Melanie Racine

Melanie Racine is a Public Health Advisor with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In this role, Melanie develops, monitors, and advises on policies and service programs pertaining to substance use disorders, housing and homelessness, and reaching special populations. Before joining SAMHSA, Melanie was the Director of Special Projects at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) and a Presidential Management Fellow at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Her interests are in mental health, addiction, and the practice, history, and power of community health. 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. SAMHSA envisions that people with, affected by, or at risk for mental health and substance use conditions receive care, achieve well-being, and thrive. SAMHSA has four overarching guiding principles across all policies and programs to support SAMHSA in achieving its mission and vision. These include equity, trauma-informed approaches, a commitment to data and evidence, and recovery.