Carrier Clinic’s East Mountain Youth Lodge Announces New Leadership

New Leadership for East Mountain Youth Lodge

Carrier Clinic’s President and CEO Donald Parker announced new leadership for East Mountain Youth Lodge, located in Belle Mead, NJ.

Thomas Costello has been promoted to the Director of Administrative Operations of the East Mountain Youth Lodge and Sarah Geser, LCSW, has been promoted to the Director of Clinical Operations of the East Mountain Youth Lodge. Additionally, Dina Calu has been promoted to the role of Manager of Quality and Compliance.

“Over the years, East Mountain Youth Lodge has grown from one small co-ed unit to seven independent programs with multiple levels of care,” said Parker. “The East Mountain Youth Lodge currently has the capacity to service over 90 adolescents and has over 175 employees. The challenges and opportunities this adolescent population presents to Carrier Clinic are immense. As we are tragically reminded of every day, the need for services for these children has never been more important. Carrier Clinic will continue to be a leader in adolescent behavioral health services, now with a new leadership structure in place. With this new co-director organizational structure, we will be able to leverage the considerable talents of both Tom and Sarah to meet the challenges facing our work.”

Carrier Clinic’s East Mountain Youth Lodge is a comprehensive program that provides 24-hour clinical, therapeutic and educational treatment for patients age 13-18 with psychiatric and/or emotional difficulties. The program’s aim is to nurture emotional healing, provide social skill acquisition, and prepare residents for their futures.

In the role of Director of Administrative Operations, Costello will be responsible for general operations, security/safety, budget, and administrative policies, ensuring that all residential programs provide high-quality mental health treatment in the most cost-effective fashion. Costello has a wealth of knowledge in administration, safety, and security. He has a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness and a Master of Arts in Human Resources/Training & Development. Costello has years of experience in law enforcement, including being a former Lieutenant for the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department. His law enforcement work included extensive work with juveniles in D.A.R.E. programs and juvenile justice programs. He also is a seasoned administrator and has a proven track record developing multiple trainings and processes to address OSHA, safety, and other key administrative functions. Costello has also served as a High School Teacher and College Instructor since his retirement from the Sheriff’s Department. He has served as Carrier Clinic’s Manager of Security/Life Safety since 2013.

“Working with our kids at Carrier Clinic has always been one of the most rewarding parts of my time here,” said Costello. “I am excited to be working more closely with them and to have the opportunity to help them shape their future.”

In the role of Director of Clinical Operations, Geser will develop the therapeutic approaches, behavior modification programs, family programming, admissions, and various other clinical responsibilities, ensuring that all residential programs provide high-quality clinical and family treatment. Geser brings an unparalleled level of clinical experience and knowledge to this role. She holds a Master of Arts in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with certifications in providing clinical supervision. Geser has dedicated her career to the service of adolescents and families in crisis, with work experience in youth shelters, in-home family counseling, and various other services. She has worked at the East Mountain Youth Lodge since 1996, most recently as the Clinical Director. She is EAGALA certified and oversees equine therapy programs for the entire campus, providing training and consultation, as well as developing animal-assisted programs.

In the role of Manager of Quality and Compliance, Calu will be responsible for developing and monitoring quality measures and helping to ensure that all teen residential programs meet or exceed all standards set forth by all licensing, governing and funding bodies. She is responsible for oversight of staff training and works closely with the risk and performance departments. Calu is a Licensed Nurse with her BA in Social Sciences. She has worked at the East Mountain Youth Lodge since 2004 when she joined the nursing team. Since then, she has worked in several roles, most recently as the Quality and Performance Supervisor. Throughout her time at East Mountain Youth Lodge, Calu has overseen multiple programs including the Butterfly, Bear and Eagle Lodges with much of her career being dedicated to oversight of the Swan Lodge Intensive Residential Treatment Services.

About Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic

Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic is a nonprofit Central Jersey behavioral health care provider, specializing in psychiatric and addiction treatment. Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic includes an inpatient psychiatric hospital, detoxification and rehabilitation center, adolescent and teen residential facility, and a fully accredited middle and high school for students classified emotionally disturbed. For more information about Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic and its services contact us through our website or call 1-800-933-3579.

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Phil Hartman

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908-281-1513

PHartman@carrierclinic.com