Leadership

KATHERINE ANDERSON, LICSW, QMHP

VICE PRESIDENT OF ACUTE SERVICES, COMMUNITY CARE ALLIANCE

Katherine (Katie) Anderson is an independently licensed clinical social worker. A graduate of American University (BA, Literature) and Boston College (MSW), she has worked in behavioral healthcare since 2013. Her clinical practice and leadership has focused largely on acute and crisis services for those with severe mental illness and substance use disorders. She also brings experience in public policy, fundraising and development, and municipal governance.

Katie's professional and volunteer leadership with non-profit, advocacy, faith-based, and behavioral health organizations has spanned from Kathmandu, Nepal to Washington, DC to her current work in Rhode Island. Katie brings a passion for systems change and cross-sector collaboration.

JOE ASH, MSW, QMHP

DIRECTOR, BH LINK & 988

Joe Ash is a macro social worker who has been working in the behavioral health field since 2010, across both inpatient, residential, and crisis levels of care. In that time, he’s worked collaboratively to support clients, from adolescence to older adulthood, who have experienced a range of mental health and substance use conditions. Joe has served as an administrative director for the BH Link since 2021. As a member of the BH Link leadership team, he has collaborated across disciplines to promote a culture of access and inclusion.

Joe brings with him a wealth of administrative experience – including program design and evaluation in both the public and non-profit sectors, contract compliance, finance and budget coordination, as well as data reporting and analytics. He is driven toward strengthening behavioral health services in Rhode Island through the integration of networks of care, the alignment of mission and money, the provision of client-centered services, and raising standards around evaluation and data-driven practice.

ALYSSA ACOSTA, LCSW, QMHP

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BH LINK & 988

Alyssa Acosta is a clinical social worker who embarked on their career journey at the age of 18, starting with direct care work with adults in group homes. This initial experience ignited their passion for service, leading them to pursue a path of advocacy and support throughout their college years, beginning in 2007. While in college, Alyssa dedicated themselves to various endeavors, including working with youth summer camps, advocating for policy changes for sexual assault victims, organizing fundraising events, and participating in protests for social justice causes.

Upon graduating, Alyssa transitioned into direct work in inpatient psychiatry before shifting their focus to high-intensity community work with children and families, and later with aging populations. With a broad spectrum of experience, Alyssa has worked in crisis intervention across the lifespan, from children as young as 4 to their oldest client at 102.

In 2021, Alyssa earned their Master's in Social Work from Simmons University and returned to crisis work with children and families in Rhode Island. They remain committed to dedicating their time and efforts to crisis care, believing that all individuals deserve support during their most challenging moments. Specializing in crisis models of care, Alyssa continues to invest their skills and attention in providing accessible and compassionate services to the community of Rhode Island.

SYDNEY MURAOKA, BA

988 CALL CENTER MANAGER

Sydney Muraoka started with the 988 Call Center at BH Link in 2022. Prior to joining the team, she spent several years practicing crisis intervention as a victim advocate to survivors of domestic and sexual violence across Central New York. Sydney earned her BA in Culture and Communications from Ithaca College.