OLYMPIA -- The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has promoted two veteran program managers into new positions aimed at improving management of the county-based mental health service contracts across the state, including those involved in Pierce County's newly launched fee-for-service system.

The two are:

• Melena Thompson, one of the key division staff who pulled the new Pierce system together in November and December, was named Regional Support Network (RSN) Contracts Administration Supervisor.
• Ken Taylor, formerly of the Children's Administration, was named the Mental Health Division's Pierce County Regional Administrator. He will work directly with Pierce County representatives as well as coordinate with Thompson.

Thompson, who had a long and varied background in community mental health prior to her first state job in 2004, will offer expanded contract supervision and oversight, working with the rest of the state's 39 counties, which are grouped into 12 RSNs contracted with the state.

In previous state positions, the RSN contracts have been her primary focus, including the difficult work of reconciling state and federal legal requirements with the practical negotiations involved in working out contracts with participating RSNs. In late summer of 2007, she was named co-leader of the team assigned to develop the fee-for-service system in Pierce County.

"Melena's great work in managing the statewide RSN contract last year, as well as her work on the Pierce transition team, makes her an excellent person to oversee this important effort," said Richard Kellogg, Director of the Division of Mental Health in DSHS' Health and Recovery Services Administration.

Before beginning her state service in 2004, she was Director of Service Support for Behavioral Health Resources in Thurston County from 2003 to 2004; prior to that she was a program specialist for the Grays Harbor RSN from 2001 to 2003.

She held several positions with the Evergreen Counseling Center in Grays Harbor County – jobs that included extensive work at the Grays Harbor Crisis Clinic, and she was Residential Case Manager for the Northwest Mental Health Services from 1990 to 1993.

Thompson holds a B.A. in Psychology from Central Washington University in 1990 and a Master's in Education/Counseling Psychology from Heritage College in 1995. She holds a certificate in Social Services Management at the University of Washington.

Taylor, who has spent the past six years in the Children's Administration at DSHS, has more than 20 years experience, including working as an Executive Director in social services and mental health agencies serving children and families.

In his most recent Children's Administration post, he managed the Policy Manual Transformation Project, an ambitious publication designed to consolidate all of DSHS policies on children's services. Earlier he served as Child and Family Service Review Project Manager and Accreditation Manager for the administration.

Before beginning his state service, he worked as Administrative Services Manager for the Cowlitz County Guidance Association in Longview and as Executive Director of the Evergreen Counseling Center in Hoquiam.

Taylor holds a 1978 B.A. and B.S.W. with majors in psychology and social work from the University of Maryland. He earned his M.S.W. from the University of Denver in 1981.

FOR ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND, CONTACT:   Jim Stevenson, Communications Director, HRSA, DSHS, 360-902-7604 (Pager: 360-971-4067).