Employer of the Month: Behavioral Health Associates

Dr. Christina Fish ‘92/’99M graduated from Bloomsburg as a teacher.  Now, she teaches the teachers and has returned to campus to bring more Huskies, Mounties, and Bald Eagles into the profession.

Fish is now the Regional Director of Program Expansion & Leadership Development for Behavioral Health Associates (BHA), a company that provides mental health and behavioral health services K-12 during the school day.  The company is headquartered in Carbon County, but is planning an expansion into the Central Susquehanna region. The geographic proximity to so many future educators made it an easy decision for Fish to represent BHA at the recent Collaborating to Assist Teacher Candidate Hiring (CATCH) Conference in October seeking counseling, social work and education majors interested in working with populations of students who require educational supports.  

“As a graduate of Bloom, I felt it is an institution that has done well by me and my career,” said Fish. “They produce excellent special and regular education teachers, as well as business and social work professionals.”

Fish said the opportunity to speak with students in small groups provided frequent individual interactions with students that was less overwhelming that traditional career fairs.

“It was a great experience,” said Fish. “The smaller setting made it less intimidating for students and allowed employers to see what other organizations were bringing to the table to entice prospective employees.”

Fish said the conversations she had with students were positive; even leading to a few on the spot interviews.

“They were well prepared and asked great questions,” said Fish. “They had their resumes and cards handy, and asked for information."

For Fish, recruiting the next group of hires to BHA was only part of the experience. She says it’s important as a professional to give back by modeling leadership and professionalism to students; including the importance of a well written resume and highlighting the many options new graduates have in such a large career field.

“I did not have the opportunity to practice writing a resume like they do now, and I fell into my first position through student teaching,” said Fish. “I don’t regret my path but had I known, I may have taken more time to look around for other options and maybe beyond this region. I should have been interviewing the company as much as they were interviewing me.”