John Steinfirst, LCSW was the CEO of the well-respected residential and community based Fred Finch Youth Center in Oakland, CA. for 20 years, with programs throughout California. He has experience with an array of services for a variety of institutions, government and private agencies, with clients including but not limited to abused and neglected children, developmentally disabled and mentally disabled, co-occurring disordered, children, youth, and families, adults, the elderly and those with substance abuse problems. As a licensed and experienced mental health therapist, he can also assist in cases where suits have been brought against therapists for malpractice.
Matthew Madaus is a LCSW with over 30 years of experience in the behavioral health field. He was previously the CEO of Edgewood Center for Children and Families in San Francisco, the oldest child welfare agency west of the Mississippi, as well as Clinical Director of The Home for Little Wanderers in Boston, the oldest child welfare agency in the U.S. He has held positions as Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, Residential Treatment Director, Director of Community Mental Health, Program Director, and other manager and clinical roles. He has experience designing, launching, running, and accrediting residential treatment centers, group homes, special education schools, day treatment programs, crisis stabilization units, inpatient psychiatric programs, emergency shelters, foster care programs, and a wide range of community-based programs in both California and Massachusetts. Mr. Madaus has taught at the undergraduate and graduate level, served on many regional, state, national, and international committees and Boards, and presented at numerous state and national conferences. Mr. Madaus has provided expert witness consultation and testimony for both plaintiffs and defendants in multiple states. He is currently the Executive Director of Alameda Council of Community Mental Health Agencies, a regional association of non-profit behavioral health providers. He is also the CEO and Co-founder of Obviate, a clinical software company and provides training and consultation throughout the country.
Neal Sternberg, has 43 years professional experience in residential treatment and private schools. Mr. Sternberg’s career has included work in Probation, Mental Health, Private Schools, and Residential Treatment Centers, including 28+ years as an Executive Director and Administrator with a multi-faceted, accredited residential program, a certified non-public school, and out-patient mental health services. Mr. Sternberg is acutely familiar with the licensing requirements for residential treatment centers, group homes, foster homes, regional center homes and similar programs, having taught Community Care Licensing standards for residential facilities. Mr. Sternberg was the primary author of the certification curriculum for Shasta College for the “Residential Counselors.” He has served on numerous state and national committees regarding congregate care facilities. Originally trained in both family therapy and in Reality Therapy by Dr. William Glasser in the mid-70’s, Mr. Sternberg moved to an administrative role in 1979. He has personally assessed hundreds of clients for their appropriateness for placement, conducted numerous critical incident reviews, and provided consultation and testimony to both plaintiffs and defendants in multiple states. Mr. Sternberg has served on the Public Policy Committee and the Mental Health Advisory Board of the Child Welfare League of America, the Executive Board for the Association of Children’s Residential Centers, and the Editorial Board of the “Residential Treatment for Children and Youth Journal” (Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group). Mr. Sternberg currently is currently a consultant, providing expert witness services and consultation in the areas of program evaluation, strategic planning, client outcomes, restraint and seclusion reduction, critical incident investigation, and child advocacy.