The Board of Directors of Liberation Programs is pleased to announce the appointment of John Hamilton, LMFT, LADC as president and chief executive officer.
“John Hamilton is a nationally renowned expert in the addiction treatment field and is widely regarded as an innovative leader,”said Board Chair Wayne Cafran. “He brings more than three decades of experience, with a rich knowledge of the industry as well as the local Fairfield County community.”
Hamilton’s Experience
Having served as senior vice president at Liberation Programs from 1996 to 2006, Hamilton brings an intimate knowledge of the agency, one of Fairfield County’s top behavioral health organizations.
Contributed photo
John Hamilton, recently named president and chief executive officer of Liberation Programs.
In addition to his prior service at Liberation, Hamilton was the CEO of Bridgeport’s Recovery Network of Programs (RNP) for a decade. There, he was able to triple the size of the agency, exponentially increasing its community impact.
Keenly aware of the importance of staff wellbeing in a helping profession, Hamilton said, “I was pleased that RNP was recognized as one of Connecticut’s top places to work five years in a row and will work to ensure that Liberation also takes good care of its employees so that we can continue taking great care of our clients.”
“For nearly 50 years, Liberation Programs has been a leader, providing Fairfield County residents with the best treatment available for substance use and mental health disorders,” Hamilton said. “I’m thrilled to return to Liberation and grateful for this opportunity to continue the quality, effective, and compassionate care they provide.”
Facing the Opioid Epidemic
Effective treatment has never been more important. Research recently published by Science Magazine points to a nearly 40-year-long increase in the numbers of opioid deaths in the United States.
Fairfield County, Connecticut — like every community across the country — has been deeply impacted. In 2017 alone, the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported 144 overdose deaths of residents from nearly every town and city in Fairfield County.
“Liberation Programs believes this is unacceptable, considering that the evidence-based treatment we offer works. It saves lives. People just need the right services to be available and accessible,” Cafran said. “John will help ensure that Liberation continues to expand that access.”