Eckerd Expands Referral Relations And Outcome Measures

In an effort to expand its community and referral relations outreach nationwide, Eckerd Youth Alternatives is pleased to announce that Greg Holeman will be overseeing Eckerd Academy's Referral Relations Division and Tuyet Abdullaj has been promoted to Business Development Manager for the Southeastern Region.

Holeman has a strong track record in referral relations and quality management for multiple industries, including healthcare and education. Prior to joining Eckerd, he was a Managing Partner with the prestigious Center for Mental Healthcare Improvement (CMHI) in Clearwater, FL. CMHI is nationally known for its expertise in helping organizations improve the quality and efficiency of care through the use of information technology and the development of evidence-based best practices. Holeman also served as Project Director for Florida State University School of Social Work's Florida Algorithm Project, Florida's first statewide implementation of Best Practice Guidelines in behavioral health to state hospitals and large community mental health centers.

Over the last two years, Eckerd has made significant investments in performance measurement tools, processes, systems and personnel to become one of the finest performance-based youth services organizations in the nation.

"We believe parents and referring professionals want to know in very quantifiable terms how our programs and services are improving youths' lives for the better," stated Holeman. "Through the investments Eckerd has made over the past two years, we are able to document through pre- and post-testing our youths' improvements in mental health and social skills functioning; reading, math and language gains; and about 75 other indicators of child well-being."

Abdullaj has been with Eckerd more than 8 years, most recently as a Business Development Analyst. She also has served as Eckerd's Florida Referral Relations Representative for Eckerd Academy and as Admissions Coordinator. In her new role, Abdullaj will direct Eckerd's referral relations outreach to youth and families primarily in the southeastern United States, and the professionals and agencies who work with them. Abdullaj has a bachelor's degree from University of Tampa, is a certified grant writer from the American Grant Writers Association, and is scheduled to receive her MBA with a Project Management Specialization from Ashford University in November 2010.

In addition to the above-mentioned assignments, Abdullaj will be reaching out and discussing, with community professionals, community needs for new program development, as well as working closely with Holeman to assist in addressing those needs in a performance and quality measured forum.

About Eckerd Academy
With campuses in Suches, Georgia and Brooksville, FL, Eckerd Academy is a licensed, SACS/CASI and COA accredited therapeutic boarding school that specializes in helping boys and girls ages 10 - 18 (17 in Brooksville, FL) reach their full potential. Eckerd Academy offers students individualized academic and therapeutic plans through a nurturing, strength-based approach. Both campuses are helping students achieve significant academic accomplishments to include average gains of two to three years in reading and math in about six months. Eckerd Youth Alternatives, a national leader in helping youth succeed since 1968, operate Eckerd Academy. For more information about Eckerd Academy, visit www.eckerdacademy.org or call 800-914-3937.