Kristen Lopez

Facilitates and tracks all QI activity for Brooklyn and Queens Methadone and Outpatient Programs Leads in program recertification, surveys, and audits and follows up with corrective action planning Ensure compliance with all regulatory agencies, including, OASAS, JCAHO, DEA, NYS DOH, SAMHSA, OMH

Quality Improvement Director at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center (2025 – Present)

• Facilitates and tracks all QI activity for Brooklyn and Queens Methadone and Outpatient Programs
• Leads in program recertification, surveys, and audits and follows up with corrective action planning
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory agencies, including, OASAS, JCAHO, DEA, NYS DOH, SAMHSA, OMH
• Coordinates investigations of all internally and externally reported incidents and patient complaints. Serve as a liaison to hospital staff and regulatory agencies
• Ensures excellence in clinical practice and delivery of patient care by monitoring quality initiatives through random clinical, environmental and safety reviews
• Oversees the reviewing, revising, and formulating of policies and procedures specific to each program

Quality Assurance Auditor at New Horizon Counseling Center (2021 – 2025)

• Provide overall program monitoring and reporting for 14 outpatient clinics throughout Suffolk, Nassau and Queens
• Independently review and assure accurate clinical documentation compliance with OMH regulations
• Implement detailed plans of corrective action and provide agency-wide administrative recommendations
• Assist Clinical Directors in preparing patient charts and administrative documentation for upcoming audits
• Facilitate agency meetings to address corporate compliance and internal audit findings

Community Integration Counselor/ Positive Behavioral Intervention Specialist at Optimum Choices Services; Head Injury Association (2016 – Present)

• Provide clinical counseling to Waiver participants who are experiencing significant difficulty managing the emotional responses inherent in adjusting to a traumatic brain injury or other significant physical or cognitive disability while transitioning back into the community
• Complete comprehensive clinical assessments to determine eligibility of clinical services
• Develop and implement structured behavioral treatment plans to assist participants in reducing maladaptive behaviors
• Analyze functional performance assessments and create individualized goals for each participant
• Train other service providers to implement behavioral treatment plans and ensure collaboration

Trauma Systems Therapy Supervisor at Forestdale Inc. (2020 – 2021)

• Supervise a unit of 4 Therapists and 2 Case Aides with a caseload of 8 within the Trauma Systems Therapy program
• Lead the implementation and integration of the TST model and ensure the Therapists practice model fidelity
• Facilitate weekly unit meetings and conduct weekly supervision to ensure best casework practice, and review case details as it relates to safety, permanency, well-being and progress of clients served
• Responsible for the approval and overview of documentation and timely submission of court documents, progress notes, FASP’s, Assessments, and Treatment Plans
• Provides consultation and support for high-risk cases and immediate crisis, involving reports to the State Central Registry and attending all Conferences related to the safety and risk of clients served

Family Team Conference Facilitator at Child Center of New York (2018 – 2020)

• Responsible for scheduling and facilitating Family Team Conferences and Service Termination Conferences for preventive service families within the Family Support Services, Family Treatment Rehabilitation, and Family Functional Therapy programs
• Provide case consultation and support to staff, including in-house training to address clinical practice challenges
• Perform quality assurance tasks, conduct chart reviews, and ensure overall best practice standards
• Provide clinical supervision to workers assigned, ensuring client care is consistent with child welfare standards and meets principles of social work practice

Individualized Care Coordinator Supervisor at SCO Family of Services (2014 – 2016)

• Responsible for supervising 5 Individualized Care Coordinators at the HCBS Waiver Program, servicing children and adolescents with serious and complex emotional needs
• Ensure timely submission and review/approve all case documentation, such as service plans, progress notes, Waiver recertification, monthly summaries, CAIRS follow-up and CANS submissions
• Provide on-going case coverage and Individual Care Coordinator trainings and unit supervision
• Responsible for submission and accuracy of Medicaid billing, state and county reports and on-going compliance with SCO, OMH, and DOHMH standards

General Preventive Program Supervisor at SCO Family of Services (2008 – 2014)

• Responsible for overseeing two Family Dynamics Preventive Agencies within the Brooklyn area serving at risk children and youth. Supervised 6 Case Planners with a caseload of 12
• Created and tailored training to meet program objectives. Implemented policies and procedures to meet the program needs and ensure compliance with ACS standards
• Serve as a liaison between Children’s Protective Services, referral agencies and other community resources for the families served
• Demonstrate crisis and safety protocol to staff at both Family Dynamics locations and provide crisis intervention to high risk cases

M.A. in Psychology in Education, Applied Clinical Track – Columbia University, Teachers College

B.A. in Psychology – St. Francis College