Monarch had a strong and highly visible presence at the 2026 North Carolina ACT / IPS Conference, hosted earlier this month by the UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health. Monarch’s Individual Placement and Support (IPS) teams were recognized for their outstanding work, highlighting individual and team achievements across our IPS programs and our impact across the state.
Individuals Recognition:
- Benefits Counselor of the Year: Cheryl Rogers
- Employment Specialist of the Year: Ricky Richmond (Robeson/Nash Team)
- Employment Peer Mentor of the Year: Lisa Hickman (Forsyth Team)
Team Awards:
- IPS Most Improved Fidelity Score (32-point increase; from 64 to 96): Wake Team
- IPS Highest Yearly Average for Education Rate (13%): Cleveland Team
- IPS Most Graduations (13 clients): Cleveland Team
Monarch staff also played an active role in conference sessions and engagement. Vice President of Operations, Enhanced Services Evan Powell served as a panelist for the session “Leadership: Being More Than Just a Supervisor,” where he shared practical insight and perspectives on values-driven leadership. Director of Operations, ACTT Steven Morphew represented Monarch at the ACT Coalition vendor table, connecting with attendees and sharing information about Monarch services and initiatives.
Monarch’s current IPS employment rates further reflect the impact of this work:
- Wake: 58%
- Robeson–Nash: 40%
- Mecklenburg: 53%
- Cleveland: 75%
- Guilford: 30%
- Stanly: 47%
- Forsyth: 30%
Congratulations and thanks to all staff recognized for their commitment and excellence! These accomplishments reflect the collective efforts of our IPS teams and Monarch’s continued focus on strong outcomes for the people we support.
For questions related to IPS services or patient outcomes, please contact Linda Pierce, Director of Operations – IPS at [email protected].