Deborah Ekstrom Joins Clinical & Support Options

NORTHAMPTON — Clinical & Support Options (CSO) announced the appointment of Deborah Ekstrom to the position of vice president of Strategic Development.

“I am happy to be back in the Valley helping CSO grow into, and with, the future of mental healthcare,” said Ekstrom, who will be leading the way for CSO with the shifting landscape of mental health as the agency focuses on key strategies to improve quality, access, and integration with the physical-health field.

Ekstrom is returning to the Pioneer Valley after 24 years away. She served as president and CEO of Community Healthlink (CHL) in Worcester for more than 16 years. Previous to CHL, she worked with the Franklin County Mental Health Assoc. She earned her master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

“This is an exciting time within our industry in terms of opportunities for behavioral-healthcare providers to truly impact the overall health of our communities and of those we serve, and enter into strategic partnerships to further improve access and quality of care,” said Allison Garriss, CSO’s director of Business Development & Projects. “Deborah’s expertise and experience within the industry is a complement to the CSO team, and we look forward to her leadership in the continued development of strong programming and partnerships to help the agency, our community, and our clients thrive.”