Sleepy Hollow Woman Appointed as Acting Mental Health Commissioner

Starting July 6, the state of mental health care and services in Westchester County will be under the leadership of Sleepy Hollow resident Melissa Staats.

County Executive Rob Astorino recently appointed Staats as acting commissioner of the Department of Community Mental Health. She previously served as acting deputy commissioner since 2009 and will succeed Dr. Grant Mitchell who resigned for a job as the associate vice chair for clinical services in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center. 

“I have seen her professionalism, knowledge and compassion first hand,” said Astorino, in a press release. “She has worked side by side with Grant Mitchell on many issues, including our ongoing Safer Communities initiative, which we launched after the tragic shootings in Newtown, Ct. last December, and our efforts to strengthen partnerships with not-for profit agencies.” 

Staats has more than 20 years experience in the field of mental health and originally started with the department in 2006 as the first director of mental health. 

Before that she was president and CEO of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors. She also served as the New York State office of Mental Health and the New York State Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors. She has a dual master’s degree in sociology and social work.          

 “I want to thank County Executive Robert Astorino for the opportunity to serve the residents of Westchester County in this expanded capacity,” said Staats, according to the press release. “I am confident that I can continue to advance the excellent reputation of the community services provided in Westchester County. It is an honor.”