From music therapist, playing piano, guitar, drums and conducting creative arts events, to incident command safety officer for Devereux’s Emergency Response Team, preparing for such disasters as wildfires and mudslides, Mory Alvarez of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health California, has done it all it.
Since joining Devereux California in 1976, Alvarez has served in roles of increasing responsibility, including direct support professional, program director, treatment program specialist, and quality management manager, a post she has held since 1998.
“Mory has dedicated her life to Devereux and its mission. In her decades of employment, she has held a variety of roles, all of them focused on improving the lives of the individuals and families we serve,” said Amy Evans, Devereux California executive director.
After 44 years of leadership and service, Alvarez will retire in February, although she plans to continue working part-time for the center in another role.
“My time at Devereux California has flown by; it has been both interesting and challenging, and filled with a lot of learning and professional development,” Alvarez said. “I have had opportunities to problem-solve, mediate, create protocols and procedures; and mentor, teach and support the individuals and families in our care, as well as my colleagues.
“One of the most rewarding elements of my job has been to identify staff who have the potential to grow within the organization, and take them under my wing and support them through their professional development.”
“Mory is a champion for the adults and families we serve. She has had a significant and positive impact on so many lives,” Evans said. “In addition to supporting our individuals, Mory has made it her priority to bring out the best in her colleagues. All those who have worked with Mory are better for it — she leads by example and sets high expectations.
“The health and human services system as a whole is a better system for having her be a part of it.”
In addition to her role as quality management manager, Alvarez serves as the center’s senior investigator, safety officer, incident command officer and liaison to regulatory agencies.
In 2008, she created the Devereux Emergency Response Team (DERT), which works with community officials and regulatory agencies in the event of an emergency, such as a natural disaster, to ensure the safety of those served by the organization, as well as staff.
In January 2018, when a series of mudslides impacted Santa Barbara County, where the center is located, the team sprang into action.
“We coordinated the evacuation of two community-based group homes in the middle of the night. We relocated the residents to our main campus in Goleta, as well as to area hotels,” Alvarez said. “The mudslides went from the mountains to the ocean, closing all of the roads to neighboring towns, which prevented staff from traveling to and from work.
“We used a boat system to shuttle staff back and forth until rail lines were cleared of debris and we were able to use Amtrak and bus shuttles.”
The emergency response team again worked seamlessly in November 2019 to keep adults safe during wildfire evacuations.
In March, Alvarez created the COVID-19 pandemic response team in coordination with the health department and regulatory agencies. This team is involved on a daily basis with ensuring the health, safety and well-being of all residents and staff.
During her retirement transition plan, Alvarez is focused on developing job aids, procedures/guidelines, and providing training to leadership team members.
Alvarez encourages her colleagues to follow their dreams and “do the right thing.” “Conduct yourself with fairness, honesty and integrity. Convey trustworthiness and compassion in your actions, and be bold and passionate in the work you do,” she said.
Learn more about Devereux California at https://www.devereux.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=sb_index. For more on Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, visit https://www.devereux.org/site/SPageServer/.