David Ross, MHS, PHD Candidate
Founder/CEO
Philosophy:
“As a Change Agent, I feel it is incumbent upon me to share my accomplishments and lessons with those who are pursuing their paths to success. I firmly believe that no matter how low we get in life, we can always change things around, because we are greater than our circumstances.”
DAVID F ROSS, MHS, PHD Candidate is the founder of Regal CommUNITY Consultants, (RCC) LLC and The Andre Norman Academy (TANA), a 501c3 non-profit organization in Philadelphia. Mr. Ross is currently a PHD candidate at Walden University majoring in Human and Social Services, with the specialization in Mental Health Facilities. He is also attended Saint Joseph’s University majoring in Organizational Development & Leadership and is a graduate of Lincoln University with a Master’s degree in Human Services.
Mr. Ross has worked with various populations, such as the formerly incarcerated, at-risk youth, welfare recipients, homeless, chemically dependent, mentally and physically challenged and senior citizens. He has implemented trainings to assist them in overcoming all obstacles by providing caring, efficient and innovative services that help people build better lives for themselves, their families and their communities. As a Re-Entry specialist, Mr. Ross has worked under the Prisoner Re-entry Initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor (D.O.L.),for over 15 years, to reduce recidivism of ex-offenders by providing adequate employment skills, training, life skills, mentoring, effective job development and placement. Mr. Ross has been actively involved with community development and leadership. As a member/volunteer for Regional Congregations and Neighborhood Organizations (RCNO), he has participated in organizational approaches using post-Civil Rights movement as a model for building congregations and community-based organizations. This enabled organizations to become steeped in the fundamentals of community organizing, conducting political and power analysis, and developing relationships with other congregations that are actively working on issues in the public arena.
In 2007, Mr. Ross became an Assistant Director/Promoter/Workshop Developer for Project Footprints. He assisted in management trainings on empowerment, family dynamics, drug and alcohol, anti-violence, youth culture, community connections, abuse, re-entry, mentoring, conflict resolution, crisis management, life skills, and leadership development which catered to correctional facilities, high schools, corporations, colleges and universities, non-profits and associations abroad. From 2011 to 2015, Mr. Ross has directed and managed programs such as the Adult Mentoring Program for the formerly incarcerated under President Obama’s U.S. D.O.J. Brother’s Keeper Initiative. In 2016 Mr. Ross was the Assistant Grant writer/Director/Program Manager of the Youth Transition Center in Philadelphia, assisting runaway homeless youth ages 14 to 17 yrs. old with shelter, aftercare services, case management and family reunification. Mr. Ross has experience as a director for over 15 years under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Connection Training Services/Department of Justice (D.O.J.), Adult Mentoring Program (AMP), Access to Recovery (ATR)/SAMSHA), Project Footprints, and Regional Congregations and Neighborhood Organizations (RCNO)/Project SAC, Youth Transitional Center, and Founder of RCC and TANA (501c3).
Mr. Ross has an extensive background in hiring, training, supervising, evaluating staff to ensure service delivery standards under PA 3800 rules, DHS agency polices and procedures, OSH, FYSB, RHYTTAC, and RHYMIS. He has worked closely with The Office of Addiction Services (OAS), DBH/IDA and the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Mr. Ross has developed youth outreach services, Parent Café for family reunification, peer mentoring activities, rapid housing options, food services, Positive Youth Development activities and curriculum; partnered with ACT Cyberschool for participants seeking high school diplomas and secured financial and in-kind contributions to support the program efforts and goals. Mr. Ross also designed and implemented projects to address the needs of runaway, homeless and street youth in Philadelphia including LGBTQ populations.
He has trained staff that work with proven at-risk populations, trauma informed youth and the Forensic Intensive Recovery populations (FIR). Mr. Ross has created operating and training manuals, oriented, trained, supervised, evaluated and monitored 75 volunteer mentors for 200 active participants. He monitored mentoring activities and observed that mentors adhered to policy and procedures. Mr. Ross created manuals and materials for programs, databases for tracking, recidivism, participant risk and response outcomes, Individual Development Plans (IDP), prepared DOJ reports as necessary to funding source and company management in a timely manner. He has also conducted Quality Assurance procedures on Federal Grant Management Systems, control group study for program, managed Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), 1 million in budget projects, led weekly and informal staff meeting to rectify, discuss, analyze and act upon reports on activities and client progress. He developed mentor trainings, orchestrated education and vocational programs for participants; and established collaborators for programs, arranged and organized group sessions, newsletters, webpages, workshops, incentives, employee training, dinners and recognition events. Mr. Ross also maintained relationships with federal contract officers, courts and judges, state, federal and local correctional facilities, city re-entry organizations and other supportive service providers.
Mr. Ross has monitored outcomes, tracked costs, and prevented waste, fraud and abuse to ensure accountability and effectiveness in the use of federal funds. He has focused on individuals with substance use disorders, including: active/reserve/National Guard service members, individuals returning to the community from the criminal justice system, individuals involved with treatment courts, leaving residential treatment, parenting, child welfare system, and homelessness. Mr. Ross also developed strategic methods and initiative on recovery support and system-level approaches that foster health and resilience; increased permanent housing, employment, education and other necessary supports and reduced barriers to social inclusion.