The Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health (SCCCMH) recognized Sybil Newell, CEO of RISE Housing and Support Services, as the 2026 SCCCMH Citizen of the Year at the Mental Health Matters Benefit Fundraiser held on April 18, 2026.
Sybil is an extraordinary leader and strategic thinker who inspires possibility. Through her unwavering advocacy for supportive housing and essential services in Saratoga County, she creates opportunities for individuals facing mental health, substance use, and other life challenges to achieve their fullest potential while living with independence and dignity.
As Chief Executive Officer of RISE Housing and Support Services in Saratoga Springs, New York, Sybil leads a community-based organization dedicated to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and substance use challenges. A longtime nonprofit leader, she began her career in the human services field in 2000. Her early work included providing direct mental health support at Four Winds Hospital, followed by nearly a decade of frontline service at Unity House in Troy. She later worked at the New York State Department of Health before joining what is now RISE, where she stepped into executive leadership in 2016.
During her tenure, Sybil has played a pivotal role in expanding RISE’s programs, strengthening community partnerships, and advocating for innovative housing solutions across Saratoga County. As CEO, she oversees organizational strategy, program development, fundraising, and public engagement, helping the agency serve hundreds of individuals annually through supportive housing and care management services.
Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to client-centered care and meaningful community impact, shaped by years of hands-on experience both within the organization and across the broader human services sector.
Sybil earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Skidmore College and her master’s degree in Community Psychology from Sage Graduate School. Outside of her professional work, she values time with her family and remains deeply connected to the Saratoga community she serves. Since arriving in Saratoga Springs for college, she has made the area her home for more than 30 years.
She is widely respected for her thoughtful leadership, her dedication to uplifting others, and her belief that stable housing is the foundation upon which individuals and families can rebuild their lives.
The Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health (SCCCMH) is a non-profit organization. SCCCMH is committed to ensuring that the needs of people living with mental health diagnoses in Saratoga County are met.
The SCCCMH Mission is to Increase Awareness of the needs of individuals living with mental health diagnosis through Advocacy, Education, and by providing Grants for Program Development and Enrichment to agencies and providing mental health services in Saratoga County.
The Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health (SCCCMH) Citizen of the Year award honors an individual or organization that has made a significant impact on the mental health community in Saratoga County, New York. It recognizes outstanding service, advocacy, and leadership in supporting individuals living with mental illness, promoting awareness, and improving local mental health services, and is typically presented at the organization’s annual Mental Health Matters event.