I have dedicated my life to helping others, it is my “Don” (Spanish for God’s gift).  I began my career working in the helping profession over forty years ago. My journey began with me working at the micro level where my work was empowering the individual and family.  My path led me to understand the limitations of what one man can do alone and this led me to the path of empowering helping professionals.  I subscribed to the thought that if I could empower more helping professionals, then together we could reach and empower more of the people we serve. Where alone I could help and serve 10-15 individuals and families at a time, my mentoring and coaching other helping professionals could increase this reach exponentially. These professionals would be able to serve 10-15 individuals and families at time, and collectively we could reach far greater than what I could do alone.  As such, we have serviced over 10,000 youths and families throughout New Jersey. In time, my purpose again evolved, developed and manifested further.  I felt a need to help empower the agencies that serve the communities.  Imagine how many more individuals, families, and professionals can be helped and how our communities can be empowered!  It is my Quixotic way to help the world be better by helping individuals, children, families, professionals, agencies and communities…one at a time.   

Educationally, I have obtained my BA from Rutgers College (Hoorah!). I then pursued and obtained my MSW from Rutgers University, and MA in Education: Administration and Supervision from Montclair State College, and attended several Professional Studies at Harvard and Yale.  I have accumulated numerous certifications/designations along the way including School Social Worker, Educational Supervisor, Principal, and Administrator.  I continued with obtaining my Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) designation and Clinical Supervisor certification. Professionally, I have worked with the Department of Children Protection and Permanency, DCPP (formerly known as DYFS), moved on to work with community-based programs for non-profit agencies, to managing clinical programs, to education as a teacher including being a Child Study Team member and Principalships, to Superintendent of Juvenile Detention and culminating in creating change statewide as a Senior Executive to the Secretary of State. However, not everything has come from an academic or professional setting. I have had additional experiences that have allowed me to be a student of life with great mentors resulting in everyone always saying, Edwin, do your own thing.  Well the last 20 years I have done just that culminating in my latest path.     

The Creative Case Manager (CCM) was developed and has evolved to help agencies become more efficient and effective.  The CCM is a culmination of over 40 years of experience, training, and research in the fields of education and social services and includes knowledge from over eight years of higher education.  Areas of experience and study span, but are not limited to, HIPPA and Hi-Tech HIPPA, federal, state, and professional board regulations, counseling theories and best practices.  

The CCM is unique as it is the only known Electronic Health Record (EHR) that is social services, mental health and behavioral health based.  As such, professionals, small group and agencies can use the majority, if not all, of the CCM.  Whereas, other EHR’s are medical based records and not fully functional or helpful to social services, mental health and behavioral health-based services.  The CCM is different as it is an integrated system designed to help agencies become more efficient and effective, allowing the professionals more time to do what they do best; help others.  The CCM has been developed and utilized for in-home services and has since evolved in its flexibility to be used by social service, mental health and behavioral health professionals and agencies.  Whereas, other software providers offer one for case management, one for billing, one for human resources, and one for payroll and so on… The CCM provides professionals and agencies with integrated components like Human Resources, Electronic Health Records, Case Management, Databases for serviced populations and employees, Accounting features, Electronic Billing and Payroll and with multiple reports and more. The flexibility of the CCM allows it to be used by one professional to small, medium or large groups and/or agencies. 

I can personally testify to this as I have not only developed the CCM, but have utilized it as well.  I used the CCM to help me manage my own staff and run an agency.  Since 2006, the CCM has been allowing my staff and I to work more efficiently and effectively.  With the aid of the CCM, my agency and hundreds of staff have been able to service thousands of children and families.  The CCM has allowed my administrative staff to effectively lead, connect with, monitor, and provide support to staff providing direct services. The financial savings gained from using the CCM allowed me to reinvest into my staff, services, and agency. Additionally, my staff have also benefitted in being able to manage high workloads successfully.  My staff have reported that the CCM has assisted them in facilitating their paperwork, which leaves more time for other tasks or enjoyable activities. The CCM is not just a reflection of me, but includes the co-workers, friends and family that have contributed to it.

I started this journey helping to empower children and families one at a time.  Then it evolved to include empowering professionals one a time, and now my journey continues by helping empower communities one agency at a time.  As such, I am providing the CCM as an affordable administrative software with support and guidance.  As you can see, this is personal to me and I am vested in helping you bridge from your current successes to greater opportunities in helping others.  And as you know in social services, mental health and behavioral health services alike we know we’re not done until we do the paperwork.  So, let the CCM help you!

Hoping you join me in this journey.

Sincerely,

Edwin Melendez