FACT Hires New Executive Director
Dr. Felita Jones
Lania Glaude, Esq., CPA, Board President of FACT – Family Adult and Child Therapies today announced that the agency has hired its next Executive Director. She is Felita Jones, MPA, EdD, who comes to FACT with a wealth of experience and educational credentials, including significant experience and study in autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities.
Dr. Jones is passionate about the field of autism services and about the individuals and families affected by the range of developmental disabilities. On receiving the news of her hire, she stated, “I am overjoyed to have been invited to help take FACT to its next level of service and positive results. My leadership style has always taken a collaborative approach by drawing from the strengths of the entire group and utilizing that synergy to operate at the highest level of service. I am looking forward to working with the very talented executive team, as well as our founding Executive Linda Andron, to work alongside them in the continued provision of exceptional services.”
President Glaude commented, “the Board of FACT is extremely pleased to have found as its next leader a person with the strong educational, experiential and personal qualities that we were seeking in our next Executive Director. It was an extensive search process and we are delighted with the results. I want to thank the board members for their diligent efforts throughout the several months of the search.”
Dr. Jones will commence her duties on July 5, 2017. She will be assisted by the current Interim Executive Director, Marc Haupert, who is a professional interim executive who has been directing the organization while taking it through a process of implementing organizational best practice, stabilization and continued focus on its mission, since June of 2016.
As of July 5 Felita can be reached at [email protected] and at the office at (310)475-9620 x 298.
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About Dr. Felita Jones
Dr. Jones has extensive experience working with community based organizations in regards to patient/client engagement, standardizing services across all sites, establishing best practices, eliminating barriers to access, meeting national standards, and documenting strong outcome measures. She has spent the last 10 years overseeing nonprofit operations, managing community-based programs, and leading teams. She has had the great opportunity to work with a variety of Boards of Directors, facilitating deliberations and leading strategic planning efforts. Additionally, as a professional fundraiser she has raised millions of dollars for organizations throughout California, utilizing her grant writing and proposal and manuscript preparation experience. She has developed and managed a variety of programs and multi-disciplinary teams in the health, legal and education sectors.
Jones holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Administration; she recently completed her doctoral degree in the Education-Organizational Leadership program at the University of La Verne. Her successfully defended dissertation was entitled, “Examining Parent Perceptions of AAC Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other Developmental Disabilities.” She also penned an e-textbook on healthcare management and leadership with a tenured professor at California State University Long Beach for Ashford University. Jones has been published in a variety of peer-reviewed medical journals in the areas of pediatric asthma, allergies, health disparities and community based healthcare.
Her professional experience includes service as the Director of Development for BREATHE California of Los Angeles County, a 113-year-old nonpartisan environmental nonprofit dedicated to fighting air pollution and improving the health status of those affected by asthma, COPD and lung disease. She served as Administrative Director of the new Loma Linda University Health Autism Program, overseeing the start-up and hiring all clinical and ancillary staff. Prior positions include Director of the Breathmobile Program for five years.
About FACT
FACT provides evidence-based services to people of all ages living with developmental disabilities or other behavioral health conditions and their families aimed at promoting inclusion and choice, and maximizing quality of life. Outreach, volunteer opportunities and professional training programs are dedicated to fostering community participation and advancing public awareness and acceptance of individual differences.
FACT keeps a close eye on client and community needs and continues to develop new services that directly fulfill those needs. Its care is a balance of continuously evolving, cutting edge therapies coupled with a holistic approach, allowing clients to be fulfilled throughout all aspects of their lives including their mental health, social life, home, school and work.
FACT dates back to a pioneering group of professionals and parents in the 1980’s. Founded on inventive applications of expertise and careful attention to fulfilling parent & client needs, FACT provided services and support to a small group of families, but quickly became a leader in a greater movement towards acceptance and appreciation of differing abilities. FACT filled a need that the autism community had, and continues to fill their needs and those of the broader mental health community. FACT provides affordable and quality care to children, adults, couples and families managing a large range of diagnoses.
For a pdf copy of the press release, click here.