About Us

Education & Health Centers of America, Inc. (EHCA) has been operating treatment and reentry programs for underserved populations since the late 1960’s and has been working with correctional criminal justice populations since 1994. EHCA also established the Incarcerated Veterans Initiative (IVI) in 2019, and our organization has been committed to expanding Veteran services throughout the state of New Jersey ever since.

EHCA’s Assessment Centers, Treatment, and Work Release programs have been at the forefront of the dramatic decline in New Jersey’s state prison population. Independent studies have confirmed the success of New Jersey’s community corrections system since the establishment of Assessment and Treatment Centers. The Pew Center on the States has cited New Jersey’s 11.4% reduction in recidivism as the best in the Northeast. This progress in reducing recidivism is evidence of the effectiveness of EHCA’s ongoing partnership with New Jersey government agencies in executing an outstanding community corrections system.

Education & Health Centers of America, Inc.'s History

John Clancy founded EHCA in the late 1970’s as a non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation with the hopes of helping those suffering from addiction. EHCA’s first substance abuse rehabilitation center was The Harbor, originally located in Hoboken, New Jersey, which opened in 1983.

For the next decade, The Harbor’s inpatient, outpatient, and aftercare services increased to include family services and bilingual/multicultural programs for Spanish-speaking clients. EHCA opened outpatient substance abuse treatment sites throughout New Jersey, which provided diagnoses, assessments, referrals, and individual and group counseling, with a focus on family therapy and successful reintegration into one’s community.

EHCA Leadership

President and Chief Executive Officer

Richard McCourt

Richard McCourt is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Education and Health Centers of America and oversees all company business to ensure effective services are being provided. As President and Chief Executive Officer, he meets regularly with the Board of Trustees and is responsible for making policy and operational decisions. Richard has been involved in Corrections and Reentry services in New Jersey for nearly 40 years. He served in the New Jersey Department of Corrections for 25 years, retiring in 2008 as the Deputy Chief Investigator for the Special Investigations Division. He has worked in the Reentry field since 2010, and with EHCA since 2012, in several different executive positions. Richard earned a Bachelor's degree in Law and Justice from Rider University.

Chief Clinical and Compliance Officer

Dr. Robert Mackey

Dr. Robert Mackey oversees program operations to ensure quality, effective services are being provided. He has over 40 years of experience in the fields of addiction and correctional treatment, and has provided therapeutic and operational oversight to a reentry and prison treatment network spanning eleven states and the Commonwealth of Bermuda. As a U.S. Army Veteran who served in Vietnam, Dr. Mackey has designed and implemented several programs for incarcerated veterans that address needs specific to the veterans experience. He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Seton Hall University and has been a licensed psychologist, alcohol and addiction counselor, and a domestic violence specialist.

Government and Contract Relations

Lawrence DeMarzo

Larry DeMarzo has been involved with Education and Health Centers of America for many years as an executive team member regarding contract development and compliance, government relations, and public information duties. He has a diverse background in public service including policy advisement at the highest levels of state government and executive positions at the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Financial Manager

Melissa Peters

Melissa Peters serves as the Finance Manager of Education and Health Centers of America and oversees the accounting, finance, and human resource departments. Ms. Peters is responsible for the administrative functions of these departments at the corporate level. Ms. Peters has a diverse background with experience in the field of banking, including roles as a commercial analyst and bank lending officer. She obtained a Bachelor's degree in Business and Finance from Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Quality Assurance Director

Shannon Bilder

Shannon Bilder is the Quality Assurance Director for Education and Health Centers of America and ensures ongoing facility and program compliance in accordance with policies, procedures, and contractual requirements. She advises on quality improvement and corrective action recommendations by gathering and analyzing data related to the operation and management of each facility and program. Shannon has experience in managing county, state, and federal contracts. She has worked in several capacities within the field of residential reentry, as well as other community-based non-profit agencies, and has since expanded into grant writing and grant management. Shannon attained a Master’s Degree from Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice in 2015.

In Memory of Our Founder

John J. Clancy

From 1987 until his death in 2015, John Clancy served as the President and CEO of Education and Health Centers of America. His foresight and imagination was the impetus for the creation of EHCA and all of its programs and services. His insight and energy is missed daily.

Education & Health Centers of America, Inc.'s History