CHARLES L. CHRISTEN, M.Ed., LP.C.
Director of Operations
Center for Health Environments and Communities
University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
Bridgeside Point Building
Suite 565
100 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 965-7679
SUMMARY
Currently the Director of Operations for the Center for Health Environments and Communities at the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. Also, currently registered as a full time doctoral candidate at the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences. Also, consulting as the needs assessment specialist for the Project for Intervention and Empowerment (P.I.E.) which is a collaboration of the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, Persad Center, Inc, the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health Department of Infectious Diseases, and the Veterans Administration. Most recent employment was as the Project Coordinator for the Allegheny River Stewardship Project, a community based participatory environmental health research project for the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health. Before this completed one year as a Graduate Student Teaching Assistant working in core curriculum development, evaluation and facilitation of the “Overview of Public Health” for the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health. This position followed employment as a Graduate Research Assistant/Behavioral and Community Health Scientist for the Three Rivers Fish Consumption Project, a community based participatory environmental health research project for the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health. Also employed as clinical behavioral health therapist, community education coordinator and presenter, program and organizational development manager and fundraiser with over 15 years experience in health prevention, management and education in hospital and community based settings. Extensive experience in HIV counseling and management of the disease, counseling of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals and groups, counseling in dual diagnosis and major mental health disorders, substance abuse, chronic illness, sexual and emotional trauma issues, and grief counseling. As well as, experience in training community organizations, corporations and non profit agencies in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues, as well as assessment and screening for drug and alcohol programs, program development, community relations, donor relations, fundraising, organizational growth development, and marketing. There is also an extensive history of establishing relationships among diverse groups; such as, human service agencies, hospitals, primary health providers, educational organizations, government, and universities. Excellent written and oral communication related to grant proposals, organizational goals and interpersonal skills.
PROFESSIONAL Experience
2008 (June) – Present – Director of Operations, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
· Responsibilities include oversight of all aspects of the Center
· Creation of Center brochures, and printed materials
· Development of Center initiatives
· Expansion of existing website
· Develop community partners and relations
· Collaborate with various governmental, environmental agencies and groups and community partners.
· Prepare reports for foundations and funders.
2008 (January) – 2008 (June) – Project Director, Allegheny River Stewardship Project, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Community Health Sciences.
· Responsibilities included oversight of all aspects of the project
· Development of community relations and volunteers
· Coordinating graduate student work activity
· Development of collaboration with various environmental groups
· Planning, implementation and analysis of focus groups and community interviews and information gathering
· Website and online registration form development
· Creation of media for press, community flyers and community information related to the project.
2005-2007- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Dean’s Office
PUBHLTH 2014 – Overview of Public Health - Graduate Student Teaching Assistant
2004-2005 –University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences
Fish Consumption Study – Research Assistant (Oct 2005 to present
· Recruitment, facilitation, and data analysis of three community focus groups
· Share responsibility for obtaining, dissecting, categorizing and recording of specimens for study
· Create and manage database for fish analysis
· Create market fish buyer survey and conduct data collection and data management
· Assist Principal Investigator in community organizing
· Perform literature reviews and supervise interns in literature reviews
2004 (October) – 2005 (April) PAC3 Evaluation Team - Support Staff
· Responsible for data entry, creation of data forms utilizing SPSS software, submission of reports and evaluation summaries according to PA State Health Department deadlines.
· Collaborate and create evaluation surveys and reports for ongoing consortium meetings in conjunction with project manager..
2004 (September) – 2008 (April) Classroom Experience
· Familiarity with demographic data gathering and reporting using census data for geo mapping and life tables
· Researching and creating literature reviews
· Database design and use with Excel, SPSS and STATA software
· Evaluation Design and reporting
· Community Assessment design and implementation
· Basic Biostatistics and Epidemiology
· Health Policy formulation and research
· Familiarity with Theoretical Foundations of Research
· Research Design and Methodology
· Research with Hidden Populations
· IRB submission
· Community Based Participatory Research Fundamentals and Techniques
· Health Survey Methods
· Ethnographic and Qualitative Methods
· Focus Group Design and Facilitation
· Advanced topics in research design
1997 – 2008 Persad Center, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
Jan 2005 – March 2008 Part-Time Clinical Therapist – Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol and HIV services
· Provide counseling for wide range of clients addressing mental health, domestic violence, trauma, substance abuse and HIV on an individual basis as well as group counseling.
2001 – Jan 2005 Clinical Coordinator for HIV and Education Services
· Coordinate clinical HIV program. Develop goals, objectives and budget through a team model involving the Executive Director and Leadership staff to offer relevant and needed services related to HIV/AIDS prevention and management of treatment for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population.
· Develop resources and staff quality management for best standards of care for mental health and substance abuse counseling with HIV population.
· Develop, implement and coordinate educational curriculum and presentation of curriculum for staff training related to agency licensure and quality improvement.
· Prepare, market, and present curriculum on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues as well as issues related to HIV and AIDS to the community at large; such as human service agencies, colleges and universities, corporations and non-profit agencies.
· Assist development office and executive director in fundraising and outreach.
· Provide direct care to individuals with HIV both in ongoing men’s therapy group and individual counseling.
1997- 2001 Clinical Therapist/HIV Specialist
· Directed care for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clients as well as those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Involved individual and group counseling, regular updating on HIV treatment issues, best practices and client advocacy.
· Assisted Clinical Supervisor in coordinating HIV program, including assessment, planning and program development of specialized HIV services.
· Developed and presented curriculum for in-house and external staff training, as well as to community organizations on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues in counseling as well as issues related to understanding, treating and living with HIV.
· Counseling to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. These included a range of behavioral health issues from dual diagnosis to personality disorders, frequent PTSD, and sexual and emotional trauma.
2000 – 2007 – PA MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center
· Part Time Faculty
§ Presenting on HIV and Mental Health, Risk Screening for HIV, HIV 101
2004- Present – PA Department of Health
· Contracted trainer for Adolescent ASAM Patient Placement Criteria and Screening and Risk Assessment
1993 - 1997 Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
Staff Chaplain
· Served as pastoral care counselor for staff and patients at Allegheny General Hospital.
· Performed pastoral counseling of patients in trauma, chronic illness, transplant pre-surgery and recovery, crisis management, group counseling in the psychiatric unit related to spiritual trauma and issues related to mental health, maintaining and enhancing staff and physician relationships, coordinated pastoral care with various hospital teams: Trauma Unit, Psychiatric Unit, and Transplantation Services.
· Developed strong re
· relationships with executive staff of hospital.
· Served as liaison between Office of Special Ministries of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and Allegheny General Hospital.
1990 - 1993 St. Vitus Parish/ St. Francis Hospital, New Castle, PA
Diocesan Priest and Chaplain
· Served parishioners of St. Vitus Parish as Roman Catholic Priest which included planning, budgeting and management of variety of parish events and organizations.
· Served as St. Francis Hospital Chaplain, counseling and managing programming for patients, working with staff and hospital administration, educating community on nature of pastoral care, and providing detailed record keeping, analysis of data and budget for small pastoral care department.
Education
University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Department of Community and Behavioral Sciences
Doctoral Program August 2004 to present
Duquense University, Pittsburgh, PA
M. Ed., Education, Community Counseling; cum laude, 1997
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Psychology (magna cum laude), 1985
Gregorian University, Rome, Italy
License to Teach Sacred Theology – S.T.L. Biblical Theology (magna cum laude), 1990
North American College, Rome, Italy 1985 – 1990
Theological Seminary Student (Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh)
· Licensed to teach biblical theology after completing five-year degree program in Biblical Theology at Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.
· Gained skills from various workshops and experiences related to human service, management of personnel, communication and counseling for service to Roman Catholic parishioners and various social services facilitated by Diocesan concerns.
· Represented Diocese of Pittsburgh to Vatican.
St. Paul’s Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA 1983 – 1985
Seminary Student for Priesthood (Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh)
· Completed degree program for a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Psychology.
· Gained skills in communication, presentation, and human service to function as a spiritual and managerial leader for Roman Catholic parishioners and those being served by Catholic social services.
Culinary Institute of America, New Haven, CN
Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts, 1973
Other Related Experience
· Co-Chair, Southwestern Pennsylvania Healing Weekend for those Infected with HIV/AIDS
· Board Member, Community Advisory Board of the Pitt Men’s Study
· Former Elected Chairperson of the Clinical Care Services Committee and Board Member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania AIDS Planning Coalition (SWPAPC)
· Former Member, HIV Prevention Planning Committee (CPG) of the Pennsylvania State Department of Health
· Faculty member, Pennsylvania/Mid-Atlantic AIDS Education and Training Center (PAMAAETC)
· Past Secretary and Executive Committee member, Board of Directors of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network), Pittsburgh, PA
· Past President, Division of Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA), Pennsylvania Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Issues in Counseling (PAGLBTIC)