Peter Scanlon, Ph.D.Executive Director
Dr. Scanlon established South Bay Mental Health Center in 1986. Under his leadership, South Bay has grown into one of the largest community-based providers of behavioral healthcare in Massachusetts. Trained in clinical psychology and Family Systems therapy, Dr. Scanlon has specialized in working with disadvantaged families for over 25 years.
Dr. Scanlon was awarded a Masters Degree from Florida State University in 1971. In 1973 he was instrumental in establishing Phoenix House, a drug treatment facility serving adolescents. While completing advanced graduate studies at Northeastern University, he completed an internship in the Psychology Department at Danvers State Hospital and was appointed to a clinical fellowship in the Adolescent Unit at Danvers State. Following his tenure at Danvers State, Dr. Scanlon attended Florida State University and was awarded a Ph.D. in 1979. While at FSU he served as teaching fellow, held a research grant and was appointed to a faculty position in the Counseling Psychology Department. Dr. Scanlon returned to Boston to direct the Counseling Center of Stonehill College and later served as Chief Psychologist and Clinical Director at Hallgarth Institute, a community mental health clinic.
Dr. Scanlon has served as a guest lecturer throughout the United States, Canada, Russia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. He is an active member of several state and area boards, the American Psychological Association, the Massachusetts Psychological Association and maintains an APA approved training program for Psychologists.
Jennifer Gearhart, LICSWDirector of Clinical Services
Ms. Gearhart oversees outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling services at South Bay Mental Health Center. In addition to directing the operations of nine clinics, she coordinates a broad range of activities related to clinical services including leadership training, quality improvement, program development and psychiatric services.
Before assuming her current role in 1992, Ms. Gearhart served as the Clinic Director of South Bay's Weymouth Mental Health Clinic and as a Staff Therapist at South Bay's Brockton Mental Health Clinic. She received her MA in Counseling Psychology from Boston College in 1986 and her MSW from Simmons College in 1990.
Ms. Gearhart is a recognized consultant and trainer on family systems and group conferencing, children and trauma, sexual abuse and sexual abuse evaluations, and working with conduct disordered adolescents. She is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Kathryn Bangerter, LICSWDirector of Utilization Management
As South Bay's Director of Utilization Management since 1995, Ms. Bangerter's position has grown to include many essential responsibilities. In addition to continuously improving the quality and efficiency of service delivery to keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, Ms. Bangerter serves as South Bay's Compliance Officer, Privacy Officer, and chair of the Professional Development and Training Committee.
Ms. Bangerter's previous experience includes serving as a clinic director at the New England Home for Little Wanderers from 1993-1995 and supervising clinical services in various outpatient settings from 1987-1993. Her management experience is complemented by over 20 years of clinical work with children and adolescents.
Ms. Bangerter received her MSW from the Boston University Graduate School of Social Work in 1984 and her Post Graduate Certificate in Child Treatment in 1986, also from Boston University. She is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers and received her NASW Diplomate in Clinical Social Work in 1994.
Amy Miner-Fletcher, LMHC, CEIDDirector of Early Childhood Services
Since 1996, Ms. Miner-Fletcher has specialized in working with at-risk infants, toddlers, and their families at South Bay. Her tenure includes working as an Early Childhood Specialist, supervising and directing South Bay's Brockton Early Intervention Program, and directing the agency's Early Childhood Services Division since 2002.
Prior to joining South Bay, Ms. Miner-Fletcher was the Assistant Program Director for Project Joy, a program providing services for homeless and economically disadvantaged children and families, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Throughout her career, her clinical interests have included infant mental health and the effects of domestic violence on children. She is a renowned trainer and consultant on Early Childhood Mental Health and Parenting Issues.
Ms. Miner-Fletcher received her MA in Counseling Psychology from Boston College in 1995 and is licensed as a Mental Health Counselor and a Certified Early Intervention Director. She is an active member of several boards and committees including Community Services of Greater Brockton, the Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium Board and the Shaken Baby Syndrome Advisory Committee.
Nicole Costa, MSW, LICSWDirector of Day Services
Ms. Costa oversees the Division of Day Services for South Bay. Day Services has 5 sites throughout the state of Massachusetts, providing both Partial Hospital and Day Treatment services. Prior to assuming her current role in 2009, Ms. Costa began as a Group Facilitator in the Plymouth Day Program in 2006; in 2007, she took over as Program Director.
Most recently, Ms. Costa has been instrumental in the continuation of Bridge Consultations at inpatient psychiatric hospitals, in order to link consumers with services prior to discharge. She has also succesfully re-opened the Yarmouth Day Program, providing both PHP and Day Tx services. Ms. Costa also played a lead role in partnering with EOHHS, to provide a competitive integrated employment services, known as the Career Development Program.
Ms. Costa graduated from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work in 2005, and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Nicole's experience includes: Department of Corrections, Emergency Psychiatric Services, and Youth-At-Risk. Her current affiliations include: NAMI, MRC, DMH, DCF, DDS, Boys & Girls Club, CHNA, among many others.