Benchmark Transitions
Redlands, CA

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Dr. James Powell
Gone Fishing In Heaven

It is with sadness that we announce the loss of our dear colleague and friend, James Powell, PhD., LMFT. Jim passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, January 24, 2019.

Dr. Powell has worked with Benchmark in an executive clinical role since 2011. After taking off personal time off from January - June, 2018, he began to step back into familiar roles at Benchmark and had been settling back into a nice routine since returning. Dr. Powell has been a licensed clinician in California for over 30 years and also maintained a license in the state of Idaho.

Jim and Benchmark's founder/CEO, Jayne Longnecker-Harper, first worked together at CEDU Schools, beginning in 1990. Together, they ran the very first young adult therapeutic treatment program in the country, a division of CEDU called Hilltop for Young Adults. They worked together at Hilltop until 1993, when Jayne branched off to start Benchmark Young Adult School, Inc., (now Benchmark Transitions.) Jim invested financial support with Jayne to help her start Benchmark, so he's truly been with us since our inception.

After Jayne left Hilltop, Dr. Powell continued to work for the CEDU / Hilltop Schools, and he also owned a consulting service, Powell & Elliott, Collaborative, LLC., with his business partner, Brandi Elliott. Together, Jim and Brandi helped many program owners open other therapeutic programs and provided both program development and clinical services. In 2011, Dr. Powell joined Benchmark's team, bringing our clinical services under his direction, where they have remained since that time.

Jim has also volunteered with The Friends of Families in Crisis Foundation, helping families obtain financial support for therapeutic treatment for adolescents in crisis. He has also served as a clinical therapist with Crisis Care, helping employees and their families deal with the trauma and aftermath of work-related crisis and injuries. He has been an advocate for The Jaynie Foundation, in honor of our founder, Jayne Longnecker-Harper, providing financial support to young adults in need.

Dr. Powell begin his career in 1977 with Brea Neuropsychiatric Hospital, then he worked in private practice for a few years. He also worked at Charter Hospital as Clinical Director of their outpatient programs. He joined CEDU Schools/Hilltop in 1990 and then was the clinical director for Ascent Wilderness Treatment from 2010 until he joined Benchmark in 2011. Jim has always specialized in individual treatment and family therapy, with an emphasis in cognitive behavioral therapy, working primarily with young adult clients with Autism spectrum diagnoses and other behavioral health and mental health disorders.

Jim is survived by his sister, Stephanie and brother-in-law Ali; his brother, William, as well his daughter, Michelle and her husband John. Jim adored his grandchildren, Michelle and John's kids, Evan, Jake and Kylie. He also has two adult sons, Jimmy and Jeff. He was estranged from his ex-wife at the time of his death.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.