BIOGRAPHY 

 Dr. Jacobs is the Founder, of New Passages, a non-profit behavioral health organization, has served as its President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception.  His professional experience includes classroom teaching in special education, adult education, and senior positions as a School Administrator. Prior to founding New Passages, Dr. Jacobs was a doctoral student at Columbia University in New York, where he served as a Research Associate and teaching fellow.  While in New York, Dr. Jacobs also served as an administrator of a psychosocial rehabilitation program.  He is recognized nationally for his expertise in the rehabilitation of people with long-term psychiatric disabilities.  He served as President, Michigan Chapter of the International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services for four years and was one of its founding members.  Dr. Jacobs also served on the National IAPSRS Board for eight years and has presented at numerous national conferences and co-facilitated a number of institutes on mental health and managed care.   

Dr. Jacobs maintains professional memberships in the International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services, the American Psychological Association, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.  In March 2002, Dr. Jacobs was elected Chairperson of the new affiliate of the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, The Provider Alliance.   

He is the co-author of a number of articles including:

·         Building a Clubhouse from the Ground Up: a Strategic Perspective, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal;

·         Strategy Formulation for Third Sector Leadership in Program Initiation: A case example from Community Psychiatry, Non-profit Management and Leadership Journal; and

·         The Role of Animation as a Program Development Strategy, Administration in Social Work.

·         Anticipating Managed Mental Health Care: Implications for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Agencies, Readings In Psychosocial Rehabilitation.  

·         Dr. Jacobs’ reviews of Fourth Generation Managed Behavioral Health, Community Support Systems: Lessons For Managed Care, and Getting Started On Measuring Outcomes Of Services To Persons With Long Term Mental Illness: Winter 1997 edition of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal;

·         Authored an article: Moving from Good to Great, January 2008 edition of the Behavioral Healthcare. 

Dr. Jacobs has been a presenter at a number of conferences sponsored by various mental health organizations, and has presented and/or testified before various commissions convened by Michigan Legislature, including:   

·         October 11, 1999 – Visioning the Future of Public Mental Health in MI / Provider Perspectives, “The Future of Mental Health in Michigan”, Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, Visioning the Future of Public Mental Health in Michigan. 

·         February 1, 2000 – “Assuring Provider Readiness for the Bid-Out”, Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, Mapping the Direction of Community Mental Health: The Bid-Out. 

·         February 28, 2000 – “Provider Readiness for Managed Care”, Michigan Assisted Living Association, “Managed Care Update”. 

·         May 3, 2000 – “Standardizing Contracts Between CMHSPs and Local Providers” and “Preparing Your Organization for the Public Behavioral Healthcare Bid-Out:  Strategies for Being Part of a Successful Provider System”, Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, “Moving Toward Excellence in Community-Based Systems of Care”. 

·         May 23, 2001 – “What is ‘Best Value’:  Implications for CMHSPs, Provider Organizations and Consumers”.  Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, “Michigan’s Public Mental Health Systems:  The Next Generation.” 

·         October 16, 2001 – “Best Value: Practical Applications for CMHSPs and Provider Organizations”, Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, “Strong Partners:  Cooperating to Achieve Improved Access and Quality.” 

·         February 25, 2002 – “From Promise to Performance and from Planning to Implementation: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Heading”, Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, “Accepting The Challenge: From AFP to Implementation.”

·         February 25, 2003 – “Best Value & Prudent Purchase”, Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, “Outlining the Direction for the Future”. 

·         May 6, 2003 – Testified before the Senate Appropriation Subcommittee on Community Health, Senator Tony Stamas, Chairperson, “FY 2004 Department of Community Health Budget”.

·        October 8, 2003, Testified before The Joint Meeting Of The Senate Committee On Health Policy and Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing.  Public Mental Health System in Michigan.

·         February 24, 2004 – “Cost-Effective Ways to Help Michigan’s Community Mental Health System”, Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, “Joining Hands…Reshaping Our Future Together”. 

·         April 12, 2004 – Testified before the Governor’s Commission on Mental Health, “The fundamental paradigm shift that has occurred in the public mental health system in the last five years and the dramatic effect it has had on the delivery of mental health services”.

·         March 26, 2007 – “Good to Great: Transforming Your Organization” Presented a workshop at the 37^th Annual National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Las Vegas, NV.

·         May 15, 2007 – “Good to Great: Transforming Your Organization”, Presented a workshop at the Spring 2007 Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, Kalamazoo, MI.

·         Dr. Jacobs has been a regular Book Reviewer for the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal.             

He is the recipient of awards from the Mental Health Association of Michigan, The Alliance for the Mentally Ill, International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services and has received tributes from both the Michigan State Senate and House of Representatives.   

§  In 2004, New Passages’ Portable Supports Program was the recipient of the NACo (National Association of Counties) Award for Excellence, in the Health Category. 

§  On April 8, 2005, Dr. Jacobs accepted a Special Tribute to New Passages from the State of Michigan, which was presented by Gilda Jacobs, State Senator.

§  In 2005 & 2006, New Passages’ J-Town Clubhouse in Jackson County was the recipient of the 2005 & 2006 LifeWays Quality of Life Award, which is given to commend an individual or organization for their initiative and involvement in offering consumers opportunities for improvement and independence. 

§  On September 15, 2007, Mr. Gregory Bator, on behalf of Michigan Assisted Living Association (MALA), presented Dr. Jacobs with a Tribute to New Passages Award.

§  On April 17, 2008, Dr. Jacobs received the Diversity Champion Award from the Race Relations & Diversity Task Force.

§  In August 2008, Behavioral Healthcare magazine notified Dr. Jacobs that he was the recipient of the 2008 Behavioral Health Champions award.  Behavioral Healthcare magazine featured Dr. Jacobs in their December 2008 issue. 

Dr. Jacobs will be featured in Behavioral Healthcare’s December 2008 issue. Dr. Jacobs holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and is a Certified Psychosocial Rehabilitation Practitioner through the International Association of Psychosocial and Rehabilitation Services.

Ms. Bragg-Lovejoy has worked in a variety of management and administration capacities with New Passages.  She began her employment over 15 years ago as an Assistant Manager and then as a Program Manager in Community Housing Services.  She then supervised clubhouse development and activity as a Clubhouse Manager in Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Employment Services.  Ms. Bragg-Lovejoy has directed the Human Resource Management Department and currently leads the organization's activities related to performance and compliance. 

In her service with New Passages, Ms. Bragg-Lovejoy has coordinated new program start-up and development, facilitated accreditation for the organization, facilitated National Clubhouse Certification, assisted in the development of the International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Practitioners' credentialing process, developed job descriptions, developed and implemented an in-house leadership development training program, reduced both workers' compensation and MESC claims, developed and implemented an employee insurance benefit package, maintained licensing compliance in specialized residential programs, developed a consumer handbook, employee handbook, and the corporate compliance and integrity plan.  .

Ms. Bragg-Lovejoy is a graduate of the University of Michigan--Flint.  There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Social Science with a teaching certificate in Secondary Education.  In the fall of 1997, Ms. Bragg-Lovejoy completed her Master's Program at Central Michigan University where she studied Health Care Administration.  Ms. Bragg-Lovejoy is currently pursuing a certification in compliance with the Health Care Compliance Association.