For Immediate Release: December 5, 2019
Media Contact:
Ben Truman
Vermont Department of Health
802-951-5153 / 802-863-7281
Health Leader in Substance Use and Addiction Appointed to U.S. Policy Committee
BURLINGTON, VT – One of Vermont’s leaders in addressing substance use and addiction has been appointed to serve on the newly established U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders Coordinating Committee.
Cynthia Seivwright of Essex Junction was recommended for the post by Governor Phil Scott. Seivwright serves as director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs Division with the Vermont Department of Health. “Cindy is a leader in our work to advance alcohol and drug prevention, treatment and recovery,” said Governor Scott. “While there is much we can continue to improve on, Vermont has been a leader nationally in these efforts. Cindy will bring a breadth of experience and expertise to this committee to help stem the tide of this crisis.”
The Coordinating Committee is charged with providing recommendations to HHS and the Office of National Drug Control Policy for improving federal programs for substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery. Seivwright called the appointment a tremendous honor, and said she looks forward to applying her firsthand experience to inform the committee’s work to ensure federal strategies are aligned with those on the state and local levels.
“This is well-deserved recognition of Cindy’s unique talents and her contributions to addressing the complex challenges of addiction and substance use disorder,” said Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD. “That Vermont’s innovative programs, especially our Hub and Spoke system of care, are models for the rest of the country, is in no small part due to Cindy’s efforts.”
Seivwright received her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Antioch New England and is a Vermont Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She began her more than 30-year human services career as an emergency services worker for the community mental health center in Rutland, and as a psychotherapist working with adults and adolescents. Prior to joining the Health Department, Seivwright worked at the Department of Mental Health as an acute care manager and quality improvement manager, and the Department of Vermont Health Access as director of quality improvement and clinical integrity.
# # #
About the Department of Health
We have been the state's public health agency for more than 130 years, working every day to protect and promote the health of Vermonters.
Visit healthvermont.gov — Join us on Facebook — Follow us on Twitter