photo of Melissa Mandrell

Melissa Mandrell

PROJECT DIRECTOR
Phone: (603) 862-4320
Office: Institute on Disability, 10 West Edge Drive Rm 317, Durham, NH 03824

Melissa joined the UNH Institute on Disability in 2005. Currently she supports several projects, including establishing a training and technical assistance center for the advancement of evidence-based children’s behavioral health practices; bringing a 2-year program in higher education to young adults with Intellectual Disability; preparing paraprofessionals to provide specialized enhanced care coordination to children, youth and their caregivers with substance use concerns; and the implementation of the IOD’s core UCEDD grant. Previously, Melissa worked on projects to support access to person-centered long-term care options for individuals with disabilities and/or who age into disabilities, assessing consumer satisfaction with community mental health services, developing core competency standards for individuals who work with children with emotional and behavioral challenges, supporting family and informal caregivers, and integrating affordable housing with long term supports. Prior to joining IOD, Melissa worked for the State of New Hampshire at the Bureau of Behavioral Health and at New Hampshire Hospital. Previous employment included University of Iowa Mental Health Clinical Research Center and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Melissa joined the IOD in 2005. Currently she works on projects to support access to person-centered long-term care options for individuals with disabilities and/or who age into disabilities. Previously, Melissa worked on projects assessing consumer satisfaction with community mental health services, developing core competency standards for individuals who work with children with emotional and behavioral challenges, supporting family and informal caregivers, and integrating affordable housing with long term supports. Prior to joining IOD, Melissa worked for the State of New Hampshire at the Bureau of Behavioral Health and at New Hampshire Hospital. Previous employment included University of Iowa Mental Health Clinical Research Center and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Projects

Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL)

The Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL) is a collaboration between The Institute on Disability (IOD) and The Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) at The University of New Hampshire (UNH). These two institutes have been actively engaged in projects related to aging and long term care for many years.

Education

  • M.S.W., Community Organizat'n&Advocacy, Bryn Mawr College
  • B.A., Womens Studies and Religion, Swarthmore College