SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – Amanda Sawyer, LMSW, has joined the leadership team at MHA as Vice President of Quality and Organizational Impact. Continuous quality improvement weaves itself through every fiber of MHA, and Sawyer will be instrumental in providing leadership to ensure that goals and standards are consistently achieved every day, across the organization.
“My philosophy is to ensure that we work hard to continue providing high quality services and do so consistently and reliably,” said Sawyer. “I want the people we serve to be satisfied with their experience with MHA and for employees to further understand that what they do serving others makes a meaningful and measurable impact. Using data for organizational decision making is critical in the human services landscape. Communicating the impact we are having in the lives of those we serve and how that work translates into a healthier community is important feedback to share with those who believe in our work and who understand their investments, whether human or financial resources, are well invested. I’m excited to have joined MHA and to further their commitment to being a data-driven organization.”
Sawyer earned her Master of Social Work in Administration from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and a BA in Psychology from Westfield State College. She worked previously as a director in social service, health care, and education organizations in Connecticut.
“I am thrilled that Amanda’s experience, expertise and vision are now part of the fabric of MHA,” said Cheryl Fasano, President & CEO of MHA, Inc. “Continuous quality improvement is a founding principle of MHA, and Amanda brings her fresh approach to a position with a long history within our organization. Her work will impact those we serve, as well as the individuals, state agencies and corporations that fund our work. It is crucial that our organization is truly helping to move people forward with positive outcomes that can be demonstrated with both qualitative and quantitative measures. Amanda has embraced the responsibility to ensure that there is value to our work for every constituency we reach.”
The role of VP of Quality and Organizational Impact encompasses a range of responsibilities for MHA’s quality improvement and quality management program, including tracking and reporting quality metrics and measurable outcomes, benchmarking quality indicators to external sources, staying abreast of regulatory guidelines and compliance, and providing leadership to ensure that agency-wide quality improvement initiatives are focused, aligned and demonstrating intended impact. The position reports to the President & CEO.
“MHA encounters deepening expectations from entities that support our work,” said Kimberley A. Lee, VP Resource Development & Branding for MHA. “Knowing that we consistently deliver a quality product gives those served, their families and our full range of donors and funders the assurance that we are making a difference. It also strengthens our position with employees and potential hires that MHA is a great place to work. Welcome aboard, Amanda!”
News Release Contact:
Kimberley A. Lee
VP Resource Development & Branding
413-233-5343
klee@mhainc.org
About MHA:
What We Do
MHA (Mental Health Association) helps people live their best life. We provide access to therapies for emotional health and wellness; services for substance use recovery, developmental disabilities and acquired brain injury; services for housing and residential programming, and more. With respect, integrity and compassion, MHA provides each individual served through person-driven programming to foster independence, community engagement, wellness and recovery.
Why We Matter
The youth, adults, seniors and families we serve want the same things in life as anyone: to have friends, work, go to school, have meaningful relationships, express themselves (and be heard), and be accepted in their community for who they are. With our help and resources from a caring community, people can live their potential, in their community, every day.
How We Think
Starting in the 1960s, MHA’s groundbreaking efforts and advocacy helped to transition people away from institutional living to a life in our community. This became a model for the deinstitutionalization movement. Today, our leadership continues to advance awareness of mental health conditions and needs at local, regional and national levels. We drive compassionate care for those challenged by mental health, developmental disabilities, substance use, homelessness, acquired brain injury and more.
