Edwin I. Levin, LICSW
Director of Business Development
Ross Ellenhorn (RE):
Hi Ed, thanks for talking. It’s very bittersweet having this conversation with you. You’ve been Director of Business Development for Ellenhorn since January 2011 and now your time with us is coming to an end.
Ed Levin (EL):
I agree, it feels like just yesterday you approached me about getting involved with the Ellenhorn program.
RE:
Yes, you joined us from another program we had contacted.
EL:
I was working at a different treatment program when you contacted them about doing some collaborative marketing, which was not something that was done at the time. This was the first time we met. I had known of Ellenhorn because of their interest in the American Residential Treatment Association but this is when I really started to learn about the program. It wasn’t until you contacted me again sometime later that I really got involved.
RE:
That’s right, I reconnected with you about a client in Vermont we needed help with.
EL:
In 2010, when I was about to retire from that treatment program, you contacted me about a young lady that was a client of yours attending the University of Vermont in my hometown of Burlington, Vermont. I created a mini PACT team to help her get the comprehensive support she needed. In her previous attempts at finishing university she didn’t have the support she needed, and she needed a lot. I did this for her while working under your and Dr. Prakash’s supervision which really allowed me to learn more about the Ellenhorn approach, starting our collaborative relationship.
RE:
Yes, it was really fun working with you, as I remember. It’s nice when we can recreate some version of our work in another town. But that takes someone thoughtful and willing to collaborate on the other end. You were that guy. If we hadn’t reached out to you what would you have been doing with your retirement?
EL:
I was thinking I might become a barista in a coffee shop. You found me at a real turning point in my career. Instead I was able to use my long career worth of experience, contacts, and connections within the treatment world to help people outside of Boston learn about Ellenhorn.
RE:
On the verge of retirement, what was it that drew you to Ellenhorn?
EL:
I could tell that Ellenhorn was committed to offering cutting edge, top of the line treatment and as such was an organization constantly working to grow in its capacity to help the clients and families that come to it. I was particularly drawn to the fact that Ellenhorn lived and breathed the PACT model, implementing it with 100% fidelity to all of the elements of “Assertive Community Treatment”. As you know, Spruce Mountain Inn, where I had worked for the previous 28 years was based on some of the philosophy of PACT, which was very good, but your program was the real deal.
In addition to PACT, I quickly saw how you explored and integrated additional specific evidence-based approaches under the PACT umbrella like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. As my time with you went on I was witness to your inclusion of other collaborative ways to organize treatment like Open Dialogue, Adaptive Mentalization Based Integrated Treatment (AMBIT) and Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT). I really like how Ellenhorn implemented these approaches because they are truly collaborative in nature and being collaborative is part of my DNA. I like to do marketing in a collaborative way, I like to work with clients in a collaborative way, and I like to work with coworkers in a collaborative way. The emphasis that the Ellenhorn program has on collaboration suits me quite well.
RE:
Being a collaborative environment, with clients, coworkers, and marketing is definitely something we always strive for. It’s also something you’re really good at, Ed. I’ve so enjoyed collaborating with you. My favorite memory is driving from Houston to North Carolina with you, then from there to Atlanta, and coming up with the idea of the Association of Community Integration Programs (A4CIP). Remember that?
EL:
That was definitely a great time and a wonderful memory: great conversation and beautiful scenery… you can’t beat that for a long car ride. I recall not wanting to play a leadership role in the organization so we brainstormed about finding someone else to be head it up. We did, and he did a fine job getting us started, but when he had to move on to full time employment elsewhere, I came on as CEO and have happily served in that role ever since. Now as I reduce my workload by wrapping up my work at Ellenhorn, I still have the A4CIP project to keep my foot in the world of mental health treatment for a while longer. And once again, collaboration is at the foundation A4CIP. We work together to advance models of community integration and to support the programs that practice it. I guess I am not ready to give up a strong piece of my identity: Ed Levin, Social Worker.
RE:
I’ve been very thankful for everything you’ve brought to Ellenhorn. You filled a very large gap we had in our marketing and outreach activities.
EL:
When I first started with Ellenhorn there was no marketing team. Because of this I had a lot of leeway to figure some things out. My job was to look for people and places that have never heard of Ellenhorn and to get them to be thinking about us. My role has changed from initially being the only person involved with marketing to being a part of a marketing team. Working with that team has really expanded our ability to educate folks about the Ellenhorn program and increase the number of referrals that come to our program. Also, through the outreach we’ve been doing over the years we began to see there was a need for our services beyond what we were doing in Boston, so we started a program in NYC.
RE:
Now that you’re leaving you can’t go forgetting about us!
EL:
I’ll always remember the times when I’ve been involved in treatment meetings; I got to witness an amazing collection of skilled professionals working together in a collaborative way responding to the moment by moment needs of the clients the Ellenhorn program serves.
RE:
You’re going to have a lot of extra free time, what do you plan on doing next? Maybe a second try at becoming a barista?
EL:
I plan to continue my work with A4CIP, which Ellenhorn is a member, and to continue exploring the world through travel. My next plan is to spend 5 weeks in Buenos Aires and learn Spanish. Maybe I will develop a taste for maté, learn how to make it and bring that skill back home to the local coffee shops. We’ve rented an apartment and we’re going to live there this April and May. I’ve always liked the idea of living in another country instead of visiting as tourists.
RE:
Of course, more amazing travel. You are my hero in this regard, and I hope I can someday emulate the way you live. You are a beacon for me in this regard. I am going to miss you, Ed.
EL:
That means a lot, Ross. I’d like to say how much I respect you and your constant search and discovery of new treatments to best serve your clients, teaching them to your staff, and your commitment to empower and collaborate with clients and staff. I am in awe of this and am filled with respect for you. I will miss you and the other Ellenhorn staff I had the opportunity to know over my time working for Ellenhorn.
