Serve every day with humbleness and humility.
Q & A With Dr. Che Jordan, President of Ebony House Inc.
A Legacy of Excellence
How did you first become involved with Ebony House Inc.?
The mission of the organization brought me to Arizona. Elbertzena Fontinote is the founder of Ebony House Inc. She had a God mission to help people with addiction for 50 years. Dr. Gene Blue, the Chairman of the Board of Ebony House Inc., worked with Mrs. Elba for over 45 years with the same God mission. Specifically, the African American community which highlights their commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by this population in Arizona. I value people and serving all ethnicities and communities that need help with substance use and mental health. Supporting our military veterans that need mental health treatment and housing. Also, individuals with HIV and helping them raise awareness about the critical need for specialized treatment services within underserved communities.
The mission of the organization brought me to Arizona. Elbertzena Fontinote is the founder of Ebony House Inc. She had a God mission to help people with addiction for 50 years. Dr. Gene Blue, the Chairman of the Board of Ebony House Inc., worked with Mrs. Elba for over 45 years with the same God mission. Specifically, the African American community which highlights their commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by this population in Arizona. I value people and serving all ethnicities and communities that need help with substance use and mental health. Supporting our military veterans that need mental health treatment and housing. Also, individuals with HIV and helping them raise awareness about the critical need for specialized treatment services within underserved communities.
Milestones of Achievement
Which milestones have marked meeting benchmarks towards the fulfillment of your personal goals/the company's vision and goals?
In my first year as President, I achieved over 90% client satisfaction in 2023. In 2024, I have sustained that client satisfaction over 90%. Our Men and Women facility are full and employee retention is great.
In my first year as President, I achieved over 90% client satisfaction in 2023. In 2024, I have sustained that client satisfaction over 90%. Our Men and Women facility are full and employee retention is great.
Che's leadership has been instrumental in maintaining high client satisfaction rates and ensuring the success of Ebony House's facilities.
Building Trust Through Commitment and Excellence
Which steps have you taken for the company to achieve the level of consumer trust that has been nationally recognized?
I built a work culture of value ship and appreciation. Invested in building a clinical team for our residential and Children Services, an intake team and HIV Outreach team, to provide up-to-date evidence-based practice. Also, reached out to more alumni men and women who have been sober for 15 years, 20 years, and 30 years to support our clients. When it comes to cooking and life skills, our clients are surrounded by employees who have been sober for decades and came through the program completing the same responsibilities and ADLs as they are completing. We advocate strongly for our clients to receive continuation and/or other services after graduating the program. This helps continue the trust that our clients have for the organization. We also provide 6 months of supported housing for our clients after graduating the program along with providing bus passes and help them with their resumes to gain employment. We extend the support by helping our clients secure a place of residence after supported housing. All these things listed provided trust and relatability to the need of staying clean/sober to our clients.
I built a work culture of value ship and appreciation. Invested in building a clinical team for our residential and Children Services, an intake team and HIV Outreach team, to provide up-to-date evidence-based practice. Also, reached out to more alumni men and women who have been sober for 15 years, 20 years, and 30 years to support our clients. When it comes to cooking and life skills, our clients are surrounded by employees who have been sober for decades and came through the program completing the same responsibilities and ADLs as they are completing. We advocate strongly for our clients to receive continuation and/or other services after graduating the program. This helps continue the trust that our clients have for the organization. We also provide 6 months of supported housing for our clients after graduating the program along with providing bus passes and help them with their resumes to gain employment. We extend the support by helping our clients secure a place of residence after supported housing. All these things listed provided trust and relatability to the need of staying clean/sober to our clients.
Drawing from Experience
What part of your education or other experiences do you feel was the most helpful in preparing you for success?
Working with veterans, people with developmental disabilities, and homelessness prepared me for success. This provided early in my career to serve no matter the title or status, you serve every day with humbleness and humility.
Working with veterans, people with developmental disabilities, and homelessness prepared me for success. This provided early in my career to serve no matter the title or status, you serve every day with humbleness and humility.
Effective Growth Strategies
Which strategies have you found the most effective in growing your audience/bringing awareness of your service to a larger consumer group?
We brought on a marketing team that has done phenomenal work in creating our social media presence and providing the public with a lot of content on Substance Abuse, Mental Health and AIDS/HIV Outreach:
(https://www.facebook.com/people/EBONY-HOUSE-INC/61552301625931/) (https://x.com/EbonyInc2023) (https://www.instagram.com/ebonyhouseinc2023/) (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebony-house-inc2023) (https://www.pinterest.com/ebonyhouseinc/).
Alumni Association are men and women who have graduated from the program. They continuously come to the AA meetings that we have at our Men facility which is open to the public and support those individuals that are in treatment by telling their story. Their stories and others who have been sober for years continue to save the lives of others.
We brought on a marketing team that has done phenomenal work in creating our social media presence and providing the public with a lot of content on Substance Abuse, Mental Health and AIDS/HIV Outreach:
(https://www.facebook.com/people/EBONY-HOUSE-INC/61552301625931/) (https://x.com/EbonyInc2023) (https://www.instagram.com/ebonyhouseinc2023/) (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebony-house-inc2023) (https://www.pinterest.com/ebonyhouseinc/).
Alumni Association are men and women who have graduated from the program. They continuously come to the AA meetings that we have at our Men facility which is open to the public and support those individuals that are in treatment by telling their story. Their stories and others who have been sober for years continue to save the lives of others.
Partnerships and Community Engagement
What partnerships have been the most constructive in bringing your goals closer to becoming a reality?
Working with all AHCCCS plans (Mercy Care, SABG and MHBG, Banner Healthcare, United Healthcare Community, Arizona Complete Health, Care 1st, Molina and Health Choice). These partners have great people working in the business, and we want to commend them on the level of help they provide when we reach out to them. Spiritual guidance is part of the journey to sobriety, so we appreciate all of our local churches in the community (Legacy Church Justin Hamilton, Bertrand Russell of Fountain of Life House of Worship, Richard Yarbough at Pilgrim Rest). We appreciate The American Legion Post 65 Dennis Prince. They do a lot of work in supporting our military veterans. The NAACP. Aunt Rita's Foundation and Ryan White HIV/AIDS program (The Ryan White CARE Act). We were just on the Montel Williams The Balancing Act in the month of May 2024. The Balance Act with Lifetime TV recognizes the importance of sharing stories like Elbertzena’s to inspire as well as educate people about the impact of substance use disorder. By featuring us in their program, they are helping us to raise awareness about the critical need for specialized treatment services within underserved communities. The show is being nationally televised along with our commercial. The show can also be watched on our website.
Working with all AHCCCS plans (Mercy Care, SABG and MHBG, Banner Healthcare, United Healthcare Community, Arizona Complete Health, Care 1st, Molina and Health Choice). These partners have great people working in the business, and we want to commend them on the level of help they provide when we reach out to them. Spiritual guidance is part of the journey to sobriety, so we appreciate all of our local churches in the community (Legacy Church Justin Hamilton, Bertrand Russell of Fountain of Life House of Worship, Richard Yarbough at Pilgrim Rest). We appreciate The American Legion Post 65 Dennis Prince. They do a lot of work in supporting our military veterans. The NAACP. Aunt Rita's Foundation and Ryan White HIV/AIDS program (The Ryan White CARE Act). We were just on the Montel Williams The Balancing Act in the month of May 2024. The Balance Act with Lifetime TV recognizes the importance of sharing stories like Elbertzena’s to inspire as well as educate people about the impact of substance use disorder. By featuring us in their program, they are helping us to raise awareness about the critical need for specialized treatment services within underserved communities. The show is being nationally televised along with our commercial. The show can also be watched on our website.
Overcoming Challenges
Are there any challenges that made it difficult to continue operation and that you managed to overcome? What was your approach to get past these?
In 2023, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), which is Arizona's Medicaid agency that offers health care programs to serve Arizona residents, lost billions of dollars to bad actors of fraudulent behavior. This started the process of AHCCCS changing the billable pay rate for providing services to clients. We managed in 2023 by working with our stakeholders and judicial system to get people into treatment. Our residential and supported housing facilities consistently stayed full. However, the changes in billing rates made it difficult to operate. In February 2024, there was a cyberattack on the Change Healthcare Network. This affected us from receiving timely payments and created barriers with the clearing house to submit new claims. We managed by working with our clearing house and appreciating their leadership team's transparency to also add on additional clearing houses to submit and/or review claims.
In 2023, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), which is Arizona's Medicaid agency that offers health care programs to serve Arizona residents, lost billions of dollars to bad actors of fraudulent behavior. This started the process of AHCCCS changing the billable pay rate for providing services to clients. We managed in 2023 by working with our stakeholders and judicial system to get people into treatment. Our residential and supported housing facilities consistently stayed full. However, the changes in billing rates made it difficult to operate. In February 2024, there was a cyberattack on the Change Healthcare Network. This affected us from receiving timely payments and created barriers with the clearing house to submit new claims. We managed by working with our clearing house and appreciating their leadership team's transparency to also add on additional clearing houses to submit and/or review claims.
Balancing Work and Life
How do you balance work, passions/hobbies, and relationships?
I enjoy fitness, meditation, yoga, and Pilates in my free time. This creates a healthy work-life balance. Also, finding ways to support other healthcare organization causes where people need help.
I enjoy fitness, meditation, yoga, and Pilates in my free time. This creates a healthy work-life balance. Also, finding ways to support other healthcare organization causes where people need help.
Future Plans and Vision
What are your future plans to build on your personal/company achievements and fulfill your vision for success/what developments can your audience or clientele look forward to expecting next?
We look to expand our residential facilities by adding more beds, expand our Children Service Clinic, build an adolescent facility and provide supported housing for those with HIV. In order to achieve these goals, we will need funding and resources.
We look to expand our residential facilities by adding more beds, expand our Children Service Clinic, build an adolescent facility and provide supported housing for those with HIV. In order to achieve these goals, we will need funding and resources.
Advice for Aspiring Professionals
What advice would you like to give readers that hope to achieve success in your field?
Servant leadership. No matter your status or title, we are designed to serve and help people. So, patience, understanding, humbleness, and humility can help achieve success in this field of work.
Servant leadership. No matter your status or title, we are designed to serve and help people. So, patience, understanding, humbleness, and humility can help achieve success in this field of work.
A Commitment to Service
Is there anything else you would like to share with Winner Magazine readers?
One day at a time together, as a team, we can continue to support and uplift those in need, as well as create a brighter future for all individuals affected by substance use disorder.
One day at a time together, as a team, we can continue to support and uplift those in need, as well as create a brighter future for all individuals affected by substance use disorder.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Ebony House Inc.
As we celebrate our history, we also look to the future. We are a company that values innovation and growth, but we will never forget our roots. The spirit of our founder's journey continues to guide us in our pursuit of excellence. Together, we honor our past while forging ahead, always striving to rise above and redefine industry standards.
As we celebrate our history, we also look to the future. We are a company that values innovation and growth, but we will never forget our roots. The spirit of our founder's journey continues to guide us in our pursuit of excellence. Together, we honor our past while forging ahead, always striving to rise above and redefine industry standards.
Che Jordan and Ebony House Inc. have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the community, maintaining high standards of service and achieving significant milestones. Their commitment to serving those in need, fostering a culture of trust, and continuously striving for excellence sets them apart as leaders in the field of substance use and mental health services.
We thank Che Jordan for sharing his inspiring journey and insights with Winner Magazine's readers. If you are seeking comprehensive substance use and mental health services, we highly recommend visiting Ebony House Inc. Connect with Che and his team at ebonyhouseinc.org to learn more about their exceptional services and unwavering commitment to community service.
