Board of Directors
HEC is governed by a 15 member Board of Directors that meets monthly. These volunteers are responsible for fulfilling the overall Hillcrest mission. Each member serves at least a 3-year term. Working committees include Quality Assurance, Personnel, Finance, Development, Privileging, Auditing, and Building and Grounds.
The President/CEO of HEC reports directly to the Board of Directors.
Clinical Department
The Clinical Department is led by the Director of Student Services and is staffed by Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Assistant Clinical Directors, Clinicians, Family Permanency Specialists, the Clinical Compliance Specialist, and Clinical Assistants. Clinical administrators are independently licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and all Clinicians are either licensed or in the process of being licensed. Each member of the Clinical Department receives individual supervision, group supervision/training on a regular basis. The Clinical Department also participates in Practicum placement supervision of students in social work and psychology.
Each student is assigned a Clinician on campus. Residential students receive individual and group therapy and family support services. Houatonic Academy students receive group therapy. Case management services are provided for each student which include family contact, liaison work with all related agencies, record keeping, documentation, report writing, etc.
The ASD Residential Program has 1 clinician assigned per 7 students. Each clinician is responsible for the student’s behavior support plans, recommendations for behavioral interventions, treatment planning, and medication review with a board certified psychiatrist. Clinical services also include crisis assessment/ support as needed, and weekly staff consultation through structures such as team meeting, milieu observations, and in-the-moment coaching to staff and students. Clinical services also include parent/guardian training, in the areas of behavioral interventions and strategies to ensure carryover when a student transitions from care. These services are provided by Masters level clinicians licensed in the area of Applied Behavior Analysis, and are Board Certified Behavior Analysts. All clinical services are supervised by the Director of Autism Services, and the Program Director. The agency’s Director of Student Services also provides consultation or support as needed.
Medical Department
The medical staff of HEC consists of Head Nurses, registered and licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, a pediatrician, who also serves as the Medical Director for the agency; psychiatrists and a registered dietitian. Nursing services are led by the Director of Nursing Services. Consultation with specialists not employed directly by HEC is coordinated with a referral from the pediatrician or psychiatrists. Emergency medical care is obtained at area hospitals and urgent care clinics. Dental needs are met by Hillcrest Dental Care located in Pittsfield, MA.
Education Department
The Education Department is led by the Director of Education and Assistant Director of Education who supervise the education programs and services at each program. The Education Department has certified teachers, or teachers who are in the process of becoming certified, who have specialty training and expertise ranging from special needs, vocational and physical education, to art. While a student is enrolled at Hillcrest Educational Centers the emphasis is placed on providing appropriate instruction in core subject areas that are in alignment with the Common Core standards and the Mass. Curriculum Frameworks. Our curriculum provides instruction that also aligns with the student’s High School graduation requirements. Unless otherwise indicated, our students work toward earning their High School diplomas through their Local Education Agency (LEA). Students are prepared to take state mandated testing in their part of the requirements for earning their diploma. A majority of our students have been identified with an educational disability and are therefore entitled to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). We work closely with the LEA to develop appropriate and realistic plans. Along with academic expectations, emphasis is placed upon the development of independent living skills, self-esteem, personal development, pre-vocational skills, and community awareness. During academic hours, the low ratio of staff to students allows each student to have a significant amount of individual attention and instruction, with teachers supported by Teacher Assistants.
Rehabilitation Department
The Rehabilitation Department is staffed by professionals licensed in speech and language therapy. Additionally, we contract for any services required by a student’s IEP. Contracted services may include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.
Workforce Learning Department
In order for Hillcrest Educational Centers to fully achieve its mission, our direct care and professional staff receive extensive training on a continuous basis.
The Workforce Learning Department provides all full time employees with a minimum of 24 hours of training annually. The ongoing training programs are created and delivered using the expertise of all departments to ensure quality care and consistency among the campuses. An on-line learning management system is also available to all staff.
In 2008, HEC initiated the Learn More – Earn More positional career ladder system. LM-EM enables most staff in the agency to grow and advance within their direct service/non-managerial roles, and training and staff development play a core role in the advancement system.
The Workforce Learning Department also provides classes associated with the Residential Child & Youth Care Professional (RCYCP) accreditation, a national accreditation program sponsored by the University of Oklahoma’s prestigious National Resource Center for Youth Services.
Maintenance and Grounds
The Maintenance Department is led by the Director of Facilities , who reports to the Chief Financial Officer, and who supervises both generalist and specialist staff at all campuses. The Maintenance Dept. is responsible for overall maintenance, repair and upkeep of all grounds and buildings; building renovations; vehicle maintenance and repair.
Food Service and Housekeeping
The Manager of Foodservice and Housekeeping leads the Housekeeping Supervisor and all other Food Service and Housekeeping staff at the campuses. Cooks at each campus provide all meals and snacks for students and working staff, while Housekeepers at each campus provide general cleaning, special project work, and trash removal.