The Saratogian
By Jennie Grey

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council of Saratoga County announced Dec. 4 the unanimous appointment of Janine Stuchin of Saratoga Springs as permanent executive director after an extensive community-wide search.

Stuchin had served as interim director of the council for the past six months since former executive director Heather Kisselback resigned.

The Prevention Council is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides education, information and referral services on alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and violence prevention to individuals and local communities.

“The board of directors has confirmed the recommendation of the search committee and appointed Janine Stuchin as executive director of the Prevention Council of Saratoga County,” board of directors President Richard Ferguson said. “Janine has guided the organization admirably on an interim basis and rose to the top through the long, involved selection and interview process. We are excited to have someone as the executive director who has dedicated her life to prevention, and we wish her all success.”

Stuchin has been a practicing health educator for more than 20 years and has a Master of Science degree in health education from Penn State University. Prior to her selection as executive director, she served as coalition manager with the Prevention Council for 14 years under a program funded by the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Tobacco Control. She has been a certified health education specialist since 1990. Previously, Stuchin was a campus health educator at Skidmore College and Penn State University.

“I am thankful for the trust and unanimous vote of confidence the board of trustees has placed in me to rise up and meet today’s challenges on behalf of the Prevention Council,” Stuchin said. “Looking ahead to 2014, I am excited by the opportunities for this agency to not only maintain its positive growth but continue the important work reducing the impact of substance abuse, alcohol abuse, violence and other destructive behavior among our young people and within the community where we live.”

Former executive director Kisselback first offered to resign after being arrested in March for driving while intoxicated. The board chose then to keep her on, place her on a six-month probation and instruct her to get counseling. However, when Kisselback again tendered her resignation in mid-June, the board’s executive committee accepted it.

“Ms. Kisselback felt it would be in the best interest of the council for her to step down, and we agreed,” Vice President Molly Scala said.

The Saratogian>>

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A search committee has been formed and has begun looking at candidates for a new executive director of The Prevention Council of Saratoga County.

Early in July, The Prevention Council appointed Janine Stuchin as its interim executive director while it searches for a permanent replacement for Heather Kisselback, who resigned last month after details of her driving while intoxicated arrest came to light.

The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors appointed the committee.

“At The Prevention Council, we know that the most effective prevention involves the entire community. By incorporating parents, school, government and community leaders into our selection process, we continue in our task of bringing the community together to ensure that we make our choice for executive director the right choice for the families of Saratoga County,” Search Committee co-chairman Michael Harman said.

The executive director of The Prevention Council is responsible for the continuing development of the council’s mission and ensuring it is carried out professionally and compassionately through comprehensive programming that prevents risky and problem behaviors in children and teens. They are also expected to represent the agency publicly and within the office environment as a leader in prevention health.

“To that end, we are looking for leaders in our community who have experience in prevention or related fields to apply for the position … ,” Harman said.

Qualified individuals interested in applying have until close of business Sept. 15 to submit a résumé and letter of intent to Executive Director Search Committee co-chairman Michael Harman at michaelmharman@yahoo.com.

To view the executive director job description and requirements, go to www.preventioncouncil.org/about/careers.

The Executive Director Search Committee includes:

Community members:

• Brian Farr, First Step Consultation

• Suzanne Hackert, LCSW-RHudson Headwaters Health Network

• John Kelly, coordinator of the Saratoga Office of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, retired from the Saratoga Springs Police Department

• James Murphy III, Saratoga County District Attorney

Prevention Council staff members:

• Matthew Andrus, media and communications coordinator at Southern Adirondack Tobacco-Free Coalition, a program of The Prevention Council

• Dawn Howk, Homeless Education Services

• Jenn Wood, coordinator, Shenendehowa Community Coalition

Prevention Council board members:

• Michael M. Harman, Prevention Council treasurer, certified public accountant at Marvin and Co.

• Chris Scanlan, Prevention Council board member, principal at Waterford Junior-Senior High School Public Relations

• Richard Ferguson, Prevention Council board president, senior vice-president and corporate Secretary at Saratoga National Bank

• Molly McBride-Scala, Prevention Council board president-elect, administrative law judge for the DEC

The Saratogian>>

The Prevention Council has appointed Janine Stuchin as its interim executive director while it searches for a permanent replacement for Heather Kisselback, who resigned last month after details of her driving while intoxicated arrest came to light.

Stuchin’s appointment by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors was effective Monday.

Financial Manager David Garmley had been serving as the Prevention Council’s temporary head administrator since Kisselback resigned.

According to a press release from the Prevention Council, Stuchin is a longtime resident of Saratoga Springs, has a Master of Science degree in health education from Penn State University and has been a practicing health educator for more than 20 years. She served for 14 years as coalition manager with the Prevention Council for the state Department of Health’s Tobacco Control Program.

A certified health education specialist since 1990, Stuchin has worked as a campus health educator at Skidmore College and Penn State University. According to the press release, she is an expert at relating health prevention and tobacco control information in language suitable for a broad audience.

“Janine has a longstanding personal and professional commitment to the health and well-being of our community,” Board President Richard Ferguson said, adding that Stuchin’s appointment was vetted and approved by the state Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services.”

“I’m proud of the work the Prevention Council staff does every day to transform the lives of children and families for the better,” Stuchin said in the Prevention Council’s release. “There is no one in this community who has not been affected by our work in one way or another. Through collaboration with many agencies, we have been and always will be a resource for reducing the impact of substance abuse, alcohol abuse, violence and other destructive behaviors on young people and the communities where we live.”

A search for a permanent executive director is in its initial stages. Kisselback resigned in mid-June, months after her arrest and only after it became public in news reports. She informed the board of her arrest immediately after it happened in early spring and offered her resignation then, but the board allowed her to stay on provided she receive counseling.

Board Treasurer Michael Harman is heading up the search for a new executive director. Interested candidates should send a resumé and a letter of intent to Michael Harman at michaelmharman@yahoo.com.

Harman said he and the board also are seeking input from the public on the type of candidate that should fill the position.

The 31-year-old Prevention Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent the abuse of drugs and alcohol. The group administers a variety of programs, many that focus on youth and emphasize good decision-making.