Senior Hope Announces New Executive Director 01/23/2013 ALBANY, NY, January 23, 2013 – Senior Hope Counseling, Inc., a not-for-profit non-intensive substance abuse treatment program for seniors 50 years and older and their families, is pleased to announce the appointment of its new executive director, Nicole S. MacFarland. MacFarland was recently promoted to the position of executive director, after serving as the agency's clinical director for the past eight years. She succeeds Senior Hope co-founder and former executive director Dr. William P. Rockwood, who led the agency since its inception in 2002. Rockwood announced his retirement in May 2012 at the agency's 10th anniversary celebration, where he and wife/co-founder Adrienne Rockwood were honored for their vision and their work with seniors in the Capital Region. Both Dr. Rockwood and Adrienne remain involved with Senior Hope, meeting regularly with clients and serving as honorary board members. MacFarland has been a pioneer and outspoken advocate in the field of geriatrics. She has lectured on both the local and national stage on the topic of geriatric addictions and co-occurring disorders among older adults. Her articles have been printed in several national publications and she authored a chapter in the book, Days in the Lives of Gerontological Social Workers: 44 Professionals Tell Stories from Real Life Social Practice with Older Adults. MacFarland has also developed an online continuing education course about seniors in recovery, available through the NYS National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She is the recipient of a Hartford Doctoral Fellows Pre-Dissertation Award and the 2009 NYS Individual of Distinction in Addictions Education and Training Award. In 2010, she was honored as Social Worker of the Year at the NASW-NYS conference. MacFarland's community service includes leadership roles within the National Association of Social Workers, as delegate to the National Delegate Assembly representing the Northeast division of NYS, and representative to the committee on nominations and leadership identification for the NASW-Northeast division. MacFarland received her bachelor of arts degree from Skidmore College and a master's in social work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University at Albany's School of Social Welfare, where she is completing a dissertation in the area of geriatric addictions. MacFarland resides in the Capital Region with her husband Gary and their son Jared. Senior Hope Counseling, Inc., licensed by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, offers compassionate chemical dependence care for seniors 50 years and older and their families, covering prescription, alcohol and drug abuse. Services include individual, group and family counseling. For more information on Senior Hope Counseling, please visit www.seniorhope.org or call 518.489.7777. See All News Headlines