Mario Jardon, LCSW is the founding President and CEO of Citrus Health Network, Inc., a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) based in Hialeah, Florida. Citrus Health Network was founded in 1979 as a community mental health center dedicated to serving mentally ill individuals and their families. In 2004, Citrus Health Network received a Section 330(e) grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and began offering primary care in addition to mental and behavioral health services; taking an integrated approach to care. Today, Citrus Health Network serves more than 30,000 patients annually across behavioral health, primary care, and community-based supportive services. Beginning July 2019, Citrus assumed the role of Community-Based Care Lead Agency for Child Welfare for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties as a contractor for the Department of Children and Families. Citrus’ CBC division is known as Citrus Family Care Network.
Mr. Jardon began his career in New York and New Jersey. After earning his Masters in Social Work from Fordham University, Mr. Jardon moved through direct service positions and in 1977, became Center Director at the Mount Carmel Guild Community Mental Health Center in Newark, New Jersey.
In 1979, Mr. Jardon relocated to South Florida to lead a newly-formed Community Mental Health Center in Hialeah, Florida, now known as Citrus Health Network. In the past 35 years, Mr. Jardon, with the support of the Citrus Health Network Board of Directors and staff, has been able to achieve continued growth for the Center.
Mr. Jardon has a history of involvement with organizations that help communities and individuals in need. He has served as Chairman of the Health Council of South Florida, and as Co-Chairman of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Miami-Dade County’s Jail Diversion Task Force. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Council for Community Mental Health and more recently, on the Board of South Florida Behavioral Health Network (SFBHN).
Mr. Jardon is a member of the Florida State University College of Social Work Center for the Study and Promotion of Communities, Families and Children. He also serves on the Nursing Advisory Council for the Florida International University College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS). The Advisory Council serves as a link between the CNHS and the community.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Health Choice Network (HCN), an administrative services organization located in Miami, Florida that serves FQHCs in 11 states, including more than 24 FQHCs in Florida. Mr. Jardon is the Chairman of the HCN Managed Care Committee.
In 2009 the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) approved the creation of Prestige Health Choice, a Provider Services Network (PSN) owned by FQHCs and affiliated with HCN. Mr. Jardon was elected by his peers to serve on the Prestige Health Choice Audit Committee, and subsequently on the plan’s Board of Governors. Mr. Jardon also served on the Board of Managers of Prestige’s Community Care of Florida.