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2020 Panelists for the Forum
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Robert A. Kent
Robert A. Kent serves as the General Counsel for the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (“OASAS”). In this role, Mr. Kent provides overall legal support, policy guidance and direction to OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez, the Executive Office and all divisions of the agency. Robert is leading the OASAS efforts to implement Governor Cuomo’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force recommendations including the Combat Addiction/Heroin Campaign, the Federal Opioid Targeted Grant program, and Medicaid Redesign Team initiatives including implementation of historic legislation to increase access to treatment. Robert has co-authored articles on patient confidentiality and sober homes and has presented nationally and throughout New York State on the OASAS system of care.
Mr. Kent previously served as an Assistant Counsel with the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH). Prior to Robert joining OMH, he was engaged in the private practice of law where he focused on regulatory and governmental affairs matters.
In 2011, Robert was recognized by the Caron Foundation with their Legal Professional Public Service Award. In 2013, Robert was recognized by the Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies with their Leadership Award. In 2016, Robert was recognized by the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence with their Nyswander/Dole “Marie” award; the Long Island Recovery Association Friend of Recovery Award; and the Northern Tier Providers Coalition Public Service Award. In 2018, Robert was honored by the Friends of Recovery New York with the Charles Devlin Recovery Advocate Award and by Christopher’s Reason with the Outstanding Leader in the Recovery Community Award. In 2019, Robert was honored by NYAPRS with its Public Policy Leadership Award and by the MHANYS with their CEO Award.
Mr. Kent lives in Voorheesville, N.Y., with his wife, Elizabeth, his sons, Samuel and Maxwell, and their Golden Retrievers, Madison and Franklin.
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Stephanie M. Campbell, Director, NYS Behavioral Health Ombudsman Program
After receiving her MA from Columbia University, Stephanie worked as a journalist and later a lobbyist at Powers, Crane & Company. Lobbying led her to the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate, where she honed her policy and legislative skills. While working for a former chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Stephanie became interested in education and pursued her MS in Adolescent Education at the University at Albany to become a high school social studies teacher. After teaching for a few years, Stephanie pursued her MSW and CASAC-T certification at the New York University Silver School of Social Work. Stephanie joined Friends of Recovery – New York (FOR-NY) in 2015 and worked at the state and national levels to humanize, organize and mobilize the recovery movement – by reducing stigma, advocating for changes in public policy, and promoting a culture of recovery. In October 2018 Stephanie began serving as the Director of the Independent Office of the NYS Behavioral Health Ombudsman program to oversee the implementation of a new statewide initiative designed to ensure that New Yorkers access their insurance coverage for substance use and mental health services.
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Tele Rabii - Tele Rabii is a 24-year-old individual in recovery. Tele has celebrated over 4 years in recovery from both substance use disorder and mental health diagnoses. Tele attended SUNY Schenectady, where he received his Associates Degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling (2019). Tele has worked as an Associate Counselor at Hope House: Adolescent Program, Peer Specialist at the Living Room: Crisis Diversion Program (a collaboration between Rehabilitation Support Services and Ellis Medicine). Tele is currently employed as the Outpatient Services Coordinator at Ellis PROS. Tele also works as a recovery advocate and public speaker who educates individuals about substance use and mental health disorders. Tele is the co-founder of FOR-Schenectady and YVM-Schenectady and participates as a member of the Youth Voices Matter-NY Advisory Committee.
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Kellie Roe is a person in long-term recovery from substance order. What that means is she hasn’t had a drink or a drug since February 6, 1995.
As a result of her recovery Kellie is a wife, a mother and Executive Director of Second Chance Opportunities, Inc.
Second Chance Opportunities, Inc. is a local not-for-profit founded by people in recovery in 2001. SCO mission is to bridge the gap between treatment services and created a life centered in recovery. The gap is bridged by providing services that include, employment opportunities, recovery coaching, housing, medical references, financial support and referrals, sober social events, community space, sober networking, recovery celebrations and family support services.
Under Kellie’s leadership Second Chance Opportunities has tripled in growth since 2016. As of Fall 2019, SCO holds 30 janitorial contracts with 85 employees, 77 of who are individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.
Kellie lives in Albany with her Husband Brian and daughter Kaelin; her dogs George and Otis and two cats Tito and Miss Kitty. She has a passion for showing people in early recovery that not only is recovery possible, we get to create a life beyond our wildest dreams.