Heather Gates Elected Second Vice Chair of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Two Senior Leaders Elected to Leadership Roles with the National Association of Social Workers
Heather Gates, President and CEO of Community Health Resources (CHR), was recently elected Second Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the nation’s leading advocacy organization representing agencies like CHR that provide mental health and substance use services for people across the country.
A National Council Board member since 2019, Gates will continue to provide guidance on a range of initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people of all ages with mental health and substance use challenges and will ascend to Board Chair in the next few years.
“I am truly honored to continue my service and leadership with this outstanding national organization that has championed innovation and creative approaches to help agencies like CHR provide effective, welcoming services for all people, especially the most vulnerable in our communities,” Gates said.
In other advocacy news, two senior leaders from CHR were recently elected to leadership positions within the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Bisrat Abebe, LCSW, a Service Director with oversight over CHR’s Adult Crisis Team as well as a unique collaboration with the Department of Correction to provide opioid addiction treatment in six CT prisons, was recently elected to serve in an expanded role on the NASW Board of Directors. Since 2021, Bisrat has served on the NASW Board, representing several New England states, and participating in national and state meetings, focusing on governance, ethics, social justice and more. In his new role, he will be responsible for making a variety of decisions related to the governance of the Association on a national scale.
Amy Di Mauro, LCSW, Senior Vice President for Adult Services, with oversight over all outpatient, residential, and community-based services for adults, was elected to provide leadership with the NASW/CT Chapter. For the next year, she will serve as President-Elect and assume the Presidency in 2024. Amy will provide insight and guidance to the CT NASW chapter, which works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members; create and maintain professional standards for social workers; and to advance sound social policies.
“CHR is committed to meeting the needs of our communities and advocating on the local, state, and national level for the individuals we serve as well as our staff,” Gates said. “Together with Bisrat and Amy, I look forward to continued advocacy on behalf of CHR.”
