Executive Team
Our executive team consists of John Newcomer, M.D., president and CEO; Steven Zuckerman, Senior VP and CFO, and Laura Naredo, Senior VP and COO. For a detailed leadership listing, go here.
Behavioral Health Services
Our behavioral health services department oversees all mental health and substance use treatment services across our system. For substance use treatment help, click here. For mental health treatment help, click here.
Adult System of Care
Our adult system of care manages both mental health and substance use treatment services for adults. For more information, click here.
Children’s System of Care
Our children’s system of care manages both mental health and substance use treatment services for children and youth. For more information, click here.
Contracts and Procurement
Our contracts and procurement group manages all contracts with providers across our system and offers procurement opportunities to the providers. For the contracts page, go here. For procurement, go here. For provider resources, go here.
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
Thriving Mind’s CQI team is committed to the development, implementation, and quality assurance of the network with priority given to those areas that impact individuals served and their families. For more information, click here.
Care Coordination
Care Coordination is the systematic management of the System of Care to ensure that individuals with the highest level of need are being linked to community-based care and provided the appropriate supports to ensure that their treatment needs are properly addressed.
Child Welfare Coordination
Child Welfare Coordination ensures consistent integration, coordination, and planning between the Managing Entity, Community Based Care Lead Agency and other child welfare stakeholders.
Communications
The Communications Department manages a variety of internal and external communications, marketing, social media, media relations, public relations, civic engagement and community relations opportunities. For more information, click here.
Finance
Our finance team is responsible for budgeting, funding allocations, accounts payable, invoice processing, and general accounting.
Housing
Thriving Mind’s Housing Department is committed to finding safe, affordable, stable housing for individuals with mental health and/or co-occurring diagnoses; Ensuring that these individuals receive the necessary support services to be successful in the community. For more information, click here.
Human Resources
Human Resources is responsible for providing financial, administrative, and clerical services, which includes processing and monitoring accounts payable, bank deposits and payroll. The Human Resources Coordinator administers a variety of human resources activities and programs, including those related to staffing, compensation, benefits ,training and workplace safety.
Data Performance and Information Technology
Data Performance and Information Technology Department manages data systems and reporting, provides IT support through Michell Group, and coordinates with Carisk for data management and reporting
Peer Services
Our Peer services team is available to assist the peer community to better serve our consumers. For more information, click here.
Prevention System of Care
Thriving Mind South Florida provides prevention of substance use and promotion of wellness (positive mental health) services in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties as part of a continuum of behavioral health care for individuals and their families. For more information, click here.
Research and Evaluation
Thriving Mind’s vision is that solid research and evaluation will help move behavioral health forward as a necessary and essential service for children, adults, families, and programs. Data is gathered at multiple levels and used to sustain programs and monitor fidelity. The team works with the network, community, and state partners to ensure measuring service provision for policy-relevant outcomes. The data-driven approach to manage funding to best meet the community’s needs. The evaluation data is used as a powerful tool for communicating with stakeholders. Through the use of data collection, evaluation, and analysis strategies, Thriving Mind strives to: Ensure financial strength and programmatic accountability to achieve performance outcomes and standards in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible Identify gaps in services and specialized needs Identify priority populations including, but not limited to criminal justice involved, child welfare involved, individuals served in need of trauma informed care, and co-occurring Use the collection and analysis of data to improve the network and network provider compliance and when necessary incorporate improvements into action plans.
Trauma Recovery
Thriving Mind South Florida’s Trauma Recovery Network offers a number of free services for adult and child victims of violent crime. Family members of victims can also receive services at no cost. All services are free to victims and their families thanks in part to a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant from the Florida Attorney General’s Office. The VOCA Fund was created by Congress in 1984 to provide federal support to state and local community-based programs to serve victims of crime.
Nisermy Ferro is a dedicated human services professional with over a decade of experience in mental health, substance use, social work, and systems-level support for vulnerable populations. Her journey began with a powerful commitment to children—volunteering in dependency and immigration shelters, where she provided care and guidance to youth navigating complex and traumatic circumstances.
Motivated by a passion for justice and recovery, she then shifted her focus to the criminal justice system, assisting adults in jail and delivering evidence-based treatment to individuals with substance use disorders. Her expertise expanded when she returned to child welfare as a Child Protection Investigator. Nisermy’s leadership quickly advanced, becoming a Full Case Manager and ultimately managing the entire department responsible for comprehensive case management services for children and families.
Her advocacy for youth deepened through her role at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, where she served as the Director of Case Management & Transitions for high-risk level commitment programs—developing and overseeing strategies that helped young people reintegrate into society with structure, support, and opportunity.
In 2021, Nisermy joined Thriving Mind South Florida as the Children’s System of Care Specialist, where she played a pivotal role in strengthening the network of care for children impacted by mental health challenges and trauma. Her work ensured that children across South Florida received access to the services and supports they needed to thrive.
Most recently, in April 2025, Nisermy was promoted to Prevention Coordinator, where she now leads efforts to innovate and expand prevention services across the region. She will collaborate closely with community stakeholders, schools, and service providers to foster awareness, provide education, and promote early intervention. Her vision reflects her dedication to making a meaningful and lasting impact.
Nisermy is also a skilled coach, life skills facilitator, and case management expert. Her work reflects a deep commitment to community wellness, justice reform, and the long-term empowerment of individuals and families.