Leon Bryson has seen it all.
Currently serving as the associate director for the Champaign County Mental Health Board (CCMHB), which supports agencies and services related to mental health and substance-use disorders, Bryson's approach toward his work at CCMHB is fueled by his varied past professional experiences. These include working with young people as a director at Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club and as a drug counselor; in a group home for individuals with mental and developmental disabilities; in a psychiatric hospital; and as a research assistant at the University of Chicago's National Alliance on Mental Illness.
"I have sat on both sides," Bryson said, "I have written and submitted reports in the application for funding. So I knew kind of what to expect when I applied for the job. I think I was brought on because of the synergy I bring with other agencies and with my colleagues. I'm the type of individual who wants to know more about what you're doing, how you're doing it, what's working, and what's not working."
For Bryson, what is working is openness, availability and personal connection. In practice, that means being open to whatever mode of engagement best suits an agency—calling, emailing, meeting virtually, or meeting in-person at either party's office.
"I think that's working—our availability—and also letting agencies know that we're a partner. This is a partnership, and we're not just funders," he said. "Oftentimes when I'm able to have a one-on-one conversation with an agency director about an issue they are having, it breaks down some of the barriers or tightness that they might have with viewing us [CCMHB] as sticklers."
The importance of personal connection is especially evident during a site visit, when agency staff can become especially nervous. Bryson arrives on-site to review an agency's files and documentation, and these visits feel high-stakes for the organization. In those moments, it is crucial to lower the temperature and convey that, no matter what happens during the visit, the board is not looking to cut off funding then and there. Rather, the CCMHB is looking to work with agencies to help improve processes to get to outcomes.
"Some have called it a nightmare; they are really worked up," he explained, "But the moment I arrive, I let them know out the gate that this is a partnership. I'm just here to try to learn how you do your job, what the data is telling me, and how we can improve it. That takes it a step down. The one-person, step-down approach lets them know that—hey, I've been there, I've done it. I get the nervousness. But you don't have to be."
Bryson’s diverse professional experiences not only lead to stronger personal connections with agency staff but also afford him a unique perspective on the larger funding landscape—that is, on the board's priorities and how to invest taxpayer dollars prudently.
"One of the major things that I've noticed here is that there are so many resources in Champaign County, and yet it appears that agencies are in silos," Bryson said, "When I look at the bigger picture, I think about the people in the community who are being served. If there are gaps in the system, like staffing shortages, financial accountability, or access to CPA firms to complete audits, then I would like to see these agencies pull together the resources."
One way to address these inefficiencies or gaps is to promote program evaluation as a sustainable skill within agencies. This is what led to the board's support of the Family Resiliency Center's evaluation capacity building project [link], which helps funded community agencies and service providers develop or enhance evaluation skills in-house, rather than outsourcing evaluation activities to external vendors or simply figuring it out on their own.
"I like the way the direction is going with the center," Bryson noted. "I like how you're working with our agencies and helping them understand what their outcomes are and redefining their outcomes. Because again, I'm looking at the people that they [the agencies] are serving. We need you. We need the center to push that agenda because we [the boards] believe in that quality care to folks who are often overlooked. You do awesome work."
It is this concern for quality care that motivates Bryson on daily basis.
"Ultimately, that is the goal: to provide quality service to the community," he said. "I believe that people do good work, and I believe in the people that we fund. I believe in the agencies. I believe in their missions. I believe in the good work that I've seen. I really do. That gives me hope."