The Institute of Community Living (ICL) is pleased to announce the promotion of Mr. Chris Copeland, LCSW to Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective immediately. Most recently, Mr. Copeland held the position of Acting COO, as well as Chief Program Officer until his promotion. He will continue to report to David Woodlock, ICL’s President/CEO and the agency will begin actively interviewing replacement candidates for the Chief Program Officer position.
Mr. Copeland joined ICL in 2011 and served as the agency’s Chief Program Officer (CPO) responsible for providing leadership and oversight support for all residential, clinical and homeless services programs. Chris will ensure that the agency continues to produce quality outcomes that meet the demand of the Triple AIM of: improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per capita costs of health care.
An experienced leader and innovator, Mr. Copeland brings to the position his over 30 years of clinical and administrative healthcare experience both in the United States and England. Prior to joining ICL, Mr. Copeland lived in Maine where he took on progressively more responsible positions at the Tri-County Mental Health Services, before ultimately assuming the position of CEO. At Tri-County, he led the agency through a time of serious financial stress. Mr. Copeland’s expertise in combining the need for fiscal responsibility with clinical excellence, particularly when funding and resources are severely compromised served the agency well. Mr. Copeland was also very active at the state level and was subsequently voted President of the Maine Association of Mental Health Services.
Recognized for his expertise in identifying the role that trauma plays in the seeking and receiving of social and health care, and transforming service systems to be “trauma informed”, Mr. Copeland has instituted the Trauma Informed Care initiative at ICL. His leadership in this endeavor has resulted in a myriad of successes for persons served. “I am eager to continue my work with the ICL Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team and staff to ensure that the agency is prepared for the plethora of changes associated with managed care.” asserts Copeland. “ICL has a rich and diverse history, one that is rooted in recovery and hope and I will endeavor to create opportunities for partnership and collaboration that serve our clients and their various supports well.”
“ICL is grateful to have Chris as part of its leadership team. His commitment and innovative ideas helps ICL live out our motto that people can and do recover from developmental and emotional challenges and more and importantly, they Get Better With Us.” says ICL President and CEO David Woodlock. “I look forward to collaborating with Chris in his new role to identify new approaches to advancing ICL’s mission, vision and values and reaffirming our dedication to the field.”
Mr. Copeland received his social work degree in England in 1985 where he worked in inner city projects and subsequently as an administrator for a psychiatric social work team at St James University Hospital in Leeds, England. He is married, has one son and has made his home in Queens, NY.
