Sussex County-based Center for Prevention and Counseling names new executive director

Michele Wolf has spent her career helping people impacted by sexual assault and domestic violence. Now, she is shifting her focus as Sussex County continues to combat drug overdoses on the local level.

The Newton-based Center for Prevention and Counseling announced Wolf as its new executive director on Monday. She replaces Becky Carlson, who announced her retirement in January after 23 years with the agency.

Wolf will assume her new position June 30, the day Carlson officially steps down from her leadership role at the center.

Wolf has served for 26 years as executive director of the Victims' Intervention Program (VIP), a nonprofit in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, that offers counseling services to sexual assault and domestic violence victims.

While Wolf has not directly dealt with substance abuse in her work with VIP, she sees similarities between people battling addiction and assault victims that she hopes will benefit her at the center.

"I'm just really looking forward to making a difference with a different kind of population," she told the New Jersey Herald on Tuesday.

Wolf came across Carlson's open position by chance while scrolling Indeed one night. VIP was having trouble attracting candidates, she explained, so she went on the website to see how the job postings were displayed.

After learning more about the center, Wolf said she felt a "calling" to the new role and decided to submit an application. It was the only job she applied for.

"I was not even actively looking to leave my program," Wolf said. "It's just that the values and the mission statement of the center align so closely with mine."

Officials with the center were impressed with VIP's progress under Wolf, growing from five to 23 employees and from a budget of less than $100,000 to $2.1 million. She also expanded the agency's service area and developed a legal representation project, emergency shelter and long-term housing program during her tenure.

"Her extensive experience, advocacy work, and passion for educating the community will be invaluable as we continue to grow and serve our community," said Cecilia Clayton, the center's board president.

Founded in 1973, the center offers drug prevention, counseling and recovery support services from trained professionals, many of whom are in long-term recovery themselves. The agency, and similar organizations throughout New Jersey, have likely contributed to a recent decrease in fatal overdoses.

Sussex County recorded 28 suspected overdose deaths in 2022, according to the state attorney general's office, the lowest since 25 suspected deaths in 2015. At a drug symposium in Morris County last month, State Trooper Kevin Coyle reported 2,893 suspected fatal overdoses in New Jersey last year, the lowest total since 2017.

Wolf said she hopes to continue the center's mission of reducing the stigma surrounding substance abuse by showing hope and compassion to patients in need of treatment.

"I really think as a society, we need to do better for people," she said. "There are people that really just want to get better, but the shame and the stigma prevent that."

Wolf is expected to start at the center around the second week of June, where she will spend time getting to know the staff and listening to their thoughts on the organization. Overall, she hopes to simply continue the strong foundation Carlson built.

"I will certainly carry on her legacy the best I can," Wolf said.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Center for Prevention and Counseling names executive director