SAMHSA Appoints Seven New National Advisory Council Members

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Date: 1/28/2008
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Telephone: 240-276-2130

SAMHSA Appoints Seven New National Advisory Council Members

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced the appointments of seven new members to its SAMHSA National Advisory Council. The SAMHSA National Advisory Council is a 12-member panel of experts that meets regularly to advise the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA’s Administrator on a wide range of public health matters related to prevention, treatment, and recovery support services.

“We are honored these distinguished leaders have agreed to serve on our Advisory Council,” said SAMHSA Administrator, Terry Cline, Ph.D. “The diverse backgrounds and experience will help inform our work at SAMHSA to improve the capacity and effectiveness of the mental health and substance abuse service delivery systems that promote prevention, treatment and recovery.”

The new SAMHSA National Advisory Council members include:

Mr. Marvin Alexander, Youth Coordinator for the Mid-South Health Systems, Inc. A.C.T.I.O.N for Kids Project, Jonesboro, Ark. Mr. Alexander has represented the mental health perspective of young people at forums throughout the country at the local, state, and national levels. He has served as a consultant on several nationally-recognized projects geared to the special mental health needs of children, adolescents and young adults; and has authored several published articles on these issues.

George Braunstein, Executive Director, Virginia Community Services Board of Chesterfield County, Virginia. As a current member and past chair of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors, Mr. Braunstein designed conference programs that uniquely combine legislative- and policy- making issues with academically based educational experiences.

Terry L. Cross, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., Executive Director, National Indian Child Welfare Association, Inc., Portland, Oregon. Mr. Cross is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Portland State University, School of Social Work, an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, a member of the National Congress of American Indians and has served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Mental Health.

Judy Cushing, President and CEO, Oregon Partnership, Portland, Oregon. Ms.Cushing is a national leader on substance abuse prevention issues. She has led the Oregon Partnership, a nonprofit organization focusing on substance abuse prevention since 1995 and led the Oregon Together Project that became the national prototype for Communities That Care, a research-based model for prevention and mobilization. Ms. Cushing served on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Advisory Board and was appointed to the Presidential Commission on Drug-Free Communities.

Keith Humphreys, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, California. Dr. Humphreys researches interventions for substance abuse and psychiatric disorders. In 2006, he was appointed to the White House Drug-Free Communities Advisory Commission. He also serves on the Committee on Care of Seriously Mentally Ill Veterans and the Secretary’s Mental Health Task Force, Department of Veterans Affairs.

Cynthia A. Wainscott, former CEO and President of Mental Health America, Cartersville, Georgia. Ms. Wainscott’s work with the National Institute of Mental Health’s Depression/Awareness, Recognition and Treatment (D/ART) program has earned numerous national awards, including recognition as the National Mental Health Association’s most effective state executive director. She has served as a member of the Center for Mental Health Services National Advisory Council, is a founding member of the board of directors of the Campaign for Mental Health Reform and has been appointed to serve on the National Council on Disability.

Edward K.S. Wang, Psy.D., Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Department of Mental Health, Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Wang is responsible for the design and development of a statewide multicultural mental health service delivery system. Throughout his career he has developed new community programs that have met a broad range of community public health and services needs. Dr. Wang also served on numerous national, state and local public health advisory boards.

These new members will join the following existing members of the Advisory Council: Mr. James R. Aiona, Jr., Ms. Columba Bush, Dr. Faye Annette Gary, Dr. Thomas A. Kirk, Jr., and Mr. Kenneth D. Stark.

For more information, visit https://www.nac.samhsa.gov/NACcouncil/index.aspx .

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.

Page Last Updated: 1/28/2008