14 Sep Community Mental Health Services at Suncoast Center
Suncoast Center has been serving the residents of Pinellas County since 1944, remaining steadfast in their mission to strengthen, protect, and restore lives for a healthy community. One year ago, Jean D. Pierre joined Suncoast as the new President and CEO, and has already made impactful changes to the organization in a very challenging environment in the state of Florida for healthcare overall, and behavioral health in particular.
Suncoast’s services span the entire continuum of care, from early intervention and prevention programs for young children to specialized treatment for adults facing severe and persistent mental health conditions, offering individual and group therapy, medication management, crisis intervention, and substance use treatment, all deeply rooted in trauma-informed practices that prioritize the dignity, safety, and well-being of every client. In addition to their core behavioral health services, Suncoast’s Sexual Assault Services team provides specialized support and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault or abuse. Suncoast is also an integral part of the Zero Suicide Partners of Pinellas project, working to end suicide in Pinellas County.
On Sept. 4th as we welcomed Jean D. Pierre, President and CEO of Suncoast Center, to update us on the status of behavioral health in Pinellas County and the many programs that Suncoast offers to support emotional wellness and healing for all.
About Our Speaker:
Jean D. Pierre, President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Pierre assumed the role of President and CEO of Suncoast Center in St. Petersburg, Florida in August of 2024. He possesses deep experience in the behavioral health field and has a successful record of building long-lasting and impactful community collaborations. Pierre earned a bachelor’s degree in social work in 2002 and a master’s degree in social work in 2007 from the Florida International University which led him to Community Health of South Florida (CHI) in 2008. There, he served as a Quality Assurance / Improvement Coordinator he recently served as the Executive Vice President / Chief Behavioral Health Officer over 9 years. His work prior to CHI included direct clinical service delivery at a county mental health center and the Broward Intensive Halfway House administered by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and government analysis for the Florida Department of Children and Families. He also provided care and supervised staff at a hospital-based crisis stabilization unit for six years. In 2012, Pierre became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and currently has over 20 years of clinical and supervisory experience in the fields of social services, behavioral health and quality improvement / quality assurance. His licenses and certificates include: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, License Certified Quality Assurance Peer Reviewer; Certified State Contract Manager; Six Sigma Green Belt Certified; Management Academy Certification (Florida Sterling); Clinical Supervisor (State of Florida); Florida Medicaid Case Manager Supervisor; (Florida Certification Board) Florida Medicaid Provider Therapeutic Services; Medicare Provider. Mr. Pierre is also a member of the Member of American College of Healthcare Executives.