Vice President of Behavioral Health Strategy & System Sustainability

Tides Family Services Inc is seeking a Vice President of Behavioral Health Strategy & System Sustainability in Cranston, RI. This executive role involves guiding the development and sustainability of behavioral health programs for youth and families, ensuring alignment with community needs and regulatory standards. The ideal candidate should have expertise in behavioral health financing, Medicaid services, and operational sustainability, while promoting integration of clinical and educational services.
Vice President of Behavioral Health Strategy & System Sustainability Rhode Island DescriptionTides Family Services is a nonprofit organization that is committed to providing comprehensive support and resources to children, adolescents, and families facing various challenges. The overall mission of Tides is to provide services and supports that allow youth to live in a community‑based setting. An "Agency Without Walls" our services are delivered in homes, communities, schools… wherever our youth are.Position SummaryTides Family Services seeks an experienced executive leader, Vice President of Behavioral Health Strategy, to guide the strategic development and long‑term sustainability of core programs for youth and families across Rhode Island. Working with the leadership team, this role will strengthen and expand high‑quality, mission‑driven, and financially sustainable behavioral health and educational programming for youth involved in child welfare, juvenile justice, education, and behavioral health systems. This role requires a strategic leader who understands the intersection of clinical service delivery, Medicaid and commercial reimbursement, and operational sustainability. The Vice President will help ensure programs are structured to succeed within evolving Medicaid, managed care, and commercial insurance environments, while maintaining fidelity to evidence‑based and community‑based models of care.The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen in behavioral health financing, including experience with Medicaid‑funded services, commercial billing practices, value‑based payment models, and payer contracting.Essential FunctionsProvide executive leadership for assigned behavioral health and educational programs, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and community needs.Identify opportunities to strengthen program sustainability, develop new service lines, and expand funding opportunities that support long‑term program impact.Partner with executive leadership to modernize service models and improve operational workflows in response to evolving behavioral health, education, and Medicaid funding environments.Support organizational strategy through the development of innovative approaches that improve outcomes for youth and families.Promote integration between clinical services and educational or skill‑building programs that support youth stability and long‑term success.Ensure programs maintain high standards of quality while meeting regulatory, licensing, and accreditation requirements.Use data, CQI processes, and stakeholder feedback to guide program improvements and strategic decision‑making.Evaluate program sustainability through payer mix, reimbursement rates, service utilization, and cost structure, identifying opportunities to strengthen financial performance while maintaining clinical integrity.Support the development of rate models, service utilization assumptions, and program budgets that align with Medicaid and commercial reimbursement methodologies.Ensure programs are structured to succeed within Medicaid, managed care, and commercial insurance reimbursement environments, including alignment with billing requirements, payer documentation standards, and service utilization expectations.Collaborate with the finance team to monitor revenue performance, payer mix, reimbursement rates, and cost structures, identifying opportunities to strengthen program sustainability.Translate changes in Medicaid policy, payer contracting, and regulatory requirements into an operational strategy that supports both mission impact and financial viability.Build and maintain strong partnerships with state agencies, managed care organizations, schools, courts, healthcare providers, and community partners.Represent Tides in cross‑system initiatives aimed at improving behavioral health access and outcomes for youth and families.Identify opportunities for collaboration that strengthen both organizational impact and the broader system of care.Supervise and mentor assigned program directors, fostering strong leadership, accountability, and professional growth.Promote cross‑program collaboration…