Kris Hess-Tevis has worked in the mental health field since 1999 in both hospital and outpatient settings.  She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a Master of Science degree in Community Counseling and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a PhD and Master of Arts degrees in Social Psychology with additional coursework in Developmental Psychology, Program Evaluation, Law, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.  She has participated in several research initiatives associated with clinical feedback and Evidence Based Practice (EBP) implementation.  With a strong background in applied science, her current research focus includes program design and evaluation, the influence of organizational culture on work-related decisions, challenges associated with direct staff caring for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, employment discrimination among individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, work analysis in behavioral health fields, and the economic impact of risk and social indicators for individuals with comorbid and chronic conditions.

Kris has worked with OMNI Behavioral Health since 2002 in various capacities.  Kris has developed and maintained several programs within OMNI in addition to leading agency-wide initiatives such as complex integration of electronic records system and Evidence Based Practices across various settings and geographic locations.  Kris is currently responsible for assisting Omni with quality assurance/improvement activities and maintaining compliance with Medicaid regulations, State licensing requirements, and Joint Commission accreditation.

Kris is very active in public policy initiatives and community mental health advocacy, holding numerous offices in professional organizations, organizing statewide conferences advocating mental health training for service providers, and speaking to community members regarding various mental health issues.  Kris is a member of the American Counseling Association, American Psychological Association, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, American Evaluation Association, American Psychology & Law Association, American Public Health Association, and Global Alliance for Behavioral Health & Social Justice.  She maintains LIMHP, LMHP, and LPC licenses in Nebraska, and is a Nationally Certified Counselor with the National Board of Professional Counselors.