Sarah Dietrich Named Chairperson for TAMHO Addiction Committee

Sarah Dietrich was nominated by her peers and approved by the TAMHO Board of Directors to serve as Chairperson for the TAMHO Addictions Committee.

Sarah has served as an active and contributing member of the Addictions Committee since 2019.

The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations (TAMHO) is a statewide trade association representing Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and other non-profit corporations that provide behavioral health services.

The TAMHO mission is to serve its members, promote the advancement of effective behavioral health services, and advocate for people in need of care. To achieve this mission, the TAMHO Board of Directors formulates an agenda each year designed to improve the effectiveness of treatment and support services for the mentally ill and increase access to these services throughout the state.

As a means of carrying such an agenda forward, working committees, task forces, and professional membership sections bring together staff of TAMHO member organizations regularly to identify problems and issues from a provider perspective and formulate recommendations for effectively addressing them. Alysia Smith Knight, TAMHO Executive Director, said in a statement, “At a time when overdose deaths are at an all-time high, the TAMHO Addictions Committee stays dedicated to advocating for a seamless, integrated delivery system of care for those with substance use and co-occurring disorders. Our collective hope is that we provide a lifeline that saves and, ultimately, changes the lives of those impacted by this disease. TAMHO is thrilled that Sarah Dietrich has accepted the charge of leading the Addictions Committee. Her background in nursing, coupled with her leadership and dedication to serving individuals with substance use and co-occurring needs, is the combination the committee necessitates as we seek to expand access to MAT services within Community Mental Health Centers like PCS."

Sarah is a psychiatric nurse practitioner for PCS, providing mental health assessments and medication management. In addition, Sarah is a MAT provider with a caseload providing lifesaving opioid addiction treatment.