Golden Years Home Care Services Launches Behavioral-health Programs
EAST LONGMEADOW — Golden Years Home Care Services, LLC announced the addition of its newest service, Golden Years Behavioral Health Services, LLC.
“The addition of behavioral-health services will allow our company the ability to provide services for those dealing with addiction, mental health, and/or behavioral issues individually and simultaneously in order to provide stability and well-being for these individuals and their families,” CEO and President Cesar Ruiz said.
Tracy Mineo, executive vice President of Golden Years Behavioral Health Services, is a master’s-level licensed alcohol and drug counselor with 26 years of experience in the addiction and behavioral-health field. She is the current president of the Western Massachusetts Addiction Providers Assoc. and has taught at Westfield State University for five years as an instructor in its Alcohol Certification Education program. Her most recent work experience was as senior program manager for Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN), responsible for the development and oversight of its Hampden County residential addiction-treatment programs, which provide addiction and mental-health services for adults. Prior to BHN, Mineo worked for Phoenix Houses of New England, working with both the adult and adolescent residential treatment populations. Her roles and experience have allowed her to develop collaborative working relationships with probation and parole departments, jails, the Department of Children & Families, and other agencies throughout Massachusetts in order to provide collaborative support for those needing services.
Deborah Rodriquez, director of Clinical Services for Golden Years Behavioral Health Services, is a licensed independent clinical social worker with more than 13 years of experience working with populations at risk and with co-occurring disorders in the Greater Springfield area. Her varied professional experience with behavioral health ranges from community mental-health services and advocacy as well as extensive relationship building with community members and leaders. She has been a Behavioral Health specialist for Commonwealth Care Alliance, was a former forensic mental-health counselor for the Hampden County House of Corrections, and served as program coordinator for New North Citizens Council’s prevention program Latinas Imitating Positive Steps. Currently, Rodriquez is an academic advisor and adjunct professor for the Elms College Social Work program, and holds a private practice where she offers traditional and faith-based approaches to counseling.
“We are truly blessed to have such talent launching Golden Years Behavioral Services,” Ruiz said. “In these trying times, we are fortunate to not only be expanding Golden Years Home Care Services, but also to be launching such a valuable community service such as behavioral health.”