March 30, 2009

National Expert to Lead Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health

New Castle, DE - Governor Jack Markell and DHSS Secretary Rita M. Landgraf have appointed Kevin Ann Huckshorn, RN, MSN, CAP, ICADC, Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Huckshorn has gained national prominence in the field of behavior health as the Director of the Office of Technical Assistance at the National Association for State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and the National Coordinating Center for Seclusion and Restraint Reduction.

“Kevin Ann will work with the dedicated staff at the Delaware Psychiatric Center to provide the quality care that its patients deserve,” Markell said. “She is also committed to giving Delawareans with substance abuse problems the opportunities to receive they need to begin turning their lives around. She is the right person to lead the division during the historically challenging times Delaware is facing.”

“Mental health and substance use services have been much more than just a career or job for Kevin Ann; it has been her life’s mission,” said DHSS Secretary Rita M. Landgraf. “With Kevin Ann, the Division and the DPC will have a level of expertise and support to advance our human efforts in trauma based and recovery care. She is committed to ensuring that effective treatments result in positive outcomes for the individuals we serve.

As a licensed and certified mental health nurse and substance abuse clinician, Ms Huckshorn brings a practical knowledge from 26 years of professional frontline experience working in a variety of public and private mental health organizations and systems and substance abuse programs.

“She possesses a rare understanding and experience in the field of behavioral health care and seclusion and restraint reduction, as well as the ability to ensure that best practice methods are common throughout our system,” explained Landgraf. “With Kevin Ann on our team, Delaware will be in the forefront of behavioral healthcare and substance abuse treatment and prevention practices.”

Kevin Ann Huckshorn is a recognized national and international thought leader in mental health and substance use, has numerous published works, and is a recognized keynote speaker at industry functions on such issues as the prevention of violence and the use of seclusion and restraint in mental health settings. She also represents the state mental health agencies on the Joint Commission Professional Advisory Committee for Behavioral Health and is on the editorial boards of three U.S. peer reviewed mental health journals.