Six months after firing the longtime director of its Bureau of Substance Abuse, Baltimore County has hired a new head for the agency as part of an effort to re-emphasize drug treatment.
Kathleen Rebbert-Franklin, who has been program manager of the addiction recovery program at Sinai Hospital for six years, a job in which she oversaw administrative fiscal and clinical components of a 700-person outpatient program, has been hired, Dr. Michelle A. Leverett, the county's health officer, announced this week.
"Her extensive background will enable her to begin making an impact immediately," Leverett said.
County Executive James T. Smith Jr., a former judge who spoke often during his election campaign about the problems he saw in the courtroom as a result of drug abuse, said he was pleased to have hired someone who could help work to expand treatment services in the county.
Since taking office, he said, he has spoken with Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and other area officials as well as the state government about joining with local hospitals to provide treatment services. Having someone with so much experience in hospital-based drug treatment will be a big help, Smith said.
"She fits in both with Dr. Leverett's and with my own additional agenda," Smith said. "Prevention is still mighty important, but drug treatment and substance abuse treatment is a priority."
Rebbert-Franklin grew up in Perry Hall, graduated from Morgan State University and earned a master's degree in social work at the University of Maryland.
In December, Leverett fired Michael M. Gimbel, who headed the substance abuse bureau for nearly 23 years. She said at the time that the county's approach to reducing substance abuse "has to involve more than publicity" and should focus more on treatment and targeting prevention efforts to children most at risk of abusing drugs.
