Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ (DMHAS) Commissioner Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, has received the State Service Award from the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), Inc.
The national award was presented June 5 at NASADAD’s annual meeting in Bethesda, Maryland. The award recognizes a Director of a Single State Agency for Substance Abuse for their leadership of their state’s public funded system. Commissioner Delphin-Rittmon was honored for her work fighting stigma around addiction, using federal funds to support a statewide youth coordinator, expanding access to medication assisted treatment, and her strong relationships with community partners and providers among other accomplishments and contributions.
“I am humbled and honored to be the recipient of such a prestigious award,” Delphin-Rittmon said. “Being at this conference, I am encouraged by the work going on nationally and am eager to continue to bring back innovative ideas to the people of Connecticut. The important work we do in our state is in part a result of the collaborative work across the country spearheaded by NASADAD and I look forward to continuing our collaboration.”
Delphin-Rittmon was appointed Commissioner of DMHAS in March of 2015. Prior to her appointment, she held varied roles at the Department including Deputy Commissioner, Senior Policy Advisor and Director of the Office of Multicultural Healthcare Equality.
Under the Obama Administration, Delphin-Rittmon served as Senior Advisor at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration with the Department of Health and Human Services working on a range of policy initiatives addressing behavioral health equity, workforce development and healthcare reform. She has also held positions as Assistant Professor and Director of Health Equity and Multicultural Research and Consultation with the Program for Recovery and Community Health in the Yale Department of Psychiatry.
NASADAD is a private, not-for-profit educational, scientific, and informational organization. NASADAD's basic purpose is to foster and support the development of effective alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and treatment programs throughout the nation.