Constance Bowens works as an Analyst for the New York State Office of Mental Health (O.M.H.) where she is passionate about facilitating optimal resource allocation or reallocation to support people with Serious Mental Illness, and people who have a co-occurring Mental Disorder and Developmental Disability in achieving the lives which they value. In the course of her work, she serves as one of the representatives of O.M.H. on Value Based Payment. Constance also serves as part of a team which evaluates requests to expand, open, reduce, or close public mental health programs. To enhance her ability to better serve people with disabilities, Constance began her Doctoral Studies in Health Policy and Management at New York Medical College (N.Y.M.C.) in the fall of 2016 due to its emphasis on using research to inform practice. Her research interests include: distributive justice and disability, disability, long term services and supports, the health workforce which serves people with disabilities, and health care delivery system and payment reform to drive improvements in outcomes for people with disabilities especially those with multiple chronic conditions. Constance’s prior academic studies has greatly influenced her work at O.M.H. as an Analyst. Her previous academic work includes the study of Economics for which she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from New York University. Constance’s other prior area of study was Management for which she was awarded a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College's Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. In recognition of her scholastic excellence in the area of Management, Constance was inducted as a member of Pi Alpha Alpha (National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration). Just as her prior scholastic achievements have provided her with a multiplicity of perspectives by which to examine ways to meet the needs of New Yorkers with disabilities, NYMC’s DrPH serves to further equip her to advocate on behalf of this very vulnerable population.

Undergraduate School

New York University

Undergraduate Major

Economics

Graduate School(s)

Baruch College's Marxe School of Public and International Affairs

Focus Area/Interests

• Mental Health Policy
• Resource Allocation
• Disability Advocacy
• Health Policy and Management
• Health Workforce
• Healthcare Delivery
• Payment Reforms

Current Position

• Analyst at the New York State Office of Mental Health

Career Experience

• Analyzing and managing resources within public mental health programs
• Engaging in Value Based Payment initiatives
• Evaluating program expansions, reductions, and closures within the mental health sector
• Advocacy and policy development for individuals with disabilities