NC DHHS Names Social Worker Division Director of DMHDDSAS

Leadership Announcement from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services:

"We are pleased to announce two key leadership appointments in the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMHDDSAS). Effective December 19, 2022, Kelly Crosbie will serve as Division Director for DMHDDSAS, and Renee Rader will serve as Deputy Director. Bios for each can be found below.

With nearly 60 years of combined experience, Kelly and Renee have dedicated their professional careers to making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities and improving services for people seeking mental health, substance use, and/or disability support services. I am excited about their leadership and am grateful for the clarity of purpose and depth of knowledge they bring to these respective leadership roles. Please join me in congratulating Kelly and Renee!

We would also like to thank Deputy Secretary Dave Richard for serving as the Interim Division Director for the last few months and to the team at DMHDDSAS who stepped in and stepped up to keep the important work of this division moving forward.

Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who has supported people with mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual/developmental disabilities her entire adult life. She began volunteering in the community with individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities in high school, and she started her career as a mental health clinician serving children in foster care and juvenile justice settings as well as adults and children with co-occurring conditions.

Kelly has worked for multiple non-profit organizations that support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a range of capacities, from Development Officer to Chief Strategy Officer to Chief Operating Officer. In each setting, her work was dedicated to promoting greater self-determination and equity. From 2008-2012 she was the Assistant Director for Behavioral Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at NC Medicaid, where she oversaw benefits such as the Innovations Waiver before being named NC Medicaid’s Chief Operating Officer in 2013. Most recently, Kelly served as the Chief Quality Officer for the Division of Health Benefits (formerly NC Medicaid). In that role, she oversaw all Quality Programs aimed at improving health outcomes and promoting health equity. She also directed all Care Management Programs, including Tailored Care Management, which is designed to provide comprehensive whole-person care management support for members with mental illness, substance use disorder, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Kelly received her Masters degree in Social Work Administration from Temple University and her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She is an appointed member of the NC Institute of Medicine, the HCP-LAN 2.0 Care Transformation Forum, the Health Equity Advisory Team (HEAT), the NCQA Public Sector Advisory Committee, and the Equity Standards subcommittee. In the past she has served on multiple Technical Advisory Panels (TEP) for CMS/CMMI and NQF initiatives.

Renee Rader, MA, has dedicated her career to improving the lives of people with disabilities. Beginning as a Direct Support Professional for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Renee spent the first half of her career supporting people with disabilities in community. As she moved into leadership roles within various provider agencies, she led the development of community-based behavioral health programs for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Traumatic Brain Injury, Substance Use Disorder, and Severe Mental Illness.

Renee joined NCDHHS in 2011 to expand her impact and has led policy and program development in NC Medicaid and DMHDDSAS. As a lead consultant for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, her expertise was instrumental in developing and implementing the Innovations Waiver. Most recently, Renee served as the Assistant Director for Policy and Programs at DMHDDSAS, where she provided leadership on key policy areas to promote whole-person health for individuals living with mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and/or substance use disorders.

Renee has a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University and a Bachelor's degree from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania."