Date: Fri 05-Jul-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

health-Lentocha-mental-exec

Full Text:

with cut: Lentocha Appointed By Mental Health Board

The Northwest Regional Mental Health Board has announced the appointment of

Leah Lentocha of Newtown as its new executive director effective July 1.

Ms Lentocha has served for many years as a member of the Housatonic Mental

Health Council, part of Catchment Area Council (CAC) No. 21, as well as on the

board itself.

She also has served in a variety of capacities in the non-profit sector,

including most recently as director of the Community Mental Health Support

Services for Catholic Charities in Danbury. She also brings many years of

additional experience from volunteer and management positions in a wide range

of community-based health services with a strong emphasis in services to

persons with mental illness. These have included programs providing homeless

outreach, case management, social clubs, emergency shelters, residential

services and vocational services.

"Those who have known or worked with her have had the highest of praise,

describing her as an honest and dedicated professional," said NRMHB Acting

Director Janine Sullivan-Wiley. "Her commitment to consumers is well known."

The CAC and regional board structure in which she will be changing from a

member to a staffing relationship was established by the state legislature

more than 20 years ago to provide an advisory element to the Department of

Mental Health and Addiction Services. The members of the mental health board

are elected from the three local councils; the councils are composed of

elected and town-appointed volunteers who review and evaluate programs funded

by the state, help with the process of planning programs and services, and

provide a non-politicized and independent advocacy from the perspective of the

community.

"Ms Lentocha assumes her new responsibilities in a time of excitement and

challenge," Ms Sullivan-Wiley said. "Those involved with Mental Health and

Addiction Services, as with providers of health services, are dealing with the

impact of managed care and the many additional changes that are an outgrowth

of statewide reorganizations and downsizing.

"The board is pleased to be able to add an individual of Ms Lentocha's calibre

and experience at such a dynamic time," she said.