	Text Only

SAMHSA Appoints Senior Staff

SAMHSA Welcomes Deputy Administrator

James L. Stone, M.S.W., has been appointed SAMHSA's Deputy Administrator. Prior to joining the Agency, Mr. Stone served as Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health. In this capacity, he supervised the New York State public mental health system, which includes 27 psychiatric centers serving over 6,000 inpatients and 20,000 outpatients, and he worked with local government to assure effective services and proper regulation and licensure of more than 2,500 programs across the state.

James L. Stone

In announcing the appointment, SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W., said, "I am truly excited to have James Stone on SAMHSA's executive team. His proven leadership and extensive experience in strategic planning for mental health services; his ability to encourage collaboration among advocacy groups, provider groups, and government agencies; his experience in addressing co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders; and his management expertise will propel SAMHSA into a new era of responsiveness and efficiency."

Mr. Stone pioneered the concept of service coordination by severity of disorders and location of care that is the standard in the field for determining the level of treatment for those with co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders.

Following the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, he worked with SAMHSA and City of New York officials to establish a command center to provide mental health and substance abuse services to those affected.

He holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in social work, and he is a recipient of the "Distinguished Alumnus Award" of the Syracuse University School of Social Work.

New CSAP Director Named

Beverly Watts Davis has been appointed Director of SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP).

Beverly Watts Davis

Prior to joining SAMHSA, Ms. Watts Davis was the Senior Vice President of United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, TX, as well as Executive Director of its San Antonio Fighting Back Anti-Drug Community Coalition.

SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W., said "Beverly Watts Davis' respected leadership and extensive experience in community mobilization will be pivotal as we work to reinvigorate CSAP and design and implement a strategic framework for prevention in communities nationwide."

Ms. Watts Davis has served as the principal investigator for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health Promotion Grants and as a co-principal investigator for the University of Texas Health Science Center's Community Outreach Partnership Center Grant.

Ms. Watts Davis received her bachelor's degree in economics, political science, and social sciences, and she is pursuing her master's degree in management and human resources.

New CMHS Director Named

A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed., has been appointed Director of SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services.

A. Kathryn Power

Ms. Power previously served as Director of the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals. As Director, she initiated community-supported living arrangements and emphasized community-based services. She is known nationwide for her focus on recovery for people with mental illnesses. She has also championed the integration of treatment for co-occurring disorders of mental illness and substance abuse, a priority for SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W.

"With the release of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health's final report on the horizon, Kathryn's proven leadership and extensive experience in mental health services will help lead the Administration's efforts to transform mental health care in America," Mr. Curie said.

Her handling of workforce issues won her a Program Manager Award from the International Personnel Management Association. She is former President of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Mental Health Program Directors.

Ms. Power holds a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in education and counseling. She completed the Women and Power: Leadership in a New Era program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

« See Also—Previous Article