As the new chief executive officer (CEO) and president of a non-profit treatment provider, SSW alumna Grace Cavallo ’08 MSW is hoping to inspire resilience, foster greater community involvement, and ensure greater access to behavioral health care.

On July 1, Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc. (CMHA) appointed Cavallo, a LCSW, to lead the agency. She has more than two decades experience working for CMHA, a private non-profit treatment provider headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut with eight locations throughout central Connecticut and in Waterbury. CMHA partners with clients and the community to promote recovery from mental illness and substance use, treating more than 7,500 adults and children each year.

“The Board of Directors is confident that Grace’s extensive experience coupled with a strong vision for CMHA’s future will lead us to even more success,” says CMHA Chairman of the Board of Directors Todd DeGroff. “CMHA will continue to shine as an authority in behavioral health care with Grace as president and CEO.”

Cavallo, an expert on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), social services, group therapy, clinical research, and crisis intervention, began her career at Child & Family Services in Newport, Rhode Island, where she worked for five years before being hired as a senior substance abuse counselor at CMHA in 2003. Cavallo has held progressively significant roles at CMHA, from program coordinator of the agency’s former inpatient substance abuse program to clinical director to program officer over outpatient, residential, and supportive housing programs. Cavallo has been CMHA’s chief operating officer since 2020, overseeing more than 40 programs across central and northwest Connecticut.

For more than two decades at CMHA, Cavallo has been instrumental in adapting and implementing innovative treatment models to better care for individuals seeking recovery from mental health and substance use issues.

“I have had the privilege of serving CMHA in various roles over the years, and I am deeply honored to step into the position of CEO. I am committed to broadening our impact, exploring innovative models of care, and fostering greater community involvement,” Cavallo says. “I look forward to leading us into this exciting next chapter of growth and continued dedication to the communities we serve. Together, we will uphold our mission, inspire resilience, and ensure greater access to behavioral health care for all.”

Last month, Milagros Marrero-Johnson, senior director of strategic initiatives and community engagement at UConn’s School of Social Work, met with CMHA’s Executive and Senior Management Team to welcome Cavallo to her new position. CMHA has provided practicum opportunities for MSW students for more than 20 years.

“The UConn SSW and CMHA are collaborating to strategically develop a workforce pipeline partnership that addresses the agency’s growing need for social workers,” Marrero-Johnson says. “With Grace at the helm, I look forward to strengthening our partnership with CMHA to enhance the quality of life for residents of Connecticut.”