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LTC 008-2022 - Appointment of Alba Ana Tarre as Director of Housing and Community Services DepartmentMIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER NO. LTC# TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: 008-2022 LETTER TO COMMISSION Honorable Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission Alina T. Hudak, City ManaaGW' January 10, 2022 TJ/'" 1 Appointment of Alba Ana Tarre as Director of Housing and Community Services Department The purpose of this L TC is to update the Commission on the status of a key personnel appointment. The retirement of Maria Ruiz, Director of Housing and Community Services, has created a vacancy for this key position. During her more than 26 years, she led the Department through change and growth, and I am grateful to Maria for her contributions to our City and its government. For the Director of Housing and Community Services Department, I am pleased to select for appointment Alba Tarre, Ph.D. I have enjoyed working with Alba for over a year as she passionately advocates for those residents and clients who are served by the Office of Housing and Community Services' many programs. She is a leader who works alongside and inspires her staff to make a difference as they work tirelessly to improve homelessness and its related issues in our City. In her brief time as Interim Director, Alba has provided a supportive role by fostering partnerships with key stakeholders to augment services for the homeless, elderly, and youth. Alba has more than nine years of work experience in the social services field, with a strong foundation in coordinating services throughout the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Continuum of Care. She has been serving as the Interim Director of the Housing and Community Services Department since August of 2021, was appointed the Assistant Department Director in 2016, and has worked in the Department for over seven years, spearheading several initiatives that have brought national attention to the City in the field of homeless services. Alba Tarre holds a Bachelor of Science degree in political science with a minor in history from Barry University, a dual Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy from Barry University, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Clinical Sexology. Alba leads an outstanding and empathetic team of professionals in the Office of Housing and Community Services. They have done fantastic work in their daily programming, serving those at a time they need it most. The team was essential during the pandemic by coordinating vaccines, distributing food, aiding elderly residents and the most vulnerable in the community. I thank them for their dedication in serving with compassion and their innovation and flexibility during any challenges presented to them. Please join me in congratulating Alba Tarre as she assumes her new role as Director of Housing and Community Services. I ask for your support in consenting to this key appointment. Thank you. ATH CC: Executive Staff Management Team AAT EDUCATION DOCTORAL DEGREE DECEMBER 2017 INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL SEXOLOGY Doctor in Philosophy specializing in Clinical Sexology MASTER'S DEGREE MAY2012 BARRY UNIVERSITY Mental Health and Marriage and Family Therapy BACHELOR'S DEGREE JUNE2009 BARRY UNIVERSITY Political Science with a Minor in History Alba Ana Tarre, PhD~ Ll\'1110, LMFT, NCC, CST Ltce:nsed Mental HUlth Co'ONielot LioeNed Marriage ll:tl,dFa.milyTherapist NatiOl\lll Board-Cctifled Counaelor Certified tu Therapist EXPERIENCE City of Miami Beach Office of Housing and Community Services July 2021-Present Interim Department Director June 2016-July 2021 Assistant Department Director • Oversee the Community Services division and programming • Oversee the City's Homeless Outreach Program • Oversee the City's affordable housing residential portfolio • Supervises three Children's Trust Grants (Success University, Parent- Child Program and All Star) • Supervises the annual application process for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Grant Program, and Human Services Programs • Serve as the City liaison of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee • Develop short-and long-range divisional goals and objectives • Assists in the development, preparation, and administration of the division budget • Supervises, directs and evaluates the work of subordinate staff • Coordinate divisional activities with other City departments to ensure effective working relationships • Speaking before public groups on the plans, programs, and goals of the Housing and Community Services. September 2015-June 2016 Homeless Outreach Program Coordinator • Responsible for the collection and preparation of data as well as the preparation of monthly reports for the Homeless Trust and any other program grants. • Developed the first outreach temporary employment program for the homeless • Perform administrative support for Homeless Outreach Team, to include facilitating Community meetings, Committee on the Homeless meetings, provider meetings, and police task force meetings. SKILLS • Motivational Interviewing and Wraparound Care Certification • SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and referral to Treatment) Certification • Fluent in Spanish and English-verbal, reading, writing November 2014-Scptcmbcr 2015 Success University Program Coordinator • Responsible for Step-Up Suspension Diversion service delivery/ supervision, client intake/enrollment, records keeping, care coordination services, and report preparation • Monitored subcontracts under The Children's Trust Grant • Innovate new engagement and marketing strategies, to recruit families in the program South Florida Behavioral Health Network Program Manager FACES Expansion February 2014-November 2014 • Responsible for the integration design of multiple interagency processes agreements and public policies regulating the multiple systems within the system of care • Assist with grant and budget reports, outcome measures, and other administrative documentation to include policy and procedures regarding cultural competency, risk management, and continuous quality assurance and improvement for SAMHSA • Facilitate monthly FACES provider partnership meetings; bi-weekly meetings to train FACES providers on Development of Group Curriculums; and Co-chair of various Subcommittees Fellowship House Assistant Team Manager Florida Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) November 2013-Febrary 2014 • Provide integrated treatment for individuals with both a mental illness and substance use disorder. Arrange for needed treatment to include vocational, social, employment, case management, outpatient services, residential programs health services, housing, medication, flexible funding, Individual therapy, and psychiatric hospitalization among others Smith Community Mental Health Program Therapist-High School June 2012-Novemeber 2013 • Provide services for adolescent program participants in Day Treatment Setting with issues related to substance abuse, violence, abuse, and behavioral, emotional, family issues • Supervise behavioral health technician and classroom teacher • Task Supervisor for student interns within the social work, mental health and marriage and family therapy programs from local universities, which includes clinical and administrative supervision • Coordinate and facilitate group sessions and educational workshops.