Business Manager T 508.380.9887 F 508.650.4095 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Ellen Caliendo joined ABH in June 2004 as a business consultant and has been instrumental to helping the organization restructure its accounting, payroll and information technology system. With 20 years of experience in business operations and financial management, her current responsibilities include bookkeeping, membership billing and managing all major aspects of ABH’s business office. Ellen's past experience includes developing and serving as director for a $15 million sales organization for 10 years. | |
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Rosemary Santini Administrative Assistant 508.647.8385, x10 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
| Rosemary Santini currently supports the ABH staff as the organization’s Administrative Assistant. Rosemary is responsible for database maintenance, membership mailings and coordinating meetings for staff. Prior to joining ABH, she has held various administrative positions in local companies. | |
