Rediscovering Life

 

                  

William A. Aniskovich, M.A., J.D. – CEO/Managing Director

Bill Aniskovich has been the CEO of Stonington Behavioral Health, Inc., the company that owns and operates Stonington Institute, since June, 2004.  Bill joined the Institute in 1995 and served as its Executive Director prior to his becoming CEO.  Bill was a state Senator in the Connecticut General Assembly from 1990 to 2004, finishing his career as the Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore.  At Stonington, Bill has overseen significant growth across all adult programs and the establishment of adolescent services in 1999.  Bill directed the creation and expansion of a community transitional housing program for adults with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders.  He also successfully challenged local regulatory efforts to shut down the transitional housing program in federal court, winning a case that protects the rights of persons with mental illness and substance abuse disorders under the Federal Fair Housing Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act (CHMC v. City of New London, et. al).  Bill is a member and former chair of the Eastern Service Network, a provider network of community-based substance abuse and mental health providers in eastern Connecticut.  He is also a member of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) “Integrated Service System” planning process.  In 2004, Bill was appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to the SAMHSA Mental Health Services National Advisory Council in Washington, D.C.  Bill has received numerous awards for his legislative and professional advocacy on behalf of persons with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.

 

Marc Bono, Ph.D. – Coordinator of Adolescent Services

 

Dr. Bono was awarded a Doctorate in Psychology with an Emphasis in Addictions Counseling from United States International University in San Diego, CA. He has been specializing in addiction treatment for over fifteen years and has a broad base of experience with the dually diagnosed population. This includes working in a residential drug and alcohol treatment center for adolescents as well as a position as intake coordinator for a residential mental health program also serving adolescent clients.

In his direct care work, Dr. Bono has created/and or facilitated the development of highly effective treatment programs and program cultures in several settings. These include his work as a Drug and Alcohol Program Director for The Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Dual Recovery Project Coordinator (one of four Dual Diagnosis Demonstration Projects funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAHMSA) in the State of California serving persons with severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse disorders) and developing and directing the Prop 36 Dual Recovery Program, serving dually diagnosed clients court ordered for substance abuse treatment. Most recently he was the Lead Trainer and Consultant in the implementation of the evidence based practice model of Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment for the state of California. He is a former employee of The Betty Ford Center and has also worked as the Dual Recovery Service Coordinator for Contra Costa County’s Health Services Department in the State of California.

Dr. Bono is the Founder and Director of The Office for Dual Recovery, a private practice, training and consulting organization in Pleasant Hill, CA. He has worked with Contra Costa Community College to establish one of the first Dual Diagnosis Certificate Programs in the country, and was an instructor in this program. Dr. Bono is a regular presenter at national and local workshops and is an on-line instructor for the Addiction Technology Transfer Center of New England, Brown University on the subject of dual diagnosis.
 

Andrea Keeney, BS - Director of Admissions

 

Andrea is a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, MA, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, with honors.  She has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility in her career, mainly focusing on Adolescent Psychology.  She also possesses skills in the areas Finance, Management, Marketing and Sales.  Andrea has worked extensively in a hands-on role with adolescents in many different treatment settings.  Her main responsibilities here at Stonington Institute include maintaining the census as well as training and oversight of the intake/admissions staff.

 

 

John Schultz - Director of Risk Management/Quality Assurance

John has been employed at various Human Service Organizations since 1980. He has worked in residential programs with adolescents, adults with developmental disabilities and adults with substance abuse issues. John was a residential manager for the Connecticut Department of Mental Retardation for fifteen years, with a primary focus of maintaining licensing and accreditation for a residential group home program. In 1999, John became the Director of Quality for LMG Programs, a large substance abuse provider in Fairfield County. John was instrumental in the process of LMG Programs successfully becoming a CARF accredited facility.

 

 

Lori Kelly, LCSW - Director of Utilization Review

Lori graduated from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in Psychology.  She went on to further her education at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA, where she received a Master’s Degree in Social Work.  She has worked extensively with all populations, from inpatient adolescent to geriatric to dual diagnosis, all with increasing levels of responsibility.  Prior to joining the senior management team here at Stonington Institute, Lori was a care manager at Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan for clients with Managed Medicaid coverage in the Boston Metro area.  She then held the position of Director of Utilization Review at Arbour HRI Hospital in Brookline, MA, also a facility within the UHS system.

 

Lisa Walker - Training and Staff Development Director

Lisa graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Hampshire and went on to earn her Masters degree in Social Work from the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a specialization in administration. Lisa assisted in the development of educational and social welfare reform legislation following the end of Apartheid in Durban, South Africa. In her last position as the Senior Director of Quality Management at a large non-profit behavioral health organization in Rhode Island, she was responsible for developing, implementing and managing a comprehensive training system for 400 employees, a risk management program, a health information system and promoted continuous quality improvement. Lisa participated in the Mayor’s Council for Substance Abuse Prevention and implemented several SAMSHA programs for Latino families. Lisa is a member of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and has responded to numerous state and local emergencies. Lisa’s experience in management, professional development and training allows Stonington Institute to expand learning opportunities for all employees.

Jennifer Kelley - Director of Human Resources

Jennifer graduated from Dominican College in Orangeburg, NY, with a degree in Management. She continued her educational pursuits at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT, where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She was the Director of Human Resources for nine years at a large, multi-location retail enterprise, and most recently a computer applications trainer at a state-credentialed academy. In addition to her Human Resources experience, Jennifer served as Administrative Director for a non-profit entity and as a fundraiser and volunteer with New York Special Olympics. Her varied background and strong customer service foundation is helping Stonington Institute to build a stronger base of committed, satisfied employees providing outstanding care to clients.