John Hamilton, RNP's Chief Executive Officer, has worked in the field of addiction prevention and treatment since 1981 and is the CEO for Recovery Network of Programs, a non-profit behavioral health agency serving the greater Bridgeport community. Mr. Hamilton holds licenses in Alcohol and Drug Counseling as well as Marriage and Family Therapy. Currently, John is President of the New England Association of Drug Court Professionals and President of the Connecticut Southwest Mental Health Board. John is a permanent appointee for the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network Steering Committee and serves on the Executive Committee and Research Utilization Committee. John serves on the Advisory Board for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and is actively involved in community prevention councils in Fairfield County. Previously, John was Chair of the Dissemination Committee for the NIDA Clinical Trials Network and Chair of the Ethics Committee for the Connecticut Certification Board. John presents locally and internationally on a variety of topics in the field of addiction treatment and prevention.
Dorna Stover, RNP's Chief Operating Officer, acquired her Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut. She received her Masters Degree in Public Administration from University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut. Ms. Stover's vast accomplishments constitute twenty-five years of diversified and progressively responsible experience within the behavioral health environment. Some of the highlights of her accomplishments are: coordinated renovations at the shelter's third and fourth floors; monitored compliance to fire and building codes; successfully secured funds via State Bond Commission; designed and edited organization's annual reports; prepared policy and procedure manual; secured additional funding for renovations through applications for grant-in-aid; revised the organization's brochures; implemented first multi-user/multi-tasking computer system; planned/implemented automated medication dispensing system; supervised/prepared descriptive and trend reports in an automated environment. Dorna is a member of DMHAS Multicultural Advisory Council and the Co-Chair of Region I, Multicultural Council.
Paul Kelly, RNP's Chief Financial Officer, has worked with Recovery Network of Programs, Inc. since 1988. As part of the management team, he is charged with the task of running the business, setting objectives and seeing that these objectives are met. As Chief Financial Officer, he manages and administers all business and fiscal activities such as financial statements and budgeting. He establishes and maintains internal fiscal controls and assesses risk of all financial transactions. He initiates and manages significant relationships within the community relating to banking, insurance, legal issues and state and federal funding sources. He also takes care of the company personnel policies and benefits, agency grants and contract preparations. Paul received his Bachelors Degree in Accounting in 1985 and worked with Neill Tools, Inc. as the company's Controller for five years before working with RNP.
Jennifer Kolakowski, RNP's Chief Clinical Officer, has worked in the social work profession since 1989 and has been with RNP for 16 years. Jen earned her MSW degree from Fordham University in 1996 and is a licensed Clinical Social Worker. She holds credentials from the Connecticut Certification Board in Co-Occurring Treatment and Medication Assisted Treatment. Jen has over 21 years of experience in working with people who are homeless and living with HIV/AIDS. She has extensive experience in working with individuals who have psychiatric disorders and are chemically dependent. Jen has authored, coauthored and implemented numerous successful grant proposals, which have significantly expanded residential services to include scatter-site housing, transitional and permanent housing as well as a nationally recognized Residential Co-Occurring Enhanced Inpatient Treatment Facility. Under her leadership, Jen developed the first HIV/AIDS specific case management program in an emergency shelter setting. In 2001, she was the recipient of the Catherine Kennedy Award for Best Practices in housing individuals living with HIV and AIDS. Most recently, Jen has been instrumental in developing and implementing a Co-Occurring Intensive Outpatient Program within Prospect House Shelter. There are currently nine distinct programs which comprise Residential Services at RNP, which include: Prospect House Emergency Shelter, HOPWA Scatter-Site Housing Program, Urban Model Initiative Transitional and Supportive Housing, Seaview Apartment Program, Horizons Residential Inpatient Program, New Prospects Co-Occurring Enhanced Residential Inpatient Program, Iranistan and Huntington Rehabilitation Centers, and the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Supervised Apartment Program. Jen has been a frequent guest lecturer at Southern Connecticut, Fairfield University and Sacred Heart. Jen is extremely committed to the education and development of the social work profession. She coordinates and also supervises the field placements of both BSW and MSW students in the agency. Jen is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition and is a member of the State of Connecticut Crisis Response Team.
PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Joanne Montgomery is the current Division Director of Outpatient Services. Ms. Montgomery has worked in the behavioral health since 1995 helping adolescents and adults with substance abuse, mental health and medical issues. She is a certified addiction counselor, clinical supervisor, medicated assisted treatment specialist, and has a specialty certificate to treat occurring disorders, all recognized by the Connecticut Certification Board, Inc. Ms. Montgomery is intricately involved with numerous community activities and is currently appointed as a member of the Ryan White Planning Council. In this role, she is responsible for the oversight of all of the funding for New Haven and Fairfield Counties targeted for direct care to persons living with HIV/AIDS. Ms. Montgomery was successful in creating a new and innovative treatment modality for substance abusers living with HIV/AIDS with her previous employer. This case management and crisis intervention model was implemented throughout Fairfield County and assisted many clients in achieving their goals related to harm reduction and proper medical care. As Division Director of Outpatient Services, Ms. Montgomery is committed to enhancing client care through the development of a ‘treatment on demand’ model, having successfully designed and implemented a 90 minute admission process. This is the first time such a model has been implemented in the State of Connecticut and recognition was received by DMHAS for outstanding achievement. She is equally dedicated to providing sound supervision for the clinical team in order to strengthen knowledge and clinical skills; thus, providing cutting-edge high quality services for all clients in need.
Maureen O’Neill Biggs, Division Director of Residential Services, came to Recovery Network of Programs in 2009 with more than 40 years of experience in the behavioral health field. She started as Clinical Director at New Prospects, an enhanced co-occurring residential program where she developed new programming. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Medicated Assisted Treatment Specialist. Maureen was part of the initial staff working at the Shirley Frank Foundation. She worked as a Counselor/Assistant Director then as Director on the detoxification unit. She also worked at Gaylord Hospital as Director of the IOP/PHP Program for the chemically dependent assisting clients diagnosed with traumatic brain injury as well as those recently paralyzed as a result of a motor vehicle accident. In the Department of Psychiatry at Griffin Hospital, Maureen was Director of the Chemical Dependency IOP program and the PHP for the chronically mentally ill and responsible for developing each program. As Vice President of Clinical Operations at MCCA, she developed and instituted a group home for the mentally ill/chemically dependent adolescent female, a residential program for adolescent females and a detoxification unit while overseeing a residential program and several outpatient programs.
Don Demaine is the current Director of Network Management for Recovery Network of Programs. He has worked in IT since 1995 and in IT in the Behavioral Health field since 1999. Mr. Demaine holds certifications in Microsoft and Netware Network Operating Systems and has extensive experience in Linux Network Operating Systems as well as experience in desktop hardware, operating systems, and customer support. In Mr. Demaine’s role at Recovery Network of Programs he is charged not only with assuring the staff of high availability of network resources but with being proactive training the staff in the use of computers and seeing that the agency technology needs are up to industry standards. Mr. Demaine also has a role in assisting Recovery Network of Programs attaining CARF accreditation.
Rhonda Panda, BS, CAC, CCDP, MATS is the current Director of the Drug Intervention Program for Recovery Network of Programs, Inc. She has worked in the behavioral health field for over 10 years combining both mental health and substance abuse treatments for persons with legal involvement at the Department of Children and Families and as a counselor for the Drug Court program from 2004-2007. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Resources from the University of Connecticut, School of Family Studies and is recognized by the Connecticut Certification Board as a Certified Addictions Counselor, a Co-occurring Disorders Professional and a Medically Assisted Treatment Specialist. Ms. Panda is responsible for supervising, directing and coordinating all activities and aspects of the Drug Court program. She has successfully improved the relationship of the Drug Court treatment program with the judicial court, probation department, local law enforcement and community supports through education and outreach. Ms. Panda is a member of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
John Hamilton, RNP's Chief Executive Officer, has worked in the field of addiction prevention and treatment since 1981 and is the CEO for Recovery Network of Programs, a non-profit behavioral health agency serving the greater Bridgeport community. Mr. Hamilton holds licenses in Alcohol and Drug Counseling as well as Marriage and Family Therapy. Currently, John is President of the New England Association of Drug Court Professionals and President of the Connecticut Southwest Mental Health Board. John is a permanent appointee for the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network Steering Committee and serves on the Executive Committee and Research Utilization Committee. John serves on the Advisory Board for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and is actively involved in community prevention councils in Fairfield County. Previously, John was Chair of the Dissemination Committee for the NIDA Clinical Trials Network and Chair of the Ethics Committee for the Connecticut Certification Board. John presents locally and internationally on a variety of topics in the field of addiction treatment and prevention.
Dorna Stover, RNP's Chief Operating Officer, acquired her Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut. She received her Masters Degree in Public Administration from University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut. Ms. Stover's vast accomplishments constitute twenty-five years of diversified and progressively responsible experience within the behavioral health environment. Some of the highlights of her accomplishments are: coordinated renovations at the shelter's third and fourth floors; monitored compliance to fire and building codes; successfully secured funds via State Bond Commission; designed and edited organization's annual reports; prepared policy and procedure manual; secured additional funding for renovations through applications for grant-in-aid; revised the organization's brochures; implemented first multi-user/multi-tasking computer system; planned/implemented automated medication dispensing system; supervised/prepared descriptive and trend reports in an automated environment. Dorna is a member of DMHAS Multicultural Advisory Council and the Co-Chair of Region I, Multicultural Council.
Paul Kelly, RNP's Chief Financial Officer, has worked with Recovery Network of Programs, Inc. since 1988. As part of the management team, he is charged with the task of running the business, setting objectives and seeing that these objectives are met. As Chief Financial Officer, he manages and administers all business and fiscal activities such as financial statements and budgeting. He establishes and maintains internal fiscal controls and assesses risk of all financial transactions. He initiates and manages significant relationships within the community relating to banking, insurance, legal issues and state and federal funding sources. He also takes care of the company personnel policies and benefits, agency grants and contract preparations. Paul received his Bachelors Degree in Accounting in 1985 and worked with Neill Tools, Inc. as the company's Controller for five years before working with RNP.
Jennifer Kolakowski, RNP's Chief Clinical Officer, has worked in the social work profession since 1989 and has been with RNP for 16 years. Jen earned her MSW degree from Fordham University in 1996 and is a licensed Clinical Social Worker. She holds credentials from the Connecticut Certification Board in Co-Occurring Treatment and Medication Assisted Treatment. Jen has over 21 years of experience in working with people who are homeless and living with HIV/AIDS. She has extensive experience in working with individuals who have psychiatric disorders and are chemically dependent. Jen has authored, coauthored and implemented numerous successful grant proposals, which have significantly expanded residential services to include scatter-site housing, transitional and permanent housing as well as a nationally recognized Residential Co-Occurring Enhanced Inpatient Treatment Facility. Under her leadership, Jen developed the first HIV/AIDS specific case management program in an emergency shelter setting. In 2001, she was the recipient of the Catherine Kennedy Award for Best Practices in housing individuals living with HIV and AIDS. Most recently, Jen has been instrumental in developing and implementing a Co-Occurring Intensive Outpatient Program within Prospect House Shelter. There are currently nine distinct programs which comprise Residential Services at RNP, which include: Prospect House Emergency Shelter, HOPWA Scatter-Site Housing Program, Urban Model Initiative Transitional and Supportive Housing, Seaview Apartment Program, Horizons Residential Inpatient Program, New Prospects Co-Occurring Enhanced Residential Inpatient Program, Iranistan and Huntington Rehabilitation Centers, and the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Supervised Apartment Program. Jen has been a frequent guest lecturer at Southern Connecticut, Fairfield University and Sacred Heart. Jen is extremely committed to the education and development of the social work profession. She coordinates and also supervises the field placements of both BSW and MSW students in the agency. Jen is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition and is a member of the State of Connecticut Crisis Response Team.
Joanne Montgomery is the current Division Director of Outpatient Services. Ms. Montgomery has worked in the behavioral health since 1995 helping adolescents and adults with substance abuse, mental health and medical issues. She is a certified addiction counselor, clinical supervisor, medicated assisted treatment specialist, and has a specialty certificate to treat occurring disorders, all recognized by the Connecticut Certification Board, Inc. Ms. Montgomery is intricately involved with numerous community activities and is currently appointed as a member of the Ryan White Planning Council. In this role, she is responsible for the oversight of all of the funding for New Haven and Fairfield Counties targeted for direct care to persons living with HIV/AIDS. Ms. Montgomery was successful in creating a new and innovative treatment modality for substance abusers living with HIV/AIDS with her previous employer. This case management and crisis intervention model was implemented throughout Fairfield County and assisted many clients in achieving their goals related to harm reduction and proper medical care. As Division Director of Outpatient Services, Ms. Montgomery is committed to enhancing client care through the development of a ‘treatment on demand’ model, having successfully designed and implemented a 90 minute admission process. This is the first time such a model has been implemented in the State of Connecticut and recognition was received by DMHAS for outstanding achievement. She is equally dedicated to providing sound supervision for the clinical team in order to strengthen knowledge and clinical skills; thus, providing cutting-edge high quality services for all clients in need.
Maureen O’Neill Biggs, Division Director of Residential Services, came to Recovery Network of Programs in 2009 with more than 40 years of experience in the behavioral health field. She started as Clinical Director at New Prospects, an enhanced co-occurring residential program where she developed new programming. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Medicated Assisted Treatment Specialist. Maureen was part of the initial staff working at the Shirley Frank Foundation. She worked as a Counselor/Assistant Director then as Director on the detoxification unit. She also worked at Gaylord Hospital as Director of the IOP/PHP Program for the chemically dependent assisting clients diagnosed with traumatic brain injury as well as those recently paralyzed as a result of a motor vehicle accident. In the Department of Psychiatry at Griffin Hospital, Maureen was Director of the Chemical Dependency IOP program and the PHP for the chronically mentally ill and responsible for developing each program. As Vice President of Clinical Operations at MCCA, she developed and instituted a group home for the mentally ill/chemically dependent adolescent female, a residential program for adolescent females and a detoxification unit while overseeing a residential program and several outpatient programs.
Don Demaine is the current Director of Network Management for Recovery Network of Programs. He has worked in IT since 1995 and in IT in the Behavioral Health field since 1999. Mr. Demaine holds certifications in Microsoft and Netware Network Operating Systems and has extensive experience in Linux Network Operating Systems as well as experience in desktop hardware, operating systems, and customer support. In Mr. Demaine’s role at Recovery Network of Programs he is charged not only with assuring the staff of high availability of network resources but with being proactive training the staff in the use of computers and seeing that the agency technology needs are up to industry standards. Mr. Demaine also has a role in assisting Recovery Network of Programs attaining CARF accreditation.
Rhonda Panda, BS, CAC, CCDP, MATS is the current Director of the Drug Intervention Program for Recovery Network of Programs, Inc. She has worked in the behavioral health field for over 10 years combining both mental health and substance abuse treatments for persons with legal involvement at the Department of Children and Families and as a counselor for the Drug Court program from 2004-2007. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Resources from the University of Connecticut, School of Family Studies and is recognized by the Connecticut Certification Board as a Certified Addictions Counselor, a Co-occurring Disorders Professional and a Medically Assisted Treatment Specialist. Ms. Panda is responsible for supervising, directing and coordinating all activities and aspects of the Drug Court program. She has successfully improved the relationship of the Drug Court treatment program with the judicial court, probation department, local law enforcement and community supports through education and outreach. Ms. Panda is a member of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.