Cicilline Retiring After 45 years from Newport County Community Mental Health Center

J. Clement “Bud” Cicilline, who has been employed by the Newport County Community Mental Health Center for the past 45 years in various capacities as Administrator, Executive Director, and President/CEO, announced that he will be retiring in November, 2013.  He announced his retirement plans at the agency’s 49th annual meeting on February 25.

Cicilline has been associated with the agency essentially since its founding in 1964 and led the initiative to help it become the first federally funded community mental health center in the state in 1973. Under Cicilline’s leadership the Center grew from a mental health clinic affiliated with Newport Hospital to a multi-faceted community-based behavioral health agency currently serving over 1500 adults and children from all six Newport County communities. 

As one of the largest human service agencies in the county, the Center provides mental health services to adults in a community-based setting, children’s intensive services, outpatient and emergency services and residential services.

Cicilline shaped policies in mental health and other human services as a state Senator, serving from 1993 through 2002, especially through his appointed position as Majority Policy Leader. He continues to actively address public policy issues on behalf of the NCCMHC and its clients.

Cicilline was instrumental in establishing professional licensure in Rhode Island for psychologists, psychiatric social workers, substance abuse counselors and mental health counselors.

Cicilline is a leading community advocate for persons who are homeless and person reentering the community from prison, playing a major role in initiating services for these vulnerable Rhode Islanders. He was instrumental in establishing the McKinney Homeless Shelter in Newport. He also established the first Prisoner Reentry Council in Rhode Island in Newport as well as the State-Wide Prisoner Reentry Council and he serves as chair of both councils. 

He is strongly committed to racial equality, actively organizing and participating in events commemorating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for example.  He has won numerous awards recognizing his community and legislative accomplishments.

Cicilline sat on the Newport School Committee for a total of twelve years, six of those years as chairman. He celebrates his Italian heritage by chairing the annual Newport Festa Italiana since 2003.  Cicilline is a longtime member of the Newport Democratic City Committee, serving as its chair since 2003.  He is the uncle of Congressman David N. Cicilline.

Cicilline graduated from Providence College with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and earned a Master of Science degree in clinical psychology from the University of Rhode Island. He is married, the father of 6 children and grandfather of 12 grandchildren.