Mental Health Programs

About CMHS

Susan Keys, Ph.D.
Branch Chief
Prevention Initiatives and Priority Programs Development Branch

Susan Keys is the Branch Chief of the Prevention Initiatives and Priority Programs Development Branch in the Division of Prevention, Traumatic Stress and Special Programs, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Dr. Susan Keys was an Associate Professor of Counseling and Human Services and former Department Chair at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Keys has more than thirty years of experience in teaching, consultation and management. She comes from a highly distinguished career in academia and in recent years has moved into public health with a specific interest in youth violence prevention and the evaluation of school based mental health and youth violence prevention programs. Prior to moving to SAMHSA, she was Co Principal investigator of a National Institute of Mental Health R01 research grant on school violence prevention in 37 schools and five school districts in Maryland and Associate Director of Education at the Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence, a center funded by the federal Centers for Disease Control.

Dr. Keys has led, developed, monitored, and evaluated statewide school mental health and youth violence prevention programs and developed educational initiatives in collaboration with state agencies, local communities and school systems. She has served as a consultant and collaborator with national centers, state agencies, departments and offices, local school systems, advocacy and consumer groups on mental health and school violence prevention programs, policy development, moving programs to scale, linkage of school and community resources, and training for schools, communities, and families. She is a nationally recognized expert in school counseling and school consultation. She has authored 17 articles in refereed national journals, one book, and five book chapters on topics relevant to school violence prevention and school based mental health. She has served as a guest editor for a national journal and she is often a presenter at international and national conferences and enjoys public speaking immensely, particularly when it relates to systems change and the prevention of mental and behavioral disorders. Her professional colleagues have recognized her with awards for outstanding counselor education and excellence in teaching.

Dr. Keys continually stretches for new horizons. Recently she completed a one year postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health focused on children's mental health services research. Dr. Keys was also selected by Johns Hopkins to be a part of a select group of leaders who the University supports for leadership training and coaching. She brings this knowledge coupled with her background as a professional counselor to her new position at SAMHSA.

In a personal interview, Dr. Keys characterized herself as a leader, an agent of transformation and a mentor/manager. Her resume and references support those self perceptions. Her strong content knowledge in youth violence prevention, including the prevention of suicide and expertise in the science related to the prevention of mental and behavioral disorders, and evaluation skills is an asset to the Branch. She is a strong networker and "systems" thinker.

Dr. Keys is a visionary leader who brings intellectual rigor to the tasks of Branch Chief. She is energized by new ideas, values collegiality, and believes in a collaborative work culture. She has experience designing and managing projects, hiring and supervising staff, building teams and resolving conflicts. Her combination of clinical skills, superb knowledge of prevention science and the public health model coupled with her expertise in program evaluation poise her to make a significant contribution to the Branch and to SAMHSA.

1-2005