NEW CEO APPOINTED AT THE COALITION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AGENCIES
Christy Parque has been named Chief Executive Officer of The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies (The Coalition), an umbrella advocacy organization representing more than 130 of New York’s community-based behavioral health nonprofits. The appointment was announced by The Coalition’s President Tino Hernandez, on behalf of its Board of Directors. Ms. Parque will begin her new position effective April 4, 2016.
Ms. Parque joins The Coalition from Homeless Services United (HSU) where she has served as Executive Director since 2007. Her work at HSU, a 50-member association of non-profit organizations serving homeless people, has focused on creating sound homeless and housing policy, providing advocacy, information and training to providers around the provision of housing and support services for homeless populations in New York City. Trained as a social worker and with a healthcare, labor and social justice background, she is a consummate advocate and has worked tirelessly to develop collaborative relationships with elected officials, government professionals, community partners and service providers.
During her nine-year tenure at HSU, Ms. Parque has grown the organization, significantly increasing its funding and offering greater training opportunities for her member agencies. She has developed and implemented successful advocacy campaigns at the city, state and federal levels and has championed programs and funding to study and support best practices in the field. She has been an active participant on several high-level City and State task forces with sector and government stakeholders. She co-authored “A Roadmap to End Homelessness in New York City,” (2013), a guide written for the incoming Mayor and City Council detailing proven, cost-effective policies to prevent and end homelessness in New York City.
“After a nationwide search, we are very fortunate to have found Christy Parque who will bring her considerable organizational and advocacy skills to The Coalition,” said Tino Hernandez. “We are looking forward to her stepping into our sector at a time of great complexity and rapid change. She will bring new energy and ideas to the community-based behavioral health sector. Her knowledge about homelessness will be an important asset as The Coalition also represents many service providers that provide specialized services to homeless New Yorkers with mental illness and addictions.”
Ms. Parque is succeeding Phillip A. Saperia, who has served as CEO of The Coalition for more than 21 years. Mr. Saperia guided The Coalition from a coalition of mental health providers in just New York City to a larger and more robust organization representing more than 120 downstate members who provide behavioral health services to people with mental illness and substance use disorders.
About The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies
The Coalition is the nonprofit public policy advocacy organization of New York’s behavioral health providers. It represents over 130 community-based agencies that serve more than 450,000 adults and children and deliver a full continuum of behavioral health care in all neighborhoods of NYC and surrounding counties. The Coalition provides technical assistance to its members and the professional community on critical issues related to managed care readiness, rehabilitation and recovery, organizational development, best practices, evidence based skills, technology, administration, and compliance. The Coalition secures funding for members to conduct meaningful projects in critical program areas and facilitates networking and community among members. The Coalition’s aim is to coordinate government and the private sector efforts toward efficient delivery of quality behavioral health services to children and adults of all ages and backgrounds, enabling them to lead productive lives in their communities.