Michaelangelo McClendon, LMHCA, CCTP, serves as Executive Director of Drug Free Marion County, Inc. dba BridgeWell Prevention Network, bringing more than 25 years of experience in behavioral health, substance use prevention, nonprofit executive leadership, organizational development, and community engagement.

A Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) through PESI, Michaelangelo brings a distinctive combination of clinical expertise,

executive management, and systems-level prevention leadership. His professional

background includes work associated with the Indiana Family and Social Services

Administration (FSSA), Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). As a former Community Program Manager with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI), he provided direct, hands-on oversight, technical assistance, and leadership support to Local Coordinating Councils (LCCs) across 42 Indiana counties, strengthening prevention infrastructure, coalition effectiveness, organizational accountability, and coordinated community responses to substance use and related public health challenges.

Michaelangelo is recognized for his expertise in integrated prevention strategies and the interconnected seven dimensions of health and wellness—physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, and occupational well-being. His leadership

approach recognizes that effective prevention requires addressing the complex

relationships among substance use, mental health, trauma, violence, health disparities,

and social determinants of health. Through culturally responsive practices and cross-

sector collaboration, he works to strengthen protective factors, bridge service gaps, and

advance sustainable, community-centered prevention solutions.

His professional leadership extends across local, statewide, and regional public health and nonprofit initiatives. Michaelangelo previously served as Co-Chair of the Indiana Black Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force and remains an inaugural leadership member of the ZIP Region 7 Coalition, working to end HIV and hepatitis C transmission in Marion County. He also serves as a Board Member of Prevention Partnership in Chicago, Illinois, contributing his expertise in nonprofit governance, organizational development, and prevention leadership. Additionally, he provides leadership to the Marion County

Prevention Alliance, supporting countywide prevention planning, coalition development,

and collaborative public health strategies. Recognized as a trusted collaborator and strategic partner, Michaelangelo is frequently sought out by local and state stakeholders for his expertise in organizational capacity building, partnership development, cross-sector collaboration, and strategic information sharing. His work emphasizes strengthening nonprofit and community-based organizations, connecting stakeholders to resources, improving organizational effectiveness, and advancing collective approaches to complex behavioral health and public health challenges.

Michaelangelo holds a master's degree in Community Psychology from Martin University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in General Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction at Grand Canyon University. His combination of clinical training, executive leadership, nonprofit governance experience, and extensive prevention systems expertise informs his commitment to advancing behavioral health equity, community wellness, and sustainable organizational development.

Through his leadership, Michaelangelo continues to advance BridgeWell Prevention

Network's mission by strengthening prevention systems, expanding strategic partnerships, and promoting integrated approaches that empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve healthier, more resilient futures.

Prevention. Wellness. Community.

Position Currently Open - Now Hiring!

 

View the full description below and submit your resume to Michaelangelo.