Mental Health Association Names Latest Behavioral Healthcare Hero

Newark NJ

27 September, 2021

4:27 PM

Description

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of a Patch Newark community member. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is pleased to announce that Korey Clark has been named as the latest 2021 Behavioral Healthcare Hero. Mr. Clark works for Youth Consultation Service (YCS) with main headquarters in Newark and group homes and facilities throughout New Jersey. YCS provides services to thousands of New Jersey families who have children with special needs. According to their website, some of the children at their group homes are separated from their loved ones, some may have been affected by trauma while others have intellectual and developmental disabilities. This population requires intense support whether individual educational support and/or mental health or behavioral health services. Mr. Clark has been with YCS for 11 years serving this population of consumers. He began with YCS in the staffing and retention department. He has become a crucial member of the YCS team continually progressing in his career taking on more responsibility. At the time of his nomination for MHANJ's hero award, he was serving as the staffing and retention coordinator which required him to supervise 46 direct support personnel (DSPs) in more than a dozen psychiatric children's homes. In this position he was responsible for the Northern and Central NJ regions which required daily travel to locations in Passaic, Essex, Union, Hudson, Morris and other counties. Mr. Clark always did more than his job title required. In addition to his role as coordinator of staff, he made sure to develop relationships with the children in each home. They look forward to his ever- present smile and gentle demeanor. During the pandemic when three young children (ages 6-8 years old) had to be quarantined due to COVID and did not understand why they had to be isolated, Mr. Clark visited often and even chose to shelter in place with them part of the time. Site administrator, Etta Sample shared "Korey made sure the children felt safe." He knew that for children already working through trauma this additional isolation was very confusing. Of his own accord, he visited with lunch and treats (often paying out of his own pocket.) As it was the holidays, he was determined that these kids would not be robbed of Christmas, so he surprised them with a tree and decorations. He and his staff decorated the house and provided gifts for the kids. "Korey epitomizes the selfless compassion, dedication and courage of YCS' frontline workers," stated Janis Nicolosi-Endo in communications at YCS. Mr. Clark shared that he always wanted to be a teacher but after college found himself working in juvenile corrections for a time. He was looking for a way to "be more caring, nurturing and a role model for the kids." He transitioned to YCS and loves working with the youth and young adults in the program. "We are here to help them with their anger and disabilities. I love coming to a location and seeing the kids smile and watch the young adults progress," he shared. "It's our responsibility to make them feel like their past is in the past. We are here to help them look forward to a brighter future." Recently he has been promoted several times and is now the Northern Regional Director of DD (developmental disability) Services. In this new position, he will continue to develop close bonds with the consumers of YCS services as well as supervise and manage staff and programs. "I don't think there is a more caring person at YCS. There is nothing he wouldn't do for a child or co-worker. He has earned the trust and respect of his supervisees because of his sincerity and work ethic," stated his former director, Jerry Henderson. Congratulations to Korey Clark! The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is proud to honor this dedicated professional whose passion to work with at risk youth, special needs children, and young adults is truly inspiring. We salute his incredible courage and compassion to go to extraordinary measures to bring comfort to children and young adults with mental illness, learning disabilities and other behavioral health concerns during the current pandemic and beyond. The Mental Health Association in New Jersey established the Behavioral Healthcare Hero Awards program to recognize unsung heroes in behavioral health who are going "above and beyond" to help people with mental health and substance use disorders and their family members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit https://www.mhanj.org/heroawar... for more information including guidelines for nominating someone for the Mental Health Association in New Jersey's Behavioral Healthcare Hero Award. The MHANJ is a statewide nonprofit organization that strives for children and adults to achieve victory over mental health and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training, and services. Headquartered in Springfield, the MHANJ also has offices in Atlantic, Hudson and Ocean Counties and affiliates across New Jersey including Essex-Morris, Monmouth and Passaic Counties. For more information, visit www.mhanj.org or call 800-367-8850. Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.