Danyell Samassa
Philadelphia
Summary
Accomplished behavioral health professional and educator with 30 years of experience in behavioral health, public health, and program development. Expertise includes co-occurring disorders, trauma-informed care, and maternal health. Skilled in curriculum development, graduate instruction, and clinical assessment, with a focus on creating evidence-informed educational materials. Founder of The Talitha Cumi Awakening Project, emphasizing AI evaluation and innovative learning solutions that integrate clinical expertise and technology.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Clinical Consultant at PMHC
US Medical Staffing
Philadelphia
08.2024 - Current
- Interviewed clients upon admission for outpatient treatment to identify individual needs and preferences, ensuring tailored care.
- Utilized clinical assessment tools such as PHQ-9, GAD-7, PTSD, Trauma, CSSRS, and Summary Skills Experience to evaluate client mental health.
- Developed and wrote comprehensive biopsychosocials in compliance with standards and regulations, including psychiatric diagnosis.
- Linked clients to appropriate psychiatric services, facilitating access to necessary support.
- Maintained client charts in accordance with regulatory requirements, ensuring accurate and up-to-date documentation.
- Completed all chart management updates and quality assurance tasks to comply with regulatory requirements, program policies and procedures, and billing standards.
Assistant Adjunct Professor
Temple University
Philadelphia
12.2023 - 05.2025
- Taught MSW while managing external and internal classroom experiences to address student needs.
- Provide teaching and learning techniques to create an inclusive class experience.
- Communicate course content and expectations to students, follow course outline and syllabus.
- Utilized virtual formats to enhance student engagement and accessibility.
- Provided teaching and learning techniques that fostered an inclusive classroom environment.
Outpatient MH Therapist (PT)
Elwyn (Formally known as Fellowship Health Resources)
Phoenixville
10.2023 - 05.2024
- Delivered individual counseling services to adults with severe mental health diagnoses, fostering therapeutic progress in outpatient program.
- Conducted assessments and developed treatment plans for clients.
- Completed documentation in compliance with State and Local Licensing laws and policy requirements.
- Collaborated with team to generate actionable program enhancement ideas, contributing to service improvement.
Pediatric Training Coordinator
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health-Covid Containment Unit
Philadelphia
11.2022 - 05.2024
- Work within the Pediatric Partnerships team to support the COVID unit’s outreach education plan and strategies through both internal and external training.
- Identified training needs within Division of COVID-19 Containment and coordinated delivery of virtual training by experts to enhance staff knowledge on pediatric testing, vaccinations, and adherence to mitigation strategies.
- Develop and deliver training on COVID-19 containment strategies to pediatric-focused community-based organizations, schools, parents, and the public.
- Developed and delivered comprehensive training on COVID-19 containment strategies to pediatric-focused community organizations, schools, parents, and the public to improve awareness and engagement.
- Identify effective channels of communication for reaching targeted audiences, including identification of non-mainstream methods to promote important preparedness and emergency response information to at-risk or socially isolated populations.
- Coordinated in-person events and test distribution for sector teams within Pediatric Partnerships.
- Assisted with various tasks to support team objectives.
Pediatric Special Projects Specialist
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health-Covid Containment Unit
Philadelphia
07.2021 - 11.2022
- Conducted foundational research, planning, and development support for new projects and partnerships, enhancing efficacy of pediatric partnership program.
- Supported hiring, onboarding, and training initiatives by screening applicants on a rolling basis and developing or revising team onboarding and training materials.
- Identified close contacts, including classmates, teachers, and school administrators, by communicating with school/facility administrators and reviewing relevant databases.
- Document close contacts of confirmed cases, including classmates and teachers, by communicating with school administrators. including classmates, teachers, school admins, and others who might have been exposed to the disease by communicating with school/facility administrators as needed and reviewing other databases.
- Facilitated hiring, onboarding, and training initiatives by screening applicants and creating or updating onboarding and training materials.
Covid Response Specialist
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health-Covid Containment Unit
Philadelphia
03.2021 - 07.2021
- Obtained and documented detailed case investigations in early childhood, primary, and secondary education settings, capturing clinical presentations, laboratory results, underlying conditions, exposure sources, risk factors, and potential transmission for each suspected case.
- Identified close contacts including household members, classmates, and others who might have been exposed to the disease by communicating with parents, family members, and school administrators.
- For cases related to early childhood, primary, and secondary education settings, obtain and document case investigation details, including clinical presentation, laboratory results, underlying conditions, exposure sources, risk factors, and the potential for transmission for each suspected case.
- Participated in outbreak investigations in early childhood, primary, and secondary education settings, cooperating with team members, administrators, and parents.
- Participated in regular school and ECE team meetings and training, including weekly case reviews and communicable disease manual training.
Counselor III
The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard
Philadelphia
07.2020 - 02.2021
- Delivered individual/group counseling services to men/women with co-occurring disorders in intensive outpatient/non-methadone maintenance program.
- Conduct assessments and create treatment plans.
- Documented client interactions in compliance with State and Local Licensing laws and policy requirements.
- Provided constructive feedback to team members to enhance program effectiveness. to the team in creating program enhancement ideas.
Primary Therapist (master’s level) at Kirkbride Center
US Medical Staffing
Philadelphia
05.2017 - 08.2018
- Delivered individual/group counseling services to clients with co-occurring disorders in short-term residential program and outpatient methadone maintenance clinic.
- Conducted assessments and developed treatment plans.
- Complete documentation in adherence to State and Local Licensing laws, well as policy requirements regarding the format of documentation.
- Collaborated with team to generate and implement program enhancement ideas.
Parenting Instructor
Pennsylvania Prison Society- Parenting Program
Philadelphia
03.2016 - 04.2017
- Developed and facilitated a 6-week, 12-session parenting program at Riverside Correctional Facility, empowering participants with practical parenting skills.
- Advocated for parenting women by offering support and resources at Riverside Correctional Facility.
- Facilitated parenting workshops for incarcerated individuals and their families.
- Developed curriculum focused on effective communication and conflict resolution.
- Provided guidance on child development and parenting strategies.
Assistant Director/Therapist
Resources for Human Development (rhd)
Philadelphia
11.2014 - 12.2015
- Contributed to program development and implementation to enhance service delivery.
- Managed daily operations for program serving 9 women and 18 children, ensuring compliance and quality care.
- Recruit and hire staff based on licensing and regulatory requirements.
- Updated policy and procedure manual to align with RHD funding and regulatory standards.
- Assist with program budgeting and billing.
- Delivered crisis intervention services to support individuals in distress.
- Provide agency and program presentation training.
- Act as a liaison as needed to government regulatory bodies.
- Acting Director when Unit Director was off-site.
MOMobile Site Coordinator
Maternity Care Coalition (MCC)
Philadelphia
08.2006 - 07.2013
- Developed curriculum for start-up program for one-of-a-kind, full-time, institutional-based program.
- Managed on-site program administration, overseeing case management, data collection, reporting to funders and contractors, and developing community resources.
- Created, established, and facilitated pre/post-natal support groups and educational peer groups.
- Recruited, trained, and provided clinical supervision and evaluation of three case managers and interns.
- Recruited, trained, and supervised three case managers and interns, conducting evaluations to enhance team effectiveness.
- Built and maintained relationships with diverse community-based service providers to address issues related to health insurance, crisis intervention, housing, immunizations, workforce reintegration, emergency food/formula, substance treatment, and family planning.
- Allocated resources for daily operational expenses to ensure program sustainability.
Education
Doctor of Social Work -
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CAMaster of Science - Health Policy
University of The Sciences
Philadelphia, PAMaster of Science - Criminal Justice
Saint Joseph’s University
Philadelphia, PABachelor of Science - Administration of Justice
Pennsylvania State University
State College, PASkills
- Treatment Planning
- Healthcare analytics
- Clinical research
- Clinical trials
- Clinical documentation
- Quality assurance
- Quality improvement
- Performance indicators
- Process update procedures
- Training program
- Training design
- Training providers
- Student mentorship
- Student engagement
- Team leadership
- Client management
- Psychiatric diagnosis
- Comprehensive evaluation
- Problem solving
- Goal attainment
- Professional demeanor
Affiliations
- National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women, Board of Directors
- National Task Force on the Use of Restraints on Pregnant Women in Correctional Facilities in the United States
- International Instructor of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program
- Pennsylvania State Committee Member, HR 203 Children of Incarcerated Parents Project (Joint State Government Commission), 2012
- Women’s Medical Fund, Board of Directors
- Pennsylvania Prison Society, Working Group Committee Member
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Key Accomplishments
Participated in coalition with stakeholders throughout the State of Pennsylvania and State Senator Daylin Leach to gain successful passage of the Anti-Shackling Bill, Healthy Birth for Incarcerated Women, SB1074/ Act 45., 06/01/10, Presented testimony to the PA House Child and Youth Committee., 2007, Designed and authored the prison-based Doula (birthing coach) initiative as a part of the MOMobile at RCF., Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2013 Grant Proposal: received $130,000 funding for FY-2014., Co-Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2007 Grant Proposal; received $100,000 funding for FY-2008., In conjunction with the MCC-Deputy Executive Director in The Connect Project, an extensive training designed to help Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grantees in the enhancement of relations with Congressional representatives and other policymakers., As sole participator from MCC completed a training project underwritten by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: A Practical Approach to Internal Evaluation using quantitative and qualitative analysis., Division of Disease Control, Covid Containment Unit (Pediatric Partnership Team), Brown Bag Series-Employment Improvement Workshops., 2022-Present, RHD-Hub B, Cultural Competency Training., 2015, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Substance Abuse and Pregnancy., 2007-2012, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Labor and Delivery., 2007-2009
Presentations And Lectures
Participated in coalition with stakeholders throughout the State of Pennsylvania and State Senator Daylin Leach to gain successful passage of the Anti-Shackling Bill, Healthy Birth for Incarcerated Women, SB1074/ Act 45., 06/01/10, Presented testimony to the PA House Child and Youth Committee., 2007, Designed and authored the prison-based Doula (birthing coach) initiative as a part of the MOMobile at RCF., Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2013 Grant Proposal: received $130,000 funding for FY-2014., Co-Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2007 Grant Proposal; received $100,000 funding for FY-2008., In conjunction with the MCC-Deputy Executive Director in The Connect Project, an extensive training designed to help Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grantees in the enhancement of relations with Congressional representatives and other policymakers., As sole participator from MCC completed a training project underwritten by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: A Practical Approach to Internal Evaluation using quantitative and qualitative analysis., Division of Disease Control, Covid Containment Unit (Pediatric Partnership Team), Brown Bag Series-Employment Improvement Workshops., 2022-Present, RHD-Hub B, Cultural Competency Training., 2015, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Substance Abuse and Pregnancy., 2007-2012, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Labor and Delivery., 2007-2009
Leadership Clinical Experience Advocacy - Summary
Participated in coalition with stakeholders throughout the State of Pennsylvania and State Senator Daylin Leach to gain successful passage of the Anti-Shackling Bill, Healthy Birth for Incarcerated Women, SB1074/ Act 45., 06/01/10, Presented testimony to the PA House Child and Youth Committee., 2007, Designed and authored the prison-based Doula (birthing coach) initiative as a part of the MOMobile at RCF., Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2013 Grant Proposal: received $130,000 funding for FY-2014., Co-Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2007 Grant Proposal; received $100,000 funding for FY-2008., In conjunction with the MCC-Deputy Executive Director in The Connect Project, an extensive training designed to help Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grantees in the enhancement of relations with Congressional representatives and other policymakers., As sole participator from MCC completed a training project underwritten by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: A Practical Approach to Internal Evaluation using quantitative and qualitative analysis., Division of Disease Control, Covid Containment Unit (Pediatric Partnership Team), Brown Bag Series-Employment Improvement Workshops., 2022-Present, RHD-Hub B, Cultural Competency Training., 2015, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Substance Abuse and Pregnancy., 2007-2012, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Labor and Delivery., 2007-2009
Public Health Experience
Participated in coalition with stakeholders throughout the State of Pennsylvania and State Senator Daylin Leach to gain successful passage of the Anti-Shackling Bill, Healthy Birth for Incarcerated Women, SB1074/ Act 45., 06/01/10, Presented testimony to the PA House Child and Youth Committee., 2007, Designed and authored the prison-based Doula (birthing coach) initiative as a part of the MOMobile at RCF., Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2013 Grant Proposal: received $130,000 funding for FY-2014., Co-Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2007 Grant Proposal; received $100,000 funding for FY-2008., In conjunction with the MCC-Deputy Executive Director in The Connect Project, an extensive training designed to help Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grantees in the enhancement of relations with Congressional representatives and other policymakers., As sole participator from MCC completed a training project underwritten by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: A Practical Approach to Internal Evaluation using quantitative and qualitative analysis., Division of Disease Control, Covid Containment Unit (Pediatric Partnership Team), Brown Bag Series-Employment Improvement Workshops., 2022-Present, RHD-Hub B, Cultural Competency Training., 2015, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Substance Abuse and Pregnancy., 2007-2012, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Labor and Delivery., 2007-2009
Management Experience
Participated in coalition with stakeholders throughout the State of Pennsylvania and State Senator Daylin Leach to gain successful passage of the Anti-Shackling Bill, Healthy Birth for Incarcerated Women, SB1074/ Act 45., 06/01/10, Presented testimony to the PA House Child and Youth Committee., 2007, Designed and authored the prison-based Doula (birthing coach) initiative as a part of the MOMobile at RCF., Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2013 Grant Proposal: received $130,000 funding for FY-2014., Co-Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2007 Grant Proposal; received $100,000 funding for FY-2008., In conjunction with the MCC-Deputy Executive Director in The Connect Project, an extensive training designed to help Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grantees in the enhancement of relations with Congressional representatives and other policymakers., As sole participator from MCC completed a training project underwritten by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: A Practical Approach to Internal Evaluation using quantitative and qualitative analysis., Division of Disease Control, Covid Containment Unit (Pediatric Partnership Team), Brown Bag Series-Employment Improvement Workshops., 2022-Present, RHD-Hub B, Cultural Competency Training., 2015, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Substance Abuse and Pregnancy., 2007-2012, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Labor and Delivery., 2007-2009
References
Participated in coalition with stakeholders throughout the State of Pennsylvania and State Senator Daylin Leach to gain successful passage of the Anti-Shackling Bill, Healthy Birth for Incarcerated Women, SB1074/ Act 45., 06/01/10, Presented testimony to the PA House Child and Youth Committee., 2007, Designed and authored the prison-based Doula (birthing coach) initiative as a part of the MOMobile at RCF., Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2013 Grant Proposal: received $130,000 funding for FY-2014., Co-Author of Prison Board of Trustees, 2007 Grant Proposal; received $100,000 funding for FY-2008., In conjunction with the MCC-Deputy Executive Director in The Connect Project, an extensive training designed to help Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grantees in the enhancement of relations with Congressional representatives and other policymakers., As sole participator from MCC completed a training project underwritten by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: A Practical Approach to Internal Evaluation using quantitative and qualitative analysis., Division of Disease Control, Covid Containment Unit (Pediatric Partnership Team), Brown Bag Series-Employment Improvement Workshops., 2022-Present, RHD-Hub B, Cultural Competency Training., 2015, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Substance Abuse and Pregnancy., 2007-2012, Conducted New Staff Training for MCC: Labor and Delivery., 2007-2009
Timeline
Clinical Consultant at PMHC
US Medical Staffing
08.2024 - Current
Assistant Adjunct Professor
Temple University
12.2023 - 05.2025
Outpatient MH Therapist (PT)
Elwyn (Formally known as Fellowship Health Resources)
10.2023 - 05.2024
Pediatric Training Coordinator
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health-Covid Containment Unit
11.2022 - 05.2024
Pediatric Special Projects Specialist
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health-Covid Containment Unit
07.2021 - 11.2022
Covid Response Specialist
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health-Covid Containment Unit
03.2021 - 07.2021
Counselor III
The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard
07.2020 - 02.2021
Primary Therapist (master’s level) at Kirkbride Center
US Medical Staffing
05.2017 - 08.2018
Parenting Instructor
Pennsylvania Prison Society- Parenting Program
03.2016 - 04.2017
Assistant Director/Therapist
Resources for Human Development (rhd)
11.2014 - 12.2015
MOMobile Site Coordinator
Maternity Care Coalition (MCC)
08.2006 - 07.2013
Doctor of Social Work -
University of Southern California
Master of Science - Health Policy
University of The Sciences
Master of Science - Criminal Justice
Saint Joseph’s University
Bachelor of Science - Administration of Justice
Pennsylvania State University