Carey Deacon, MSW

Experience

Carey Deacon was born and raised in the San Luis Valley and has worked for over 20 years in the San Luis Valley providing clinical and consultation services in schools, medical clinics, and early childhood sites.  She has participated in, and helped coordinate, Emergency Disaster Response for behavioral health in the San Luis Valley. Carey spent over 15 years working with youth throughout the Valley in prevention programming including after school programs, a youth coalition, mentoring, Wraparound, and intensive case management. For five years Carey was the Program Director for the intensive case management and Wraparound programs which include the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), which began in April of 2018 at the Center for Restorative Programs. This program provided intensive case management for individuals who struggled with SUD and/or MH and were involved in the criminal justice systems.  Carey received her BA from Adams State College in Psychology and her Master’s of Social Work from Simmons University.

Current Role

As the Senior Director for Deflection Initiatives at the Center for Health and Justice (CHJ), Carey Deacon is at

the helm of all CHJ deflection initiatives, including the stewardship of the national Technical Assistance (TA)

center, and spearheading deflection development efforts throughout the nation. Carey’s substantial

expertise in deflection, honed through over two decades of dedicated service in smaller, rural communities

across the Western United States, enriches her leadership with invaluable insights into tailoring initiatives to meet diverse community needs. Carey's background brings a crucial perspective to the planning and execution of CHJ’s programs.

Educational Background

Carey holds certifications and training in the following areas:  Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention, SafeTALK

Prevention, ASSIST, ARC (Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency) Intervention for Complex

Traumatized Youth, PreK CHILD, Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR), Pyramid Plus, TF-CBT Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, SAPTS, Mental Health First Aide, Psychological First Aide, Field Response and Specialized Case Management, Specialized Case Management, EMDR, Accudetox and trauma responsiveness.  Carey attended the Emergency Management Institute, and holds a number of various trauma and drug awareness certifications.