COMMUNITY HEALTH ORGANIZERS

The CT InCK Community Health Organizer (CHO) team was specifically selected to include experts from maternal health, nutrition, housing, education, substance use, family engagement, immigration, and the justice system. Our team works together with our community partners to provide the best care and access to resources for your family.

Fiona Barrett

Fiona brings over eight years of experience in community development and planning. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Development and Social Change and a Master’s degree in Community Development and Planning from Clark University. Throughout her career, Fiona has worked on a variety of impactful projects centered around community care, including women’s shelters, substance use clinics, foster care programs, multisystemic therapy, and mental health crisis shelters. Known for her deep compassion, she is committed to meeting individuals where they are and providing support tailored to their needs. 

Fun Fact: She is the oldest of 4 siblings, lived in Central America for half a year, and loves ice cream.

Jamila Bello

Jamila is a dedicated professional with over 15 years of experience working with children and families. Throughout her career, she has held various roles, including Social Service Coordinator, Paraprofessional, Therapeutic Mentor, Residential Assistant, Case Manager, and Care Coordinator. Her extensive experience spans multiple areas, including youth mentoring, family support and counseling, community resource connection, parenting education, and health and wellness initiatives. Jamila earned her B.S. in Sociology from Albertus Magnus College, which has informed her comprehensive approach to social service work. She has contributed to a wide range of projects, such as Youth Mentoring Programs, Family Support Services, and Employment and Workforce Development Programs. In addition, Jamila has been involved in community committees and initiatives that promote the well-being of families and children. At the heart of Jamila’s work is a deep passion for supporting families. She brings a strong commitment to collaboration, cultural competence, and continuous learning. Her work is guided by values such as respect, empathy, compassion, and a sincere dedication to understanding and meeting the diverse needs of those she serves.

Fun Fact: Jamila loves being a Boy Mom to her son!

Sammeisha “Sammie” Caporale

Sammie brings over 12 years of combined experience in mental and behavioral health, as well as education, with a deep commitment to supporting families in New Haven. With advanced degrees in Educational Leadership, Clinical Nutrition, and Applied Behavior Analysis, Sammie blends academic expertise with practical experience as a Care Coordinator with Wraparound New Haven at Clifford Beers, a Bilingual Clinician at Family Centered Services, and a Family Liaison for New Haven Public Schools. Her passion for helping others is deeply rooted in her connection to New Haven where she was born and raised, making her work especially meaningful. Sammie values the opportunity to connect families to life-changing resources and is proud to work with programs that address the city’s unique needs. Her dedication and personal investment in the community shine through in every aspect of her work.

Fun Fact: Sammie is named after her father, who was also named Sammy. She also has a love for cows and tattoos.

Sudjey “Sue” Garcia

Sue brings over 13 years of experience in Human Services and Social Work, with a strong background in overseeing and supporting housing program teams. Throughout her career, Sue has always been focused on collaboration, working with others to deliver impactful services to the community. Sue’s dedication to fostering open communication, applying critical thinking, and maintaining a deep sense of awareness are values she carries into her work with our individuals and families.

Fun Fact: Sue loves to go to church, work in her beauty shop and help others feel beautiful and confident.

Luz Ramos-Ortega

Luz has worked with the community in the field of mental health for 18 years, 9 of those at Clifford Beers. She is trained in the Wraparound process and in Mediation. Luz attended the New Haven Citizens academy, she has trained as a YMCA facilitator for the diabetes prevention program and is also a New Haven Health Leaders Alumni.  She is a firm believer that change begins within yourself and practices that by getting involved in the community, helping those that are more vulnerable and working with them to make this world a better place.  As a resident of The Hill neighborhood in New Haven, Luz’s goal is to help make the community safe and for its residents to thrive.

Fun Fact: Luz loves music and dance and is not afraid to show her silly side.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Jennifer Richmond

Vice President of Population Health, InCK Project Director

Jennifer began working at Clifford Beers in 2000 as a clinical social worker for outpatient and mobile crisis services. She has held various roles at Clifford Beers, including clinical supervision, developing compliance programs, information technology, and business development for electronic health records. She also led the transition from paper to electronic systems, all while consistently advocating for children and families. After 17 years at Clifford Beers she went on to work on the planning of Connecticut’s Health Information Exchange at the Office of Health Strategy and then in compliance and privacy for a large hospital. In 2020, she returned to Clifford Beers as the Vice President of Population Health and serves as the Project Director for the CT InCK initiative. Jen values community voices, firmly believing that people are the best experts on their own needs. She is proud to work for an organization that is so devoted to making a positive impact on the populations we serve.

Fun Fact: Jen loves theater and has been in a number of local productions in Connecticut.

Beth Lurie

Vice President, Strategic Systems Integration

Beth has over 30 years of experience, and has dedicated her career to advancing healthcare programs with a focus on Medicaid innovation. She has held leadership roles within national managed care and information and tech-enabled health organizations. Beth’s expertise includes program development, deployment and management inclusive of integrated data analysis. As the former Project Director for Wraparound New Haven, she is passionate about building connections within the healthcare system to better serve families and communities. 

Fun Fact: Though Beth is our only remote team member, she is a New Haven native and now lives in the sunshine state!

Michael “Mike” Riso

Finance Director

Mike brings nearly five decades of experience in healthcare and the nonprofit sector, with extensive expertise in mergers and acquisitions. His ability to navigate complex organizational transitions has been instrumental in driving sustainable growth and impactful change, including many years at Clifford Beers. A dedicated team player, Mike thrives on building strong partnerships to achieve shared goals. His deep industry knowledge and commitment to collective success make him a trusted leader and advisor. Mike’s steadfast dedication to his work reflects his passion for creating positive, lasting outcomes for organizations and communities alike.

Fun Fact: Mike loves animals and has 6 dog and 6 donkeys.

Hannah Milliken

Marketing and Communications Director

With over 10 years of experience in communications and marketing, Hannah’s background is rooted in creative storytelling. After majoring in Film Production at Quinnipiac University she went on to create a career in social media marketing for local businesses and community organizing for various New Haven activist groups. An 11-year resident of New Haven, she is passionate about the community and dedicated to making a positive impact. Her past experience in community organizing aligns perfectly with her current role at CT InCK and Clifford Beers, where she uses her skills to promote accessible healthcare for all—combining a love for sharing CT InCK’s mission with the drive to help others.

Fun Fact: Hannah loves to travel and has visited over 20 countries.

Yolanda Lopez

Community Engagement Program Manager

Yolanda has over thirty years of experience in individual and family services. For more than twelve years, she has held various roles at Clifford Beers, including Community Support Worker, Lead Care Coordinator for Wraparound New Haven, Assistant Manager for the Community Support for Families program, and Manager of Care Coordination for Trauma Informed Schools. Yolanda holds an Associate’s Degree in Human Services and brings a deep understanding of social determinants of health to her work, leveraging community resources to support families. Her experience extends to case management with adults, after-school programming, and GED classes. Yolanda has a robust skill set in administrative functions, particularly in managing grants, budgets, and delivering detailed reports to funders. This highlights her ability to navigate systematic processes and maintain accountability in organizational operations. With a passion for helping families, Yolanda’s grounding principle is believing that strong families build strong communities. 

Fun Fact: Yolanda is an entrepreneur with her own jewelry business and enjoys arts and crafts.

Alice Corrigan

Training Manager

Alice is a graduate from the University of Hawaii where she obtained her BA in Psychology and Sociology. She began her career at Clifford Beers three years ago as a Case Manager. Prior to that she spent 16 years in the educational system enriching the lives of children. Alice has extensive experience working with children on the autism spectrum. Alice strives to create balance within the education system to promote equity and equality in the classroom.

Fun Fact: Alice was raised in Hawaii on the island of Oahu.

Maritza Spell

Community Engagement and Technology Manager

Maritza is a mother, neighbor, and advocate. For more than three decades, she has lived and raised her family here in New Haven and has thrived as a Latina woman. She uses her bilingual skills to advocate and support families in her community. She is determined to work hard and collaborate with community partners to create an equitable education and health system. 

Fun Fact: Maritza loves to snack on Now & Later candy, especially cherry.

Portia Howard

Project Manager

Portia holds a Master’s in Public Administration and over fourteen years of experience in community healthcare. Beginning in 2010 with adult behavioral health, she spent a decade gaining her skillset in service improvement. She later transitioned to mid-senior leadership roles in chronic care management, focusing on PCMH+ and infectious disease programs like the Ryan White Program. Portia also has over five years of experience managing federal and state grant projects, including initiatives funded by DMHAS, HRSA, and SAMHSA. Her proudest achievement was resolving a software glitch that increased Hepatitis B vaccination rates in her region from 57% to over 70%. Portia is a passionate problem-solver and thrives on finding creative solutions that enhance patient outcomes and improve the healthcare experience.

Fun Fact: Portia loves unwinding by watching funny animal videos on TikTok.