New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo has more than 25 years experience working in both the public and private sectors, particularly in health and behavioral health care, substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services, and developmental disability-related policy. Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo was confirmed to her current post in February 2007 and reconfirmed under Governor David A. Paterson in April 2008.
Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo’s innovation has been realized through the establishment of interagency collaborations designed to improve outcomes for the 2.5 million New Yorkers suffering from alcoholism, drug abuse and problem gambling. No stranger to industry firsts, Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo has dedicated her administration to revolutionizing the treatment and dual recovery of co-occurring disorders; transforming the methadone treatment system; providing treatment alternatives to incarceration and effective re-entry programming for parolees suffering from substance use disorders; eliminating the stigma associated with recovery from the chronic disease of addiction; and empowering communities to identify new ways to improve their service access, quality and efficiency.
Her commitment to the use of evidence-based practices has heightened the success of prevention, treatment and recovery services throughout New York state. Her unparalleled dedication to the total health and wellness of all New Yorkers was manifested in the July 24, 2008, decision to implement a state-wide tobacco-free treatment environment – a national “first” – promoting freedom from the deadly nicotine addiction that impacts recovery from drugs and alcohol.
Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo was the recipient of the National Council on Problem Gambling’s 2008 Government Award for her leadership in the prevention, treatment and recovery of problem gambling. She has been honored for her enthusiasm and vision in the field of chemical dependency by her providers; given the Public Service Leadership Award by the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society; awarded the Ramstad-Kennedy Award for Outstanding Leadership by the National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month Planning Partners; and most recently honored as the 2009 Treatment Champion by the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.
Prior to her current tenure, Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo served as Regional Vice President for the American Cancer Society, overseeing regional operations for this $1 billion national organization. From 1997 to 2004, she was Executive Vice President of Government Programs for Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc., serving more than 400,000 members in upstate New York. In that role, she oversaw the operation of all Government Programs, including Medicaid, Medicare Choice, and Child and Family Health Plus. In addition, she served as the Corporate Compliance and Privacy Officer. From 1990 to 1994, she was Assistant Secretary to Governor Mario Cuomo, serving as his senior policy advisor on issues of state agencies in the areas of mental health, mental retardation, substance abuse and general disability issues. Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo has also previously served in several clinical and administrative positions in the New York State Office of Mental Health and New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
In addition to her professional experiences, Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo has served in leadership roles on several community boards and associations. Prior to reconnecting with New York State government, Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo served as President of Parsons Child and Family Center, President of Cystic Fibrosis Association of Northeastern New York, Commissioner of The New York State Commission on National Community Services, and as President of the Make a Wish Foundation of Northeastern New York. She also served previously on the boards of Girl’s Inc., the Center for Women in Government, and the New York State Child Care Coordinating Council.
Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo currently serves as treasurer of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), and is also a board member of the National Data Infrastructure Improvement Consortium (NDIIC) and the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA).
Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Social Work from Adelphi University. She lives in Albany with her husband and two children.