Dr. Colleen Cicchetti is the Executive Director of Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR), a Clinical Psychologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and an Associate Professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Cicchetti has over 30 years of experience in hospital, outpatient and community settings. She is passionate about and committed to addressing health disparities and decreasing exposure to violence and trauma for children and families through innovative, healing centered public health strategies and multidisciplinary collaboration. Throughout her career, Dr. Cicchetti has focused on connecting children with the mental health services they need; equipping providers with effective programming; and identifying new evidence-based interventions that address the emerging mental health needs of children and youth. In 2004, Dr. Cicchetti founded CCR (formerly Community Linked Mental Health Services Program) to promote system change to reduce health disparities and promote mental health and wellness where kids live, learn and play. Through training, education, and outreach to school professionals, community agencies, city leaders and caregivers, CCR promotes increased access to high-quality mental health services for children and adolescents across Illinois and nationwide.

In addition, Dr. Cicchetti serves in leadership roles in numerous statewide advocacy groups, including Clinical Director of the Illinois Childhood Trauma Coalition, Governor Appointed Member to the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership Executive Committee and Co-Chair of their School-Age Practices and Policies Committee, and Steering Committee member of the Partnership for Resilience. She is a leader in several city wide initiatives including Chicago Department of Public Health’s Chicago Council for Mental Health Equity committee, Mayor’s Recovery Task Force’s Mental and Emotional Health committee, Mayor’s Office Violence Prevention Advisory committee, Mayor Elect’s Better Together Chicago Health and Human Services Transition committee and Co-Chair of Mental Health and Wellness Subcommittee Mayor’s Office One Chicago Initiative. Dr. Cicchetti also serves on Sesame Street in Communities’ Advisory Board on Community Violence and is an invited expert for the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative group. She is a Scientific Advisory Board Member of The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment. She serves as an Executive Committee Member to the School Health Access Collaborative (SHAC). Dr. Cicchetti has provided testimony at federal, state and city levels on behalf of children and families and has contributed to federal and state legislation that addresses the critical need for building awareness, prevention and intervention strategies for children who experience trauma in Chicago and throughout the nation.

Dr. Cicchetti has been the recipient of awards from multiple agencies and philanthropic organizations. Most recently, she received the 2019 Tribute to Achievement Award from Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, the 2018 Chicago Humanitarian Award by UNICEF USA, and 2018 Public Educator of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Chicago (NAMI).

Dr. Cicchetti received her Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University, a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Doctorate in clinical psychology from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.