Kegan Harris, MSW
Welland
Summary
Clinical and community services leader with extensive experience overseeing mental health, youth justice, supportive housing, and community-based programs. Skilled at building and managing multidisciplinary teams, strengthening service quality, enhancing privacy and risk frameworks, and embedding recovery-oriented, trauma-informed practices.
Proven track record designing innovative programs, advancing equity-focused services, strengthening system partnerships, and leading organizations through complex transitions. Adept at KPI development, quality improvement, operational leadership, and collaborative system design.
Well-positioned to support CMHA Niagara’s clinical operations through strategic leadership, quality improvement, client safety initiatives, and community partnership development.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph
01.2025 - Current
- Oversaw delivery and quality of all programs supporting vulnerable and at-risk youth, ensuring recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and client-centred outcomes.
- Provided supervision and interim clinical oversight to casework teams, maintaining continuity of service and ensuring client safety during staffing transitions.
- Strengthened risk protocols, privacy practices, and performance measurement systems across program operations.
Program Development & Innovation
- Led the full design of NewPaths, a trauma-informed, evidence-based program framework for justice-involved and high-risk youth. Developed through multi-agency collaboration, the model enhanced organizational credibility in complex youth services and positioned BBBSG for future funding opportunities.
- Developed enhanced referral pathways, intake systems, and partnership structures to support future program implementation and integrated care.
Quality Improvement & Risk Management
- Implemented new quality assurance processes, incident reviews, and continuous improvement systems aligned with funder expectations and client safety standards.
- Strengthened organizational privacy compliance through policy updates, training, and risk mitigation practices.
System Partnership Development
- Expanded partnerships with John Howard Society, Maplewoods Centre, Wyndham House, school boards, and mental health agencies, improving service coordination and client transitions.
Instructor
University of Guelph-Humber
11.2024 - Current
- Teach courses in community services, applied social work practice, policy, and program management.
Director of Housing Development
The Neighbourhood Group
08.2019 - 09.2024
- Designed, Developed, and Directed Ontario’s first modular supportive housing program; creating operational frameworks, crisis protocols, and wraparound supports for individuals with mental illness, concurrent disorders, and complex trauma.
- Led a multidisciplinary team of 25, embedding trauma-informed and recovery-oriented practices across supportive housing sites.
- Oversaw safety and risk protocols protecting 1,000+ residents across 7 facilities, including COVID-19 operational compliance.
- Achieved strategic plan targets and advanced housing stability and mental health outcomes for highly vulnerable populations.
- Built strong partnerships with municipal government, public health, community mental health agencies, and sector funders.
Housing Manager
Albion Neighbourhood Services
01.2018 - 08.2019
- Managed housing stabilization services for individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, addictions, and concurrent disorders.
- Developed and implemented a "Out of the Cold" program for people experiencing homelessness
- Improved staff training, risk protocols, intake processes, and quality improvement systems across the department.
- Increased client engagement and housing retention outcomes through enhanced trauma-informed practice and case coordination.
- Secured additional resources and improved departmental efficiency, including expanded staff supports and technology capacity.
Education
Masters of Social Work - Social Justice And Diversity/Community Development
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON06-2017
Bachelor of Social Work - Program Development
Laurentian University
Greater Sudbury05-2016
Bachelor of Arts - History
Lakehead University
Thunder Bay05-2013
Skills
- Community engagement
- Program management
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Team Leadership
- Change Management
- Partnership Development
- Budgeting
- Research
- Stakeholder Management
- Grant Writing
- Program Evaluation
Accomplishments
Strengthened clinical and program operations
Improved service quality by implementing new trauma-informed risk protocols and privacy practices across youth programs, which ensured continuity of care when you personally assumed interim clinical oversight during staff leaves.
Designed NewPaths, a trauma-informed model for justice-involved youth
Developed the full multi-agency program framework alongside justice, police, and mental health partners, positioning BBBSG for future funding opportunities and expanding credibility in high-risk youth services—even before the program was formally launched.
Directed Ontario’s first modular supportive housing program
Established crisis-response pathways, recovery-aligned supports, and daily operations for 100+ individuals with severe mental illness and concurrent disorders, leading to measurable improvements in stabilization and housing retention.
Led Out of the Cold emergency shelter operations
Developed a program that connected people experiencing street homelessness with winter shelter services that prevented cold-related harm for hundreds of individuals, implementing enhanced safety protocols and coordinating onsite mental health and housing supports during peak seasonal demand.
Enhanced quality improvement and privacy systems
Introduced KPI dashboards, incident review processes, and PHIPA-aligned privacy training that improved client safety reporting and strengthened organizational compliance across multiple program areas.
Built strong multidisciplinary teams and cross-sector partnerships
Supervised caseworkers, housing staff, and support teams while collaborating with John Howard Society, Maplewoods Centre, Wyndham House, Cota Health, all levels of government, and school boards to streamline referrals and improve client transitions between mental health, justice, and housing services.
Timeline
Executive Director
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph
01.2025 - Current
Instructor
University of Guelph-Humber
11.2024 - Current
Director of Housing Development
The Neighbourhood Group
08.2019 - 09.2024
Housing Manager
Albion Neighbourhood Services
01.2018 - 08.2019
Masters of Social Work - Social Justice And Diversity/Community Development
University of Toronto
Bachelor of Social Work - Program Development
Laurentian University
Bachelor of Arts - History
Lakehead University
Publications
Choosing Wisely: An Idea Worth Sustaining, Health Services Research (2022)
Improving KT Tools and Products: Framework for Optimized Knowledge-Activated Tools, Implementation Science Communications (2020)
The Living Wage for a Family of Four in Greater Sudbury (2015)
Northern Region Transformation Project (2015)
Awards
Building a Healthy Community Award of Merit – LAMP (2019)
University of Toronto Fellowship Award (2016)
Mayor’s Award of Merit – City of Sudbury (2014)