A. Kathryn Power To Lead RI BHDDH
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A. Kathryn Power
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and her Health and Human Services Secretary have tapped A. Kathryn Power, a veteran administrator of mental and behavioral health initiatives at both the state and federal level, to direct the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) – for the second time.
Power led the agency formerly known as the Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals during the administrations of former governors Bruce Sundlun and Lincoln Almond, from 1993 to 2003.
Known as a staunch consumer and family advocate wherever she has gone, Power left state government to become director of the federal Center for Mental Health Services, a part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
In the last 15 years, she also has served as SAMHSA’s Region One director, providing authoritative advice and assistance on behavioral health policies and innovations to inform the financing and delivery of prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
Raimondo said she was “thrilled that (Power) has agreed to once again assume leadership of BHDDH and I look forward to continuing to work together as we improve outcomes for all Rhode Islanders who live with behavioral health challenges and developmental disabilities.”
“Rhode Island is fortunate to have someone of Kathryn’s stature – possessing such a high level of expertise in behavioral healthcare and developmental disabilities – stepping into this vital position,” said Womazetta Jones, Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
Power said in a statement, “I’m thankful to Governor Raimondo and Secretary Jones for the opportunity to contribute to our state’s evolving system of care for individuals facing behavioral health conditions and developmental disabilities.”
“Our state has made significant progress over the last few decades, but we have more work to do to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to the care and support they need on their paths toward recovery and community integration.”
As BHDDH director, Power will oversee a troubled hospital system, developmental disability services in the midst of a ten-year overhaul under federal oversight, and behavioral healthcare issues that include the state’s response to the opioid crisis that permeates communities nationwide.
Power succeeds Rebecca Boss, who is stepping down Dec. 31.
Except for her fifteen years in the federal government, Power has worked in the mental health field in Rhode Island for most of her life.
In addition to having served once as director of BHDDH, she is a former director of the Rhode Island Office of Substance Abuse, the Governor’s Drug Program, and the Rhode Island Anti-Drug Coalition. From l985 to l990, Power served as Executive Director of the Rhode Island Council of Community Mental Health Centers.
She has served as President of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and has received many awards for her work in mental health, substance abuse and civic leadership, as well as recognition for her advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities.
Power received her bachelor’s degree in education from St. Joseph’s College in Maryland, and her master’s degree in education and counseling from Western Maryland College. She is a graduate of the Toll Fellowship program in leadership training of the Council of State.Governments and another program in senior executive leadership at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Power is also a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
