DALTON, Georgia – September 7, 2016 – Highland Rivers Health today announced that Debbie Strotz, MPA, CARES, has been named chief operating officer. Strotz joined the agency in June as director of operations and recovery services.

As COO, Strotz will continue oversee the Highland Rivers’ mental health, addictive disease and crisis treatment services, while enhancing integration of the agency’s clinical services and business operations.

“After hiring Debbie to lead recovery transformation across the agency, it quickly became apparent that this work would be exactly the role of a chief operating officer, and that Debbie was the ideal person for that role,” said Highland Rivers CEO Melanie Dallas.

Before joining Highland Rivers Health, Strotz worked as director of rehabilitation and recovery services at Cobb and Douglas Community Service Boards in Smyrna. She has a Master of Public Administration in community service/non-profit management from Kennesaw State University, and is a Georgia Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist (CARES).

About Highland Rivers Health

Highland Rivers Health provides comprehensive treatment and support services for adults, children and families affected by mental health disorders, intellectual developmental disabilities and addictive disease. One of the state’s largest public safety net providers, Highland Rivers operates more than two-dozen treatment facilities across a 4,400-square mile area of Northwest Georgia that includes Bartow, Cherokee, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk and Whitfield counties, and serves nearly 16,000 consumers annually. Highland Rivers is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and is a Tier 1 safety net Core Provider for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. For more information, visit www.highlandrivershealth.com.