Dawn Willis has over 20 years of experience working with adults and children who are intellectually disabled. Dawn graduated from Manhattan College with a bachelor’s in psychology and minor in social work. She then got her master’s in social work from Rutgers University. Dawn went on to get her LSW (Licensed Social Worker), and has since also passed the LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) exam, as well as completed the SIFI Supervision Course so The NJ ECC can utilize interns to assist with individual care and the day to day operations.  

Dawn has maintained her RBT (Registered Behavior Therapist) since 2015, and is enrolled in school to become a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst). Dawn has been working in-home with behaviorally challenged children for over 5 years. She specializes in behavior modification and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). In addition to leading the NJ ECC team, she also runs a Support Coordination Agency, and is working toward opening group homes (pending state approval) for the intellectual disabled population. Dawn has an extensive background in housing, establishing a housing team within The NJECC which has housed 33 individuals to date. In addition to ensuring that all housing requirements are correctly maintained and certified on a yearly basis, Dawn and her team provide aid to individuals in everything from assistance with the moving process to independent living needs. 

Dawn saw the need for change in the adult world of services and worked diligently with a women-powered team to create a program geared towards the 21 and over intellectually disabled population. She supervises the work of all the professionals at The NJ ECC as they continue to provide exceptional quality of care. Dawn’s experience has earned her multiple certifications that assist her in successfully serving this special population. She is the crisis management trainer for The NJ ECC staff, assuring the team is up to date with the newest and safest techniques to serve this community as effectively as possible.  She assures the individuals who they serve always have clinical and meaningful activities, such as Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Sensory Tae Kwon Do, as well as the most updated Prevocational and Supportive Employment programs. Dawn is always looking into new ways to enhance curriculum and is in the early stages of implementing a new Spellers program, as she works with the program’s creators. 

Now in its fifth year, The NJ ECC continues to provide outstanding service to its community, and the individuals served couldn’t be happier. The NJ ECC has re-launched our website, opened 3 schools in 5 years, and is working toward expanding further to service more graduates in our catchment area. Great things are to come!