HCN News & Notes

Amanda Sawyer Joins MHA as VP of Quality and Organizational Impact

SPRINGFIELD — Amanda Sawyer, LMSW has joined the leadership team at MHA as vice president of Quality and Organizational Impact. She will be instrumental in providing leadership to ensure that goals and standards are consistently achieved every day across the organization.

“My philosophy is to ensure that we work hard to continue providing high-quality services and do so consistently and reliably,” Sawyer said. “I want the people we serve to be satisfied with their experience with MHA and for employees to further understand that what they do serving others makes a meaningful and measurable impact. Using data for organizational decision making is critical in the human-services landscape. Communicating the impact we are having in the lives of those we serve and how that work translates into a healthier community is important feedback to share with those who believe in our work and who understand their investments, whether human or financial resources, are well-invested. I’m excited to have joined MHA and to further their commitment to being a data-driven organization.”

Sawyer earned her master of social work degree in administration from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Westfield State College. She worked previously as a director in social-service, healthcare, and education organizations in Connecticut.

“I am thrilled that Amanda’s experience, expertise, and vision are now part of the fabric of MHA,” said Cheryl Fasano, president and CEO. “Continuous quality improvement is a founding principle of MHA, and Amanda brings her fresh approach to a position with a long history within our organization. Her work will impact those we serve, as well as the individuals, state agencies, and corporations that fund our work. It is crucial that our organization is truly helping to move people forward with positive outcomes that can be demonstrated with both qualitative and quantitative measures. Amanda has embraced the responsibility to ensure that there is value to our work for every constituency we reach.”

The role of vice president of Quality and Organizational Impact encompasses a range of responsibilities for MHA’s quality-improvement and quality-management program, including tracking and reporting quality metrics and measurable outcomes, benchmarking quality indicators to external sources, staying abreast of regulatory guidelines and compliance, and providing leadership to ensure that agency-wide quality-improvement initiatives are focused, aligned, and demonstrate intended impact.

“MHA encounters deepening expectations from entities that support our work,” said Kimberley Lee, vice president of Resource Development and Branding for MHA. “Knowing that we consistently deliver a quality product gives those served, their families, and our full range of donors and funders the assurance that we are making a difference. It also strengthens our position with employees and potential hires that MHA is a great place to work.”