RICHARD CRINO

VP acute services, community care alliance

Richard Crino, RN, CTR, is a behavioral health specialist with an extensive background in emergency mental health and crisis response services. He is the lead trainer for the RI Behavioral Health Disaster Response Team and is a critical incident consultant for various police departments in Rhode Island. Mr. Crino co-designed and facilitates RI’s first certification program for police officers in crisis response, and provides workshops on violence prevention, self-defense, stress management, and crisis intervention. Additionally, Mr. Crino is a US Army veteran trained as a clinical specialist. He has authored several books, including Finding Common Ground; Mental Illness Recognition and Crisis Response for Law Enforcement; and To Serve, Protect, and Survive: Stress Self –Defense for Law Enforcement.

JOSEPH ASH

Co-Director

Joseph Ash is a macro social worker with over 10 years of clinical experience in Rhode Island, across both inpatient and residential 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.

Joseph 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 establishment of positive community-based partnerships, the development of more integrated networks of care, and the provision of client-centered services that promote the health, well-being, and autonomy of those experiencing mental health and substance use crises.

MEAGAN CAHOON

lead nurse

Meagan Cahoon is a Registered Nurse who has spent her career working in the mental health field. Meagan worked in the field before becoming a nurse and became passionate about helping clients achieve their goals. Meagan has worked in detox facilities, stabilization units, and residential levels of care. Meagan began at the BH Link when they opened and transitioned into the nursing team lead shortly after. Meagan is responsible for providing oversight of the nursing care provided at BH Link. Meagan hopes to be able to provide quality care while at the BH Link and provide successful transitions into their next step in their mental health and substance use placements.