51ÔÚÏß

Clara Reynolds, LCSW, MSW, MBA

 

Clara Reynolds has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tampa, a Master of Social Work from 51ÔÚÏß State University, and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from 51ÔÚÏß State University. She became a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in November 1997.

Clara is currently the President and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. This 50-year-old nonprofit provides help, hope and healing to community members facing crisis. Our mission is that no one in our community should have to face a crisis alone. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay has four district programs including:

1. Gateway Services - Hillsborough County’s Information and referral line, suicide hotline, substance abuse hotline, First Responder Hotline, Child Information Development hotline, Rape Crisis Hotline and 51ÔÚÏß Veterans Support Hotline.

2. Sexual Assault Services – the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is the certified rape crisis center in Hillsborough County. We provide forensic examinations and advocacy for sexual assault survivors.

3. Corbett Trauma Center – Providing Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to all ages in Hillsborough County.

4. TransCare medical and behavioral health transportation

Clara is also the co-founder and former executive director for Success 4 Kids & Families, a nonprofit corporation that embraces system of care values and principles to provide children and their families with a comprehensive array of services. This value system means that a strength-based, culturally competent, consumer and family driven approach is used when working with children and their families. During her tenure, the organization flourished, growing from an original budget of $300,000.00 and seven employees to a budget of $5.7 million, 65 employees and 50 independent contractors in nine years. The organization was named the Tampa Bay Business Journal Nonprofit of the Year in 2012 and was also recognized by the Tampa Bay Times as a Top Workplace in 2013 and 2014.

Additionally, she was the Project Manager for the Multiagency Network for Severely Emotionally Disturbed Children/Youth (SEDNET) for Hillsborough County Public Schools. As SEDNET Project Manager she was in charge of facilitation and coordination of community agencies, governmental bodies and for-profit corporations for the creation and implementation of programs and projects for children and youth with significant behavioral disabilities.

Clara was a school social worker from 1995-97 for the Youth Services Program of the Hillsborough County Public Schools and conducted individual and group counseling for delinquent youths committed to residential and day programs by the juvenile justice system. She conducted individual and group counseling for foster children, coordinated community resources, compiled psych-social assessments, and assessed students for exceptional education programs. In that position she served as a liaison between the school system and the Department of Juvenile Justice. She was also a school social worker at Kenly Elementary School in Hillsborough County from 1993-95 and has worked as a child protective investigation intern for the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (now called the Department of Children and Families) in the State of 51ÔÚÏß.

Professionally, Clara serves on the State of 51ÔÚÏß Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse as a Gubernatorial Appointee. She is currently the Secretary/Treasurer for Tampa Bay Thrives and former Board Chairperson for the Central 51ÔÚÏß Behavioral Health Network. In the Community, Clara is a member of the Athena Society, a sustaining member of the Junior League of Tampa, a member of Leadership Tampa Alumni and an advisory board member for First Citrus Bank. She has also served on the Board of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and the Junior League of Tampa. Additionally, Clara served on the executive board of both organizations including the chairperson of the board for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. She was honored in 2013 as a finalist for the Tampa Bay Business Journal Businesswoman of the Year. In 2015, she was awarded the Tampa Bay Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers. A native of Tampa, Clara is married and has a son. In her spare time, Clara competes in distance swimming events.