SAMHSA Announces New Regional Administrator for Region VI
SAMHSA is pleased to announce CDR Karen Hearod, M.S.W., LCSW, as our new Regional Administrator for Region VI. CDR Hearod will begin her work with SAMHSA on March 1, 2017.
CDR Karen Hearod is a licensed clinical social worker and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Prior to accepting her new role as regional administrator, CDR Hearod served as the acting behavioral health consultant for the Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service (IHS). In this position, CDR Hearod oversaw behavioral health and substance abuse programs across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas that provided services to 410,000 Native Americans. In addition to providing leadership as chair for the IHS National Zero Suicide Advisory Committee, she served as a member of the National Suicide Crisis Policy Committee working to establish the first IHS national suicide care policy.
CDR Hearod joins the team of 10 SAMHSA Regional Administrators subsequent to the retirement of Mr. Michael Duffy, who served in this position since its inception. We look forward to welcoming her to this position. |