PBN: Five Questions With Susan Figueiredo

Published in Providence Business News
February 20, 2022 10:30 pm

By Elizabeth Graham

Susan Figueiredo joined CODAC Behavioral Healthcare as its new chief operating officer in November. A licensed mental health and alcohol and drug counselor, Figueiredo has held leadership roles in inpatient, outpatient and opioid treatment programs, as well as medication-assisted treatment programs and community-based organizations.

PBN: Now that you’re settled into your new role, what are some of your top priorities at CODAC?

FIGUEIREDO: A main focus is the ongoing assessment of efficiency. Nationwide we are being challenged with staff shortages and while for most industries this impacts production of materials, items or services, in behavioral health care this impacts treatment, access and patient stabilization.

Ongoing review of staffing needs, service delivery requirements and improved utilization will be necessary as we continue to navigate through the current state of recruitment and staffing.

PBN: You’ve served as an administrator in various treatment programs before coming to CODAC. What made you decide to move from working as a mental health and alcohol and drug counselor to administration?

FIGUEIREDO:/strong>I have been a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and licensed mental health clinician since 2006. While completing my graduate degree, I started working in an OTP [opioid treatment program] and for the first time [in 2003], with the opiate-dependent population. I absolutely fell in love with the work and admired the population’s courageousness and resiliency.

What I didn’t like was how I felt they were treated. Oftentimes treatment policies and practices felt more like policing patients rather than clinical assessment or intervention. I quickly learned that to make changes, I needed to be in a position that would allow me to facilitate that change. That was 2007, and I haven’t turned back. I still see patients in private practice, and I do so to help me stay grounded and connected to the “why” behind my decision to move into administration.

PBN: As a Fall River native, have you found that familiarity with the area is a benefit to the work you’re doing at CODAC?

FIGUEIREDO: I’m not sure. While I have been familiar with R.I., having made many trips to the amazing restaurants and entertainment venues, I haven’t been as familiar with the structure of R.I.’s behavioral health care. However, I will say that everyone I have met both at CODAC and in the community have been extremely helpful and welcoming.

PBN: CODAC has nine locations across Rhode Island. Are there plans for any more in the near future? 

FIGUEIREDO: I think that we should always look to expand if there is a need. Increasing access to care has to remain in the forefront of all our business decisions.

PBN: Has the demand for mental and behavioral health services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in any significant changes at CODAC?

FIGUEIREDO: I think that the demand for services caused by COVID-19 has resulted in changes to the field across many organizations. The biggest change has been in the utilization of telehealth services to support ongoing demands. This has allowed us to include remote service delivery and created increased efficiency in our time spent providing direct care.

Elizabeth Graham is a PBN contributing writer.