Press Room
Ivette A. Torres, MEd, MSc
Associate Director for Consumer Affairs
Ivette Torres joined the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the fall of 1997. Ms. Torres oversees the
CSAT team responsible for generating and disseminating substance abuse treatment information
to SAMHSA's mission-related constituents. She develops national communication strategies and
campaigns including the observance of the National Alcohol and Drug Recovery Month, celebrated
each September.
Prior to joining CSAT, Ms. Torres was a communications and organizational development consultant serving
a multitude of clients including the Children's Television Workshop, Consumers Union, CSAP/SAMHSA, and a
number of health promotion publishing houses. She is a former Senior Director, Communications Services
Division, at Consumers Union, publishers of Consumer Reports magazine.
At the start of her career, Ms. Torres was an active member of Boston's Hispanic community. She went on
to work for the Office of the Governor in Massachusetts, as a Special Aide, Office of Community Services.
She also served as Director of Minority Affairs at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting where she
promoted diversity within the system.
From 1984 to 1988 Ms. Torres honed her fundraising and management skills while employed at the National
Coalition of Hispanic Health Service Organizations (COSSMHO), where within two years she was promoted
to Vice-President for Development.
In 1988, Ms. Torres joined the National Education Association (NEA) as Senior Professional Associate.
At NEA, she developed and oversaw projects to support the association's many initiatives and continued
her working relationships with the mass media to promote such projects. She also chaired the Association's
team on "Education in a Pluralistic Society."
Ms. Torres has a Masters of Science in Telecommunications Policy from George Washington University and
a Masters of Education from the School of Rehabilitation Administration from Northeastern University.
She participated in the Community Fellows Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1982-1983.
Ms. Torres is fluent in both English and Spanish and has been active in many associations and coalitions,
including the Public Relations Society of America. She is a former board member of the National Puerto
Rican Coalition, a former National President of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women. Ms. Torres
is also a former President of the Department of Health and Human Services' Hispanic Employee Organization
Ivette A. Torres, MEd, MSc
Directora Asociada de Asuntos al Consumidor
Centro de Tratamiento de Abuso de Substancias, SAMHSA, DHHS
Ivette Torres es parte del equipo de trabajo del Centro de Tratamiento para el Abuso de
Substancias (CTAS), de la Administración de Servicios de Abuso de Substancias y de Salud Mental
(SAMHSA) del Departamento de Salud de EE.UU. La Sra. Torres esta a cargo del grupo responsables
por generar y difundir la información de tratamientos de abuso de sustancias para el público
estadounidense. Ella desarrolla estrategias de comunicación nacional y al igual, campañas
incluyendo el Mes Nacional de la Recuperación, el cual se celebra cada septiembre. Ivette es la
ex Directora de la División de Servicios de Comunicaciones en la Unión de Consumidores, los
editores de la revista Consumer Reports. Antes de comenzar a trabajar en CTAS, la Sra. Torres
ofrecía consultarías de comunicación y de desarrollo organizacional sirviendo a una multitud de
clientes en el campo de salud pública. En el inicio de su carrera, la Sra. Torres trabajó para
la Oficina del Gobernador de Massachussets, Michael Dukakis como Ayudante Especial de la Oficina
de Servicios a la Comunidad La Sra. Torres tiene una maestría en Ciencia Política en el campo de
Telecomunicaciones de la Universidad George Washington y una maestría en Educación de la Escuela
de Administración de Rehabilitación de la Universidad Northeastern en Boston. Fue participe en el
Programa de Becarios de la Comunidad del Instituto de Tecnología de Massachussets a partir de
1982-1983. Es ex miembro de la junta directiva de la Coalición Nacional Puertorriqueña y, ex
Presidenta Nacional de la Conferencia Nacional de Mujeres Puertorriqueñas.