Kawana Ripoll, LCSW graduated from Loyola University in 1995 with a BA in Sociology. She then went on to obtain her MSW degree from Southern University at New Orleans in 1997 with a concentration in health/mental health. 

 

She has worked in social work and specifically health/mental health for 20 plus years. After graduating from SUNO, Kawana worked in home health and hospitals. While working at Tulane University Medical Center as the Transplant Social Worker, she found her passion was with behavioral health. This passion for behavioral health led her to a position to what is now the Office of Behavioral Health. As Associate Clinical Director of Louisiana Youth Enhanced Services, Kawana Ripoll was tasked to implement system of care to the Greater New Orleans Area for children/adolescents experiencing serious emotional disturbances.

 

Kawana Ripoll became the Director of Behavioral Health at Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans in 2016 now DePaul Community Health Centers. She manages five service lines: Medication Assistant Treatment Program, Collaborative Care Model Program, School Based Health Clinics, School Behavioral Health Program and the Behavioral Health Integration Program as the Executive Director.

 

Kawana Ripoll is also a field supervisor with Southern University at New Orleans and Tulane University through the Master of Social Work internship programs since 2010.  She is committed to providing practical application of knowledge and theoretical material learned in the classroom and work experience to prepare her future social work colleagues. 

 

Kawana Ripoll hopes to continue to reduce the stigma and build capacity in our communities regarding access to behavioral health.