Presenter Bios

Richard "Dick" Balser, M.A., CRC, is Chief, Outpatient Services, Department of Psychiatry and the Director, Department of Vocational Services at Maine Medical Center. Dick oversees Spring Harbor Counseling, the Child, Geriatric and Adult Programs at McGeachey Hall, Maine Medical Center and the Action, Anchor, Access, Jail Diversion, and Intensive Community Integration Programs at Spring Harbor Hospital. He has been with the Maine Medical Center for over 30 years as a practitioner, trainer and educator, as well as providing administrative support to the Department of Psychiatry and the areas presently listed above. In relation to the Department of Vocational Services he has overseen the development of local and national demonstration projects regarding job training and school to work transition projects for persons with severe disabilities. In the last ten years this work included emphasis on employment for adults and transition aged youth with psychiatric disabilities.

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Clay Finck, MSEd, LCPC / Program Supervisor
Fields of Expertise: Clay is a program supervisor with the National Resource Center for Youth Services. He coordinates projects through the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Youth Development (NCWRCYD) and works with other NCWRCYD staff to develop and deliver training nationally. He trains the NRCYS Residential Youth and Child Care Professional, Managing Aggressive Behavior, and the Ansell Casey Life Skills Assessment curricula and in the areas of Independent Living, Permanency Planning and Positive Youth Development. Clay provides technical assistance to states that are developing or restructuring their Youth Advisory Boards. Clay has 17 years experience with youth in foster care and was a director and Independent Living coordinator for a private foster care agency in Kansas. Clay is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and earned a master’s of education degree from Northern State University in South Dakota.
Email: cfinck@ou.edu

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Brenda Johnson is the Client Affairs Coordinator at Beckman Mental Health. She works in the system to bring client representation to the management level. She is responsible for obtaining data for follow up discharges and generating reports on client satisfaction. She is responsible for the use of information gained to generate a reports and provides recommendations for improving service delivery. She also recruits and coordinates a client advisory Committee that meets quarterly. As a Client Advocate, she assists clients who have service delivery issues. She also serves as a liaison to the Mental Health Client Affairs Coordinator and attends state meetings. In my position as Cerified Peer Support Specialist, she interviews candidates for positions and helps orient new staff.

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Christine McKenzie is the Program Manager for the Department of Vocational Services at Maine Medical Center. She is responsible for clinical supervision of staff, program oversight, development, and referrals. Christine received her Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling in 1986 and has worked extensively with persons with mental illness in a variety of settings.

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Melodie Pazolt has over 24 years experience in community rehabilitation for individuals with both mental illnesses and developmental disabilities, including serving as the Associate Director for Columbia River Mental Health Services, and manager of Columbia River's Employment Program (Clearview). Melodie is currently working at Clark County (WA) Department of Community Services to promote Supported Employment, Supported Housing and Supported Education.She has extensive experience over the last twelve years both in direct service and supervision of community employment with people with significant disabilities. She has operated 4 independent grants and several State contracts in conjunction with the direct employment services to consumers of mental health services. She implemented and supervised a Department of Labor Workforce Action Grant from the Office of Disability Employment Policy (DOL-ODEP) focusing on supported employment and self employment for individuals based on the Olmstead Decision. She also provided direct oversight of the local Partnership for Youth in Transition program entitled OPTIONS.

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