Before joining CASES as CEO in 2022, Jonathan McLean was VP of Residential & Youth Justice Services at SCO Family of Services, where he led residential treatment, transitional housing, and jail- and community-based programs. Prior to joining SCO, Jonathan held a variety of direct service and leadership roles at The Jewish Board and the Center for Urban Community Services. Jonathan was born and raised in Brooklyn. Following an arrest at age 16, he spent 17 years in prison. Jonathan has a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Adelphi University and a Master of Social Work degree from the Hunter College Silberman School.
Jonathan’s professional experience delivering direct services as a licensed clinical social worker and leading large youth-serving programs, combined with his lived experience of the criminal legal system, aligns with CASES’ focus on serving people who are system-impacted and specialization in working with young people and with people living with serious mental illness. Jonathan currently serves on:
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The Daniel’s Law Task Force, managed by the NYS Office of Mental Health to scale trauma-informed, public health responses for people experiencing behavioral health crisis;
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The Independent Rikers Commission, appointed by the City Council Speaker and Mayor, to help the City safely close Rikers and reduce incarceration;
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The Mayor’s Office of Nonprofits Advisory Council, established by the Mayor as a link from his administration to the nonprofit sector;
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The Governing Body of the Public Health Solutions Social Care Network, a network of providers collaborating to pilot the use of Medicaid to address social support needs that are often determinative in individual and population-level health outcomes.
Jonathan was recently named a Crain’s New York Business Notable Black Leader of 2024.