Jennifer Harrison, MSSA, LISW-S
Director of Housing and Employment
Jennifer Harrison serves as FrontLine’s Director of Behavioral Health, Housing & Employment Services. FrontLine Service provides 24/7 crisis and trauma services to Cuyahoga County and operates the largest continuum of clinical and social services for homeless persons in the state of Ohio. Jennifer joined FrontLine’s executive leadership team in 2017, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience in community-based service delivery, and a long-standing passion for improving outcomes for individuals with severe mental illness.
Jennifer leads a committed team of 60+ staff who serve 14 permanent supportive housing buildings and 250 scattered-site apartments throughout Cuyahoga County. Each year, the interdisciplinary team provides services, such as case management, therapy, nursing, psychiatry, and employment, to more than 1,000 individuals with histories of chronic homelessness and behavioral health disorders (mental illness and/or substance use disorders).
An advocate for evidence-based best practices, Jennifer presents nationally on effective and proven interventions, such as the Housing First model for ending chronic homelessness—which has decreased long-term homelessness in Cuyahoga County by 82% since Housing First was launched in 2006. Jennifer also provides consultation to behavioral health organizations as an independent accreditation surveyor for CARF International.
Jennifer is passionate about improving the quality of care in community-based settings by utilizing data management systems to track and improve outcomes; championing evidence-based best practices in the field; improving service delivery by better equipping the behavioral health workforce with training, support, and resources; developing fee-for-service revenue streams to enhance bottom-line revenue for non-profits; and establishing and strengthening multi-disciplinary partnerships and systems to address the social determinants of health.
Jennifer holds a Master’s in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and is credentialed as a Licensed Independent Social Worker-Supervisor.