Husam Abdallah “Sam”, Chief Operating Officer
Sam brings over 21 years of executive experience in healthcare operations, financial management, and community-based services for individuals with disabilities and mental health needs. At CAU, he oversees daily operations, builds sustainable processes, and works closely with Executive Director, Bernadette Griswold. Sam delivers transformative results from prior leadership roles with other community providers and NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities, including operational efficiency, reducing the use of seclusion and restraint, enhancing staff training, and managing $70M+ and $100M+ budgets.
His experience in person-centered care strengthens CAU’s programs and services including Residential, Day Habilitation/Pathways to Academic & Career Exploration to Success (PACES) Intake, Community Support Program (CSP) and Employment. Previously, he led major facilities like Hunterdon and North Jersey Developmental Center through policy reforms and published studies while at the Delaware Psychiatric Center with the University of Pennsylvania on co-occurring conditions and metabolic syndrome.
Sam has extensive experience in crisis intervention, disaster response, and behavioral health education, contributing to major incidents such as the Continental Airlines crash, the Seton Hall University fire, school-related suicides and violence, Hurricane Floyd, workplace violence cases, and multiple corporate and community crises. He supported the response to both the World Trade Center disaster and the U.S. Postal Service during the Anthrax crisis and has helped implement active shooter policies and training within Developmental Centers.
Sam has provided training for Mental Health Screeners, ICMS, PACT, outpatient behavioral health providers, and law enforcement in managing potentially violent individuals with behavioral health needs, trauma response, caregiver support, grief and bereavement, reintegration strategies, and stress management. He was invited by the United Nations International Resource Consortium to present in Paris on adolescents’ behavioral health, family dynamics, and mental illness, Developmental Disabilities and has extensive experience working with diverse cultural backgrounds across all age groups in medical, behavioral health, and forensic settings.