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KATHLEEN TAVENNER MITCHELL, MHS, LCADC

Professional Experience                                                                                                                                                         

September 1998 - Present

Vice President and International Spokesperson

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS)

Conducts keynotes, presentations and workshops on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and addiction related topics at international and national conferences, seminars, and symposiums. Provides interviews for media and serves on as the liaison on many government task forces and panels. Supervises the program director and staff in the coordination of all NOFAS educational, outreach and affiliate programs.  Seeks corporate and public funding resources; assists and supervises proposal development; assists in organizing and hosting fundraisings event.  Creates venues and designs innovative program opportunities to reach communities with FASD prevention, intervention and treatment strategies. Serves as faculty for the NOFAS FASD Selective offered in two medical school programs. Conceptualized the “Warrior Mom Network; Circle of Hope” to reach birth families and has facilitated the NOFAS family support group for many years. Has expertise in addiction and serves as the NOFAS addiction/FASD expert for NOFAS clearinghouse inquiries. Presents at legislative hearings and briefings and assists with National FASD Hill Day. Assists the president with all NOFAS Board activities.

Current Responsibilities:

Project Director: HRSA/ MCH 07-144

Children’s Research Triangle’s FASD Training and Technical Assistance

Provides training and technical assistance to 7 community health centers (CHC) across the U.S.

Medical School Faculty:

Medical Ethics and Humanities Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, (97-2007)

Georgetown University School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, IHC II Selective (06-2007)

Project Director; CDC Cooperative Agreement

                  Developed K-12 FASD Prevention Curricula (currently in dissemination phase)

Project Officer; SAMHSA; CSAP Projects:

Founder and director; National Birth Mothers Network (BMN)

Past Projects:

Project Director; CDC Cooperative Agreement Award No. U84/CCU323238-01

Cherokee Nation Community Intervention

FASD Clearinghouse

K-12 FASD Curricula

Advocacy and Public Awareness Guidebook for Communities 

Project Director; CDC Regional Training Centers Subcontract No. 178306

Consultant for 4 universities in development of FASD Curricula for Medical and Allied Health Students and Professionals

Project Officer; SAMHSA; CSAP Projects:

Founded the Circle of Hope (Birth Family Support Group)

Designed and facilitated Hope for Women in Recovery Summits (Arizona, Maryland and North Carolina)

Developed FASD Curriculum for Addictions Professionals (CAP)

Project Director; NIAAA, RFP: AA 99-07:

Directed FASD public awareness campaign targeting African American women.

Program Director; Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Grant:

Designed and implemented FASD Prevention and Intervention Training Modules for Healthcare Professionals

Program Director; Cafritz Grant:

Developed and implemented a FASD educational project for underserved populations in Washington, D.C.

Facilitated teen awareness campaign and Teen Town Hall Meeting that included over 250 D.C. high school students, local sports stars and media celebrities. 

1996 to 1998: Health Education; 05, Instructor:

Developed curriculum, evaluation, and instructed a 15-week (3-credit) graduate course for educators and counselors for Montgomery County Public Schools.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

1990 to Present: Montgomery County Maryland Safe and Drug Free Schools:

Developed and instructed substance abuse and fetal alcohol syndrome prevention curriculum for tenth grade health classes and faculty

1992 – 1996 Suburban Hospital

Marketing Manager, Addiction Treatment Center

Responsible for referral and contractual development and implementation

Responsible for the opening of two satellite offices

Negotiated all contractual agreements; monitored budget

1987 – 1992 Maryland Treatment Centers, Inc.

Co-Director of Marketing

Obtained contract with Montgomery County, Maryland to treat residents in need of inpatient treatment, which resulted in a multi- million dollar, long-term partnership

Assisted with the development of the women’s treatment program and opened out-patient services

1989 – 1990 Maryland Treatment Centers, Inc.

Montgomery County Contract Services

Executive Director

Handled all administrative duties including policy and procedure updates; JCAHO standards, state certification and inspection

 

EDUCATION

May 1999

Lincoln University                                                                                        

Master of Human Services Program

Bachelor of Arts

Graduated with honors

 

CREDENTIALS

Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor 2000

Maryland Addiction Counselor Certification 1990, Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor (CCDC) #4063

Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor 1990, (ICRC/AODA) #910

North Carolina Addiction Counselor Certification 1996

Washington Metropolitan Area Addictions 1986

 

LEGISLATIVE:

2004-2006                 Provided presentations at several U.S. House and U.S. Senate Briefings on FASD

2006                            Drafted Legislation in Maryland which resulted in the formation of a FASD Task Force

1998-present           Assists the NOFAS Board of Directors to identify legislative priorities.

9/23/04                       Testimony to Maryland House Special Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse

4/21/04                     Testimony to Maryland House Committee on Health and Government Operations, HB 1114 –State Board of Physicians – Licensing and Continuing Education Requirements

1/27/94                       Testimony to "Pregnancy Notice - Committee S.B.8"

                                    Alcohol Beverages, State Economic and Environment

4/2/92                         Testimony to "Alcohol Advertising Act S.664"

                                    Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

1992                            Testimony to Alcoholism and Drug Dependency; U.S. Public Hearings, Society of Americans                                                 for Recovery Foundation (S.O.A.R.)

12/10/90                     Testimony to "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect"

                  Committee on Finance, Sub-Committee on Social Security and Family Policy

4/19/90                       Testimony to "Beyond the Stereotypes, Women, Addiction, and Perinatal Substance Abuse"

                  U.S. House of Representatives-Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families

 

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS

Presents at numerous national conferences, the following is an abbreviated list:

2007          Plenary and Workshop; Women’s Health: Addiction, Trauma, and Hope, New Jersey 

2007          Plenary and Workshop; FASD Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico

2007          Plenary; Maryland FASD Conference

2007          Plenary and workshop; Advocacy and FASD; New York City Conference on FASD

2007          Two day workshop; FASD 101 for Addiction Professionals; Black Hills University, South Dakota

2007          Two day workshop; FASD in Addiction Treatment; University of British Columbia Inter. Conference

2007          Keynote; Florida Healthy Start Annual Conference

2007          Workshop; Crossroads Treatment Center, Tucson, AZ.

2007          Keynote; Society of Teratology, Pittsburg University

2007          Day workshop; Child Welfare Conference; Anaheim, California

2007          Plenary and two day workshop; Kentucky School for Alcohol Studies

2006          National Teleconference for the State of Alabama; Emory University

2006          CDN Web cast for Physicians and Healthcare Providers; HRSA

2006          National Child Abuse Prevention Conference, St. Augustine Florida

2006          Preventing FASD Conference; Black Hills University, South Dakota

2006          National OB-GYN Conference, Mobile, Alabama

2006          Keynote Plenary; Celebrating Women in Recovery Tea at the Governors Mansion, Portland, ME 

2005          Keynote Plenary; Annual National Head Start Conference

2005          FASD and the Pediatrician American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Meeting

2005          Creating a Circle of Hope; Addressing FASD in Addiction Treatment the University of British Columbia        International FASD Conference

2005          Keynote Plenary; National FASD Conference, Lexington, KY

2005          Grand Rounds; Harvard University Health System, Boston, MA 

2005          Keynote Plenary; North Carolina State Conference on Women and Substance Abuse

2005          Keynote Plenary; New Jersey National Youth Summit

2005          Grand Rounds; John Hopkins Hospital

2004          Keynote Plenary; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Conference of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Washington, DC.

2004          Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Identification and Implications; NADD International Congress V – Evidence Based Practices/Practice Based Evidence in Mental Health, Boston, MA

2004          Keynote Plenary; California ARC and Calfas; FASD Conference Riverside, CA

2004      Keynote Plenary; UNC Chapel Hill, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies FASD Conference

2004          Keynote Plenary; Mississippi Statewide FASD Symposium

2003          Key Note Plenary; 30th Anniversary or FASD Conference Truth or Consequences of FAS

Atlantic City, NJ Task Force and the CDC

2003          Encore Presenter: Identifying and Understanding FAS

Zero to Three National Conference, New Orleans, LA

2002          Raising a Child with FAS; Achieving a Positive Mindset

                  FAS Summit, Anchorage, AL

2002          Day workshop; Empowering Addicted Women into Recovery: Innovative Approaches; University of Maryland School of Social Work

2002          Keynote Plenary Identifying and Preventing FASD: a Hidden Cause of Relapse in Women as well as Behavioral and Cognitive Problems in their Offspring: Research Confronts Reality Conference.  Binghamton University

2001          Advocacy for Parents Emory University National FAS Conference

2001          Developing a Positive Belief System The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

2000          FAS:  Identification and Implications NADD 17th Annual Conference, San Francisco

2000          Within Our Reach; Helping Women with Substance Abuse Problems, Northwest AHEC, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

1999          Teleconference to 25,000 Kaiser healthcare professionals FAS Identification and Implications; Kaiser Permanente Health Maintenance Organization, Oakland, California,

1999          Workshop; American College of Nurse Practitioners National Clinical Symposium, Clinical Competence and Caring: Nurse Practitioners for the Next Century, Nashville, Tennessee

1999          Plenary; Meeting the Early Intervention and Educational Needs of Children Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol and Other Drugs Alcohol & Addictions Resource Center Indianapolis, Indiana

1999          Plenary; 8th Annual North Carolina Summit on Alcohol and Substance Abuse

1999      Statewide teleconference; Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, Maine

1999         The Prevalence of ARBD and the Difficulties in Reaching Special Populations; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

1997     Plenary; Revisiting Substance Abuse in Minnesota; Presented with the first lady of Minnesota, Susan Carlson

1996     Provider Attitudes towards Substance Abusing Women; Healthy Mothers, Healthy Coalition Conference

1995     Shattering the Stigma; Advances in Women's Health; Co-Presenter with Tipper Gore, Naomi Judd, Ellen Hart Pena and Tracey Thompson, Office on Women's Health

1994     Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a Mother's Perspective; Presented with Matilda Cuomo, New York FAS        Awareness Campaign

1994     Mother and Daughter Recovery; Co-presenters with Betty and Susan Ford

              Robert Wood Foundation, CASA, and Columbia University

1993     Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Governor’s Council on Adolescent Pregnancy, State of Maryland

1992     Strengthening Our Link; National Conference of State Family Planning Administrators

1990     Addiction, Women and Child Abuse; Governor’s Council on Child Abuse and Neglect

1990     Substance Abuse and Pregnancy; Southern Legislative Summit, Richmond, Virginia

 

PUBLICATIONS

FASD Regional Training Centers Consortium. (2007). Educating health professionals about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. American Journal of Health Education, 38 (6), 364-373.

Mitchell, K.T. (2002). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Practical Suggestions and Support for Families and Caregivers. The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Mitchell, K.T. (2001).  Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Other Alcohol Related Birth Defects: Identification and Implications.  NADD Bulletin, January/February, Volume 1, No. 2

Mitchell, K.T. and Donaldson, T. (1999).  Preventing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  Journal of Pediatric Health Care, March/April, Volume 13, No.2.

 

SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS

Appointed by Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services to serve on the National Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND BOARDS

Current:

Founder and member of the Maryland FASD Coalition

Committee to Prevent Youth Violence, National Indian Justice Center

Past:

National Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect

Centers for Disease Control, Scientific Working Group on Diagnostic Guidelines for FAS and ARND

USDA, National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant and Fetal Nutrition

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Board of Directors

UNC, Chapel Hill, Alcohol Related Birth Defects Educational Campaign, Advisory Group Member

Montgomery County Maryland Alcohol Advisory Board

Washington Metropolitan Area Addictions Counselors Certification, Board of Directors

Southern Governors Regional Project on Infant Mortality, Technical Advisory Board          

Montgomery County Community Partnership Treatment Action Group

Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA), Officer, Potomac Chapter

Association of Employee Assistance Program Practitioners (AEAPP)

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors (NAADAC), National Spokesperson

 

AWARDS AND SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Plaque awarded from the City and Mayor of Gaithersburg, Maryland for reaching over 11,000 students

Several awards from the Government of Montgomery County, Maryland and the County Executive for outstanding commitment to substance abuse prevention efforts

Plaque and recognition as "Volunteer of the Year" in the treatment and prevention category by Montgomery County Community Partnership         

Plaque and recognition for outstanding volunteer efforts for educating over 2,000 Maryland students on FAS/FAE by the Association of Retarded Citizens of Maryland

Plaque and recognition for outstanding volunteer efforts: Crossroads Treatment Center, VA

Certificate of Appreciation for contributions to the Metropolitan Area Treatment Enhancement System (MATES) Project

Outstanding Achievement Award, NOFAS

Member of Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society

 

MEDIA

Featured on NBC’s “Later Today Show

Featured in Glamour magazine article, April 1994, "Women and Alcohol"

Featured on NBC's "Real Life"

Provided FASD expertise on the Star Jones show.

Appeared on the Tom Brokow Show

Appeared on the "Leeza Show", as an expert on FAS

Featured in PA (Physicians Assistants) Today, July, 1998

Collaborated with the producers and assisted the writer of “Law and Order; SVU” to create a show that featured fetal alcohol syndrome that won the Prism Award and the Sentinel for Health Award

Provided interview for British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and was featured in BBC video

Consulted and featured in SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention video Hope for Women in Recovery

Featured in NOFAS-UK FASD video

Promotional radio advertisements for the Southern Governors Regional on Infant Mortality

Featured in Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (OSAP) documentary film

Featured in NIAAA Better Safe than Sorry video

Featured in training video for State of Florida

Featured in Dartmouth-Hitchcock educational video

 

 

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Copyright 2001-2004 National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome