Helio Health Names New President & CEO

Helio Health officially announces a new leader of the agency that promotes recovery from mental health and substance use disorders.

The interim label is being removed from Kathleen Gaffney-Babb’s titles, and she will take the helm as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Helio Health, Inc., Helio Health Foundation and Fulton Friendship House Inc.

Ms. Gaffney-Babb has worked at Helio Health, formerly Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare, for more than thirty years. She started in a clinical role in 1991 at the Outpatient Clinic, now called The Meadows Certified Community Behavioral Heal Clinic, and has served as Director of Outpatient Services; Director of Inpatient Services; Director of Quality Assurance, Training and Compliance; and was the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer.

She said she has a vision for the future of Helio Health.

“I want Helio Health colleagues and recipients of services to feel a sense of belonging here, to know that we are invested in their wellbeing and development.  Helio Health will continue to work to meet the community needs, to increase access to quality services when and where people need them.  Where hope meets healing isn’t just a tag line, it is a guiding North Star for all who work and receive services at Helio Health. “

Ms. Gaffney-Babb is a Syracuse native, who received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Empire State College, and a Masters in Counseling Education from Syracuse University.  She earned a Master of Science in Rehabilitation from Syracuse University and is a Nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and State Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor.