About Us

Dr. Achara-Abrahams has more than a decade of experience helping behavioral health systems move from reactive to recovery-oriented approaches. As Director of Strategic Planning at the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, Dr. Achara led Philadelphia’s cutting-edge recovery-oriented system of care (ROSC) transformation effort, which included managing the change process, designing and implementing strategies to empower people in recovery to play integral roles in systems change and to expand and integrate peer services, and aligning policies and clinical practices with a recovery-orientation. Prior to leading Philadelphia’s successful ROSC transformation, Dr. Achara was a faculty member in the Yale School of Medicine Program on Recovery and Community Health, where she supported Connecticut’s recovery transformation efforts.

Dr. Achara formed Achara Consulting in 2008 specifically to help state and local governments and provider organizations envision, plan, implement, and manage transformative approaches to implementing ROSC. A key element of her approach is working early on with an expansive set of stakeholders to develop a shared vision with widespread community support.

Taylor believes systems should serve people—not the other way around. She designs processes, streamlines workflows, and builds structures that make meaningful work possible—so individuals and teams can focus on what matters most: helping people help people.

Her dedication to this work is rooted in lived experience. Growing up in Huntington, West Virginia, she saw firsthand the impact of the opioid epidemic, sparking her commitment to building systems of
care, connection, and support. Her own wellness journey—and her passion for maternal wellness—have strengthened her belief in the power of community to transform lives.

Whether leading organizational operations, guiding process improvements, or cultivating spaces for personal growth, Taylor brings heart and strategy together to create lasting, human-centered impact.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and approaches every project with curiosity, care, and the conviction that small, thoughtful changes create powerful ripple effects.

Beth came to Achara Consulting with over 15 years of experience in business and operations management. She also has over 10 years of experience providing direct service to people seeking recovery in her previous roles as a certified Recovery Support Peer Specialist and a certified Peer Support Supervisor. Beth has a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science with a triple-minor in social work, sociology, and psychology from Texas State University. In 2023, Beth obtained her certification as an Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR).

As Chief Operating Officer for Achara Consulting, Beth excels at infrastructure development, continuous quality improvement, contract development and management, budget management and finance, human resources, and strategic planning.

Erika is a person in long-term recovery from substance use and mental health conditions. She has an MS in Addiction Counseling and is a fellow of the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program. Erika is also a certified trainer of coaches for the Recovery Support Peer Specialist Certification and brings five years of experience providing peer support services to youth and adults. Prior to working as a peer support provider, she interned as a counselor at a youth outpatient facility for substance use. Her passion is working with peers, youths, and Spanish-speaking communities. Her goals are to work toward eliminating health disparities experienced by people of color and to end the stigma borne by people with substance use conditions.

Jen excels at providing Achara Consulting clients with the guidance and tools they need to identify their system’s assets and tap into their strengths to create recovery-oriented systems of care. She brings years of experience managing the logistics of large-scale systems change and helping leaders translate their system needs, assessment data, and shared vision into concrete, achievable steps. Jen honed her system change expertise as a part of the core team that designed and coordinated the transformation of Philadelphia’s innovative behavioral health system.