David O'Brien CYW, CYC BA, MACP, MBA, RP
Toronto,Ontario
Summary
I'm a dynamic mental health leader with extensive experience in the areas of organizational leadership, network leadership, and leading complex projects. I'm able to identify community needs and build teams around social issues. I have a proven track record in program development and stakeholder engagement, utilizing evidence-based practices and strategic planning to enhance service delivery and improve community outcomes. By having strong interpersonal communication and analytical skills, this drives impactful initiatives. I bring a rare integration of frontline experience, leadership strength, academic understanding, research implementation, and business practices.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Engagement and Intervention Therapist
Yorktown Family Services / ETA Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
03.2020 - Current
- In collaboration with National Security agencies, complete risk assessments, community safety plans, and community risk analyses related to individuals under terrorism investigations.
- Develop treatment plans for individuals radicalized to violence and are seen as a threat to National, Regional or Local security.
- Consultant to security agencies, community stakeholders, and NGOs related to behavioral health interventions in preventing terrorism and targeted violence.
Director of Mental Health
Yorktown Family Services
Toronto, Ontario
10.2017 - Current
- Oversee a $6 million budget for mental and social health program services for infants, children, youth, young adults, and women. - Over 100 staff members and over 30 programs.
- Lead for quality improvement and program evaluation.
- Responsible for program development, design, and implementation.
- Engagement with funders and funder relationships.
- Oversight of partnership development. Local, national, and transnational.
- Accreditation, evidence-based practices, and evidence-informed practice implementation lead.
- Alignment of operating practices and cross-functional departments: Clinical Services, Talent, and Culture/Finance.
- Oversight of agreements and contracts.
- Policy development and implementation.
Project Manager
East Metro Youth Services/Strides Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
09.2015 - 10.2017
- Oversight for the What's Up Walk-In program development and implementation across the City of Toronto (model implementation across six organizations).
- Led the clinical implementation for SFBT and single-session therapy model across the What's Up Walk-in network.
- Responsible for network budget and financial management, with an annual budget of 2 million dollars.
- Led stakeholder and partnership engagement.
- Developed and implemented a public relations strategy that included branding, media relations, and a marketing plan.
- Oversight of program evaluation across the What's Up Walk-In Network.
Clinical Manager
East Metro Youth Services/Strides
Toronto , Ontario
11.2010 - 09.2015
- Clinical Manager for Intensive Counseling, Brief Services, Trauma Treatment for Human Trafficking Survivors, and Residential Treatment.
- Provided clinical supervision for a team of psychotherapists.
- Overseen quality improvement and program evaluation for the department.
- Responsible for partnership development and community stakeholder engagement.
Individual & Family Therapist/Intensive Therapy
East Metro Youth Services/Strides
Toronto, Ontario
12.2008 - 11.2010
- Completed psychotherapeutic assessments for children and youth struggling with mental health barriers.
- Provided CBT, SFBT, individual, and family therapy.
- Facilitated treatment and non-treatment groups for parents/caregivers.
- Documentation, clinical report writing, and health record oversight.
- Supervision of placement students.
Individual & Family Therapist/MST
East Metro Youth Services/Strides
Toronto, Ontario
01.2007 - 12.2008
- Engaged with youth and families within the justice system through the Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) approach. Carried a caseload of 12 families.
- Completed assessments and co-designed treatment plans with youth and families.
- Clinical recording and healthcare record-keeping.
Adolescent Crisis Worker
Whitby Mental Health Centre/Ontario Shores
Whitby, Ontario
05.2002 - 10.2007
- Adolescent crisis worker for youth in a secure inpatient unit.
- Contributed to assessment and treatment planning.
- Organized and facilitated psychosocial and psychoeducational groups for youth.
- Co-designed safety plans for youth.
- Clinical and health record-keeping.
Day Treatment Child and Youth Worker
East Metro Youth Services/Strides
Old Toronto, Ontario
09.2004 - 01.2007
- Child and Youth Worker in a day treatment setting for youth experiencing mental health barriers and behavioral issues.
- Completed psychosocial assessments, treatment plan implementation, and aftercare for youth attending the program.
- Case management for youth and their families.
- Led daily psychoeducational groups for youth.
- Clinical reporting.
- Maintained the safety, security, and general welfare of youth in the program.
Residential Youth Worker
East Metro Youth Services/Strides
07.2001 - 01.2007
- Provided social and emotional support to those who were living in a residential treatment setting.
- Facilitated DBT groups for residents.
- Co-developed safety plans with residents.
- One-to-one coaching: life skills, coping strategies, crisis management.
- Hosted case conference meetings.
Residential Advisor
Covenant House Toronto
09.2000 - 09.2006
- Residential Advisor for youth living in a shelter environment.
- Case Manager for Youth.
- Facilitated psychosocial groups.
- Co-developed safety plans with youth.
- Clinical record keeping.
Education
MBA - Business Administration And Management
Athabasca University
Edmonton, AB05-2019
Master of Arts - Counselling Psychology
Yorkville University
Fredericton, NB06-2010
Bachelor of Arts - Child And Youth Care
Ryerson/TMU
Toronto, ON04-2007
CYW Diploma - Child And Youth Worker
George Brown College
Toronto, None04-1998
High School Diploma -
Neil Mc Neil
06-1993
Skills
- Team leadership
- Interpersonal communication
- Stakeholder engagement
- Public relations
- Public speaking
- Analytical and critical thinker
- Relationship building
- Employee motivation and performance
- Strategic planning and execution
- Channel management
- Risk assessment - Organizational
- Program development
- Policy writing
- Budget management
- Behavioral health
- Evidence-based practices
- Communications strategy
Accomplishments
- Designed and led the implementation for Canada's first 6 day a week walk-in clinic called What's Up Walk-In in 2011. In 2015, the program expanded across the City of Toronto and continues to thrive serving thousands of children, youth, and families.
- Co-lead the design and implementation for YouthCan Impact that later evolved into Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario.
- Designed and led North Americas first trauma treatment and exit program for youth and young adults leaving human sex trafficking in Toronto.
- Co-led the implementation for Foundry (British Columbia) mental health walk-in clinics as part of their Integrated Youth Services Hubs.
- Co-led the design and implementation of Urban Telemental Health with The Hospital for Sick Children to bring psychiatric assessment and consultation to Toronto's priority neighborhood's through video conferencing. The service continues today serving children and youth.
- Designed and implemented one of North America's first psychosocial intervention programs that redirects individuals away from terrorism activities and other National Security threats. Parts of the ETA model are being replicated across Canada and in the United States. Public Safety Canada views the model as an integral part of a wider National Security strategy.
- Through the design and implementation of What's Up Walk-In, I was a runner-up for Children's Mental Health Ontario leadership award for reducing wait times for mental health services in Toronto.
- Have raised over $10 million dollars in funding grants through government, foundation and private donors since 2019.
David O'Brien Media Appearances (Sample)
- What's Up Walk-In - 2013 - Globe and Mail https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/toronto-walk-in-clinic-aims-to-help-teens-before-problems-snowball/article559383/
- YouthCan Impact - 2016 - CBC News - Youth reaching for mental health care find a 'big gap' in delivery - https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/mental-health-young-people-1.3623114
- YWHO - 2019 - Community shaken after multiple shootings in Weston Neighborhood - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/community-shaken-after-multiple-shootings-in-weston-neighbourhood-1.5345472
- Yorktown Family Services - 2020 - CBC News - The St. Michael’s scandal and the culture of bullying - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJcxJc83FHw
- ETA Violent Extremism - CBC News - https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/1.6481022
- ETA Violent Extremism - 2023 - The Social CTV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIc-YYlGefA&list=PLQgboyi1NR3fbWGh0Xi7pXYC8AKCKyIcj&index=219
- ETA Violent Extremism - 2024 - Toronto Star - https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/this-man-knows-the-real-secret-to-stopping-extremists-before-its-too-late-his-job/article_9a15c3ce-8664-11ef-a173-db2c6b29a300.html
Publications
- Mental Health Challenges and Strengths of Street-Involved Youth: The Need for a Multi-determined Approach - 3.8 PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT
MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION
FOR STREET-INVOLVED YOUTH - https://www.homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/Ch3-8-MentalHealthBook.pdf - Integrated collaborative care teams to enhance service delivery to youth with mental health and substance use challenges: protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/2/e014080.info
- The Evolution of Estimated Time of Arrival: The City of Toronto’s CVE Program - https://journals.sfu.ca/jd/index.php/jd/article/view/911
Timeline
Engagement and Intervention Therapist
Yorktown Family Services / ETA Ontario
03.2020 - Current
Director of Mental Health
Yorktown Family Services
10.2017 - Current
Project Manager
East Metro Youth Services/Strides Toronto
09.2015 - 10.2017
Clinical Manager
East Metro Youth Services/Strides
11.2010 - 09.2015
Individual & Family Therapist/Intensive Therapy
East Metro Youth Services/Strides
12.2008 - 11.2010
Individual & Family Therapist/MST
East Metro Youth Services/Strides
01.2007 - 12.2008
Day Treatment Child and Youth Worker
East Metro Youth Services/Strides
09.2004 - 01.2007
Adolescent Crisis Worker
Whitby Mental Health Centre/Ontario Shores
05.2002 - 10.2007
Residential Youth Worker
East Metro Youth Services/Strides
07.2001 - 01.2007
Residential Advisor
Covenant House Toronto
09.2000 - 09.2006
MBA - Business Administration And Management
Athabasca University
Master of Arts - Counselling Psychology
Yorkville University
Bachelor of Arts - Child And Youth Care
Ryerson/TMU
CYW Diploma - Child And Youth Worker
George Brown College
High School Diploma -
Neil Mc Neil
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