Valerie Gold Named Executive Director of the Institute for Health & Recovery
November 2024
Watertown, MA – The Institute for Health & Recovery (IHR) is proud to announce the appointment of Valerie Gold as its new Executive Director. Gold, a leader in the fields of recovery services and child welfare, will begin her new role following the retirement of Executive Director, Katharine Thomas.
Gold joins IHR with more than a decade of experience leading transformative initiatives aimed at advancing equity and access to health and recovery services. Most recently, she served as the Area Program Manager at the Department of Children and Families, where she managed supervisors of child protective social workers, provided oversight and guidance, and worked closely with community partners such as schools, law enforcement, and courts to enhance the safety and well-being of children and youth. Her role as a member of the Area Office Leadership Team enabled her to address key challenges in staffing, safety, and operations, demonstrating her ability to drive organizational excellence in high-stakes environments.
Prior to her work at DCF, Gold spent eight years at C4 Innovations as the Director of Organizational Development and Systems Change. During her tenure, she led the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS), where she headed efforts to advance recovery-oriented services and systems nationwide. Gold also mentored a team of senior leaders and provided technical assistance on strategic planning and systems transformation to states, behavioral health providers, and peer-run organizations.
Her work also includes leadership in SAMHSA’s New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, where she focused on children’s mental health, as well as her efforts in developing curricula and products related to parenting in recovery and engaging individuals with lived experience. Gold’s expertise in both recovery services and child welfare positions her uniquely to advance IHR’s mission of supporting vulnerable families and individuals.
“I have devoted my career to advancing equity and helping others overcome obstacles to create positive changes in their lives,” Gold said. “I am honored to join IHR and build on the incredible foundation laid by Norma Finkelstein and Katharine Thomas. I look forward to leading the team in expanding access to care and recovery supports, ensuring that everyone in Massachusetts can access the services they need.”
Gold’s commitment to inclusive, recovery-oriented practices and her experience in leading complex, cross-sector initiatives make her an ideal fit to lead IHR into its next chapter.
Gold will officially assume her role as Executive Director on January 1, 2025.