Spotlight on Executive Director:
Gary J. Bell,  MSW, LCSW, BCD

Mr. Bell was hired in February 1996 to fill the Executive Director position at BEBASHI.

Mr. Bell has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Bucknell University and a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a state-licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in Plymouth Meeting.

Previously, he was employed for over 16 years at Episcopal Community Services (ECS), most recently as the Director of Adult Services where he managed a department of 75 employees while overseeing its homeless, older adult, AIDS and counseling services to 800 clients annually.

At ECS, Mr. Bell was largely responsible for building a home care program for the elderly from one homemaker and two social workers to over 40 home care staff. He was also integral in developing one of the largest AIDS programs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that included homemaker service, visiting nurses, home delivered meals, case management, counseling, support groups, medical transportation, and an emergency food cupboard. One of his greatest accomplishments at ECS was the development of the STARR (Supportive Therapy for AIDS Affected Relatives) program. At the time, STARR was the only program in Philadelphia that provided individual and family counseling and support groups targeting children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Despite formidable obstacles awaiting Mr. Bell at BEBASHI, he has been able to make tremendous strides in improving program and service delivery, developing greater fiscal controls, upgrading the computer system, initiating new service programs and collaborative efforts, and revitalizing the Board of Directors. He has strengthened relationships with other community leaders as well as developed funding support from various pharmaceutical companies and foundations.

During the past nine years of Gary Bell’s leadership, he has not only enhanced the existing programs of prevention education, case management, HIV, STD and pregnancy counseling and testing, he has also implemented several innovative programs that include a women’s initiative, an emergency food cupboard, weekly support groups, and initiated one of the only discharge planning programs for HIV+ ex-offenders in the country!

Mr. Bell is an avid collector of movies and Star Trek memorabilia and enjoys fictional reading and physical fitness in his spare time.

SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE:

Executive Director Gary Bell sitting in his office at BEBASHI.

Over twenty years of management and direct human services/non-profit experience in Home Health, Therapeutic Counseling, Case Management, Volunteer and Nutrition programs. Strong planning, program development and proposal writing skills. Managed programs funded by third party insurance and managed care organizations. Managed multiple programs serving diverse client populations, such as elderly, homeless families, abused and neglected children, and persons with HIV/AIDS disease.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Board of Directors - Circle of Care
Board of Directors - Philadelphia HIV Planning Commission
National Association of Social Workers
University of Pennsylvania Center for AIDS Research Community Advisory Board

ARTICLE REPRINTS BY GARY BELL

• SETTING THE TONE FOR "THAT" CONVERSATION
  By Gary J. Bell - reprinted from the Summer 2000 issue of "For You"
  
  
• SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS
  By Gary J. Bell - reprinted from www.herrising.com
  
  

  Les Brown and Gary Bell at Million Man March in Washington, DC

GARY IN THE NEWS

Gary Bell's interview on Tony Brown's Journal aired nationwide on PBS stations on April 25th, 2004. He explored reasons why Black women are approximately six percent of the American population, but constitute 64 percent of new female AIDS cases, and why one in 160 Black women is HIV-positive.