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Melinda joined the leadership team
of the National Counseling Group in 2006. She comes to
NCG with nearly 20 years of nursing experience. Recognized
for her commitment and dedication to serving others, and to excellence,
she was hired to join the Diabetic Intensive Care Unit nursing
team of a local Sentara Hospital prior to graduation from nursing
school. While working several years for both Sentara Hospital
Bayside and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Melinda pursued
her desire to provide nursing care in a home-based setting and
began working per diem for a local home health care agency. Melinda
spent the next several years providing direct nursing care to
both home health and hospice clients across the Tidewater region. Her
love and passion for quality care was evident as she was promoted
into the position of home health liaison nurse where she was
responsible for coordinating admissions and educating the local
community about available services. Melinda was able to
develop many collaborative relationships with local hospitals,
assisted care facilities, physicians and surgeons, community
based agencies and local senior resource centers. Through
these relationships, she was propelled into the world of mental
health and found a passion for mental health, behavioral health
and therapeutic foster care.
Prior to joining NCG, she was employed by a nationally recognized
mental health and behavioral health care provider. For
the next several years, Melinda traveled extensively throughout
the United States working in many states educating communities,
judges, social workers, managed care companies and health care
providers about available services. She later directed
the national centralized admissions office and assisted in
the development of the systems of care model that is still
in use today. She continued this professional experience
by joining the community based company of the corporate entity
as the Director of Quality Management Services. In this
role she developed and implemented a system wide Utilization
Review Program, assisted in the development and implementation
of company wide Outcomes and Performance measures and was responsible
for the organization’s Risk Management Polices and compliance. Additional
responsibilities included the development, implementation and
continued oversight of the Performance Improvement Plan to
ensure the agency’s compliance with regulatory agencies
associated with foster care, home based services and group
homes nationally. These experiences took her across a
system of care provided in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington
DC, Tennessee, Maryland and New Jersey.
Melinda continues to have a reputation for excellence and
strives to improve the lives of all of those around her. She
has a passion for helping those who can’t speak for themselves
and has served on the Virginal Beach Mayor’s Task Force
on Aging and was Governor appointed to serve on the Human Rights
Committee for South Eastern Virginia Training Center. She
has lobbied on behalf of patients suffering with Non-Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma to Virginia General Assembly members and Senators
in Washington.
Her commitment to education and service is evident in the
work she does with the National Counseling Group, Inc. As
the Statewide Director of Business Development, she works with
local, regional and statewide agencies, probation officers,
social workers, human rights advocates, judges, Directors of
agencies and direct consumers to develop programs and services
that will have a positive impact on the lives of children,
youth and families across the Commonwealth of Virginia. With
the support of Thomas W. Minnick, LCSW, President and CEO of
NCG, she developed and implemented the Therapeutic Foster Care
program serving the eastern shore, tidewater and northern Virginia
regions. This program was developed on the foundation
of compassion, understanding, integrity and a commitment to
the well being of children, youth and families.
A local Kempsville High School graduate, she is the mother
of two beautiful young ladies and can be found most evenings
and weekends supporting them at cheerleading competitions across
the east coast. She hopes to always be close to
the beach and is frequently in the company of her “hot-dog/
beagle” mix Daisy. She plans to finish her nursing
degree in the near future and will pursue a master’s
degree in business before she retires.
Email:
Melinda Baker-Morris, LPN |
