Heather Nower, LCSW is the Director of Operations and Program Excellence at the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier in Binghamton, NY. Heather has played an integral part in: implementation and maintenance of the agency’s electronic medical record; evaluation and quality oversight of the agency services; bringing programs into compliance with NYS Office of Mental Health regulations to secure designation/licensure as an approved provider of HCBS Peer Empowerment, Crisis Stabilization for children/youth, Family Peer Support Services, and Residential Crisis Support Services.; and was part of a team that created the infrastructure, training, and compliance standards that have allowed the organization to successfully bill and receive payment for services for the first time in the organization’s 95 year history.
Prior to joining the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier, Heather worked for Insight House (now Helio Health) in Utica NY, the Community Recovery Center of Rome Memorial Hospital, and Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services in Ithaca, NY providing and eventually overseeing an array of clinical services under the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports. For 20+ years she compassionately and tirelessly offered clinical services ranging from outpatient to intensive outpatient/day rehabilitation, up to long term residential care to individuals and families living with substance use disorders.
Heather also has experience with program development, corporate compliance, professional staff development, and the creation and implementation of organizational policy. She has been a key part of successful implementation of 3 different electronic medical records across different organizations.
Heather is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo where she obtained a Master’s in Social Work; and also has a BA in Psychology from Keuka College.