Charles G. Curie, MA, ACSW

Mr. Curie was appointed by President George W. Bush in November 2001 as Administrator of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.

Mr. Curie has more than 20 years of professional experience in the mental health and substance abuse arena. His core commitment to ensuring that people with addictive and mental disorders have the opportunity to realize the dream of equal access to full participation in American society has earned him national recognition.

Before joining SAMHSA, Mr. Curie was appointed by former Governor Tom Ridge as Deputy Secretary for mental health and substance abuse for the Department of Public Welfare of the State of Pennsylvania. During his tenure, he implemented a nationally recognized mental health and drug and alcohol Medicaid managed care program. He also established and implemented a policy to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of seclusion and restraint practices in the state hospital system. The program won the 2000 Innovations in American Government Award sponsored by Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, the Ford Foundation, and the Council on Excellence in Government.