Thanks to the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, 9-8-8 is now the new dialing code for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in RI, as well as nationwide. In this interview, Joe Ash—Administrative Director of the BH Link and 988 Call Center in RI—discusses...
Provider Profiles
RI State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW) with Samantha Rosenthal and Samantha Borden (February, 2023)
The State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW) was established in Rhode Island in 2006, and since then, the SEOW has played an important role in terms of informing behavioral health programming and prevention efforts throughout the state. Through collaborative...
Partnership for Success (PFS) Text-A-Tip Program with Steven Eiland (May, 2023)
The Partnership for Success (PFS) grant aims to reduce rates of underage drinking among individuals ages 12–20 through a variety of evidence-based programs. One such program is the Text-A-Tip initiative, which the East Bay Regional Coalition (Region 5) has implemented...
Discussing the FDA’s Proposed Ban on Menthol Cigarettes with Kirsten Skelly
In April 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed new national program standards that would ban the production and sale of menthol cigarettes. In this interview, Kirsten Skelly, Program Manager for the Rhode Island Department of Health Tobacco...
Richard Charest, Director of BHDDH
After retiring from a long and successful career as a healthcare executive, Richard Charest accepted the position of Director of the RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH) in June, 2021. In this interview, BHDDH...
The Imani Recovery Program
In this interview, Linda Mahoney (BHDDH) discusses the Imani Recovery Program in RI—a collaborative, culturally centered, and community-driven faith-based opioid recovery initiative. Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your role? My name is Linda...
Nancy Murray and Wendy Looker on Problem Gambling and Gaming Prevention
Too often, people do not recognize that problem gambling and gaming is an addiction disorder that, like other addictions, causes chemical brain changes in those affected. In Rhode Island, the rates of gambling and gaming addiction have increased due to a number of...
Ann Marie Rakovic on the 2019 LGBTQ Youth and Substance Use Prevention Report for Region 1
Ann Marie Rakovic (uses pronouns she/her/hers) has over 25 years of leadership experience in community, state, and national program design, implementation, and evaluation. She has directed federal and state programs addressing the implementation of behavioral health...
Dr. Maria Teresa Coutinho – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Behavioral Healthcare
Dr. Maria Teresa Coutinho is a research staff psychologist at Hasbro Children's Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Department of Pediatrics at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr....
Kathryn Power, Director of BHDDH
In 2003, Kathryn Power left her position as Director of what was then called MHRH (now BHDDH) to work with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at the federal level. After retiring from this position at SAMHSA, Director Power chose to...