CMHA's Substance Abuse Action Council (SAAC) hosted its Annual Meeting of the Full Council at CMHA headquarters in New Britain on March 16.  More than 125 of SAAC’s community partners attended the event, which featured a keynote speech by Dianne Harnad, Director of Prevention and Health Promotion for the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), updates from SAAC leadership, and an awards presentation.

SAAC Director Aisha Hamid (center) with (from left) Community Partner awardees Amy Hanoian-Fontana of the CT Poison Control Center and Sergeant Mike Baden of the New Britain Police Department; Youth Education awardees Officer Ray Buthe and Southington High School teacher Daniel Hart; Community Engagement awardee Sergeant Jerry Erwin of CCSU, and Community Awareness and Education awardee Kevin Pettit of the McCall Foundation.	Dianne Harnad (left), Director of Prevention and Health Promotion for the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), shares a laugh with SAAC Director Aisha Hamid.
Southington High School Teacher Daniel Hart (second from left) received the Youth Education Award. Hart is pictured with his wife Susan (right) and parents Henry and Deborah Hart.	SAAC Director Aisha Hamid presents a Community Partner award to Amy Hanoian-Fontana, Community Education Specialist at the CT Poison Control Center
SAAC Director Aisha Hamid presents a Community Engagement award to Jerry Erwin, Sergeant at CCSU.	SAAC Director Aisha Hamid presents a Community Partner award to Sergeant Mike Baden of the New Britain Police Department..
SAAC Director Aisha Hamid presents an award to Joe Puzzo, CMHA Board member and former interim SAAC director.	SAAC Director Aisha Hamid presents an award to Meriden resident Marlene McGann, Director of the Meriden and Wallingford Substance Abuse Council and former interim SAAC director.