About Us: Founder President and CEO

Catherine Devaney McKay, MC

Cathy McKay is the founder, president, and CEO of Connections. Currently she is the Chairperson of the Delaware Interagency Council on Homelessness and a member of the Delaware Governor's Advisory Council on the Division of Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Mental Health. She is the past president of the Delaware Mental Health Counselors Association, the past president of the Delaware Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, and a former Chairperson of the Delaware Homeless Planning Council.

Cathy McKay has been the recipient of the American Psychiatric Association Warren Williams Speaker's Award, two awards for excellence from the Alliance for the Mentally Ill in Delaware, and the Agenda for Delaware Women’s Trailblazer Award. She holds a master’s degree in counseling, BA in English and Sociology, and a certificate in Nonprofit Management, all from the University of Delaware. She has authored articles for publication in professional journals such as the Community Mental Health Journal and the Journal of Psychiatric Practice pertaining to community based treatment and rehabilitation of persons with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders, and has presented workshops and keynote addresses on the same subject at more than 30 national and international conferences. Prior to her founding of Connections, Cathy worked as a mental health and substance abuse counselor; as the national director of program development for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America; and as the executive director of CONTACT Delaware, where she founded Rape Crisis CONTACT.