PROVIDENCE – Gov. Daniel J. McKee signed an executive order enhancing the Governor’s Overdose Task Force and announcing its first ever full-time director and community co-chair.
Cathy Schultz, current project manager in the Drug Overdose Prevention Program with the R.I. Department of Health, was announced as the task force’s new director, while Thomas Joyce will be the first community co-chair of the task force through December 2023.
“Accidental drug overdoses and ongoing addiction to substances continue to claim the lives of far too many Rhode Islanders,” McKee said. “To respond to this crisis, we’re coming together to enhance the Governor’s Overdose Task Force with the support of two strong leaders in this field. I thank Cathy Schultz and Thomas Joyce for stepping up to serve and support our communities.”
McKee signed an executive order at the future site of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare in Providence. The order, which continues the existence of the Governor’s Overdose Task Force, founded in 2015, adds two new components: the introduction of the community co-chair for the task force and the requirement for a Racial Equity Strategic Plan and an Action Plan to be delivered to the governor by next June.
“Since 2015, Governor’s Overdose Task Force has helped to create innovative, nationally recognized recovery programs. Today, the task force begins its next chapter, made even stronger by Cathy and Thomas’ years of hands-on experience in treating addiction,” said Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos.
Funding for the director position was included in McKee’s 2023 fiscal year budget. Prior to this role, Schultz served as the project manager and overdose prevention specialist at the West Warwick and Woonsocket health equity zones, a mobile outreach worker for Anchor Recovery Community Center, a crisis intervention counselor at AdCare Rhode Island and a housing stabilization case manager at the House of Hope Community Development Corp.
In this new role, she will be responsible for staffing the task force leadership and oversee how it works to meet the vision and goals laid out by the governor.
“Drug overdoses can be prevented, and lives can be saved,” Schultz said. “I am looking forward to bringing both my community and state experience to the position of task force director as we work together on a comprehensive strategy to combat addiction and overdose.”
Claudia Chiappa is a PBN staff writer. You may contact her at Chiappa@PBN.com.
