01/08/2026
We are proud to celebrate Dr. Maggie Young, DSW, LADC, Chief Recovery Officer at Liberation Programs, who has been named Stamford Citizen of the Year 2026.
This honor reflects more than three decades of extraordinary service to Stamford and communities across Connecticut. Throughout her career, Maggie has been a trusted leader in behavioral health, working with individuals and families impacted by substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders across prevention, inpatient, and outpatient settings and in the recovery community.
Guided by her own personal journey, Maggie has dedicated her life to helping others navigate the often difficult first steps of recovery with dignity, compassion, and hope. Her work has strengthened families, improved systems of care, and made Stamford a healthier, more resilient community.
At Liberation Programs, Maggie provides oversight of the Families in Recovery Program, an inpatient treatment program for pregnant and parenting women with their children, which she originally founded when it was housed at Franklin Common (now part of Inspirica). Her leadership has transformed outcomes for families by strengthening collaboration between child welfare systems, hospitals, treatment providers, and community supports, while ensuring that families remain connected and supported throughout recovery.
Maggie also leads Liberation’s Prevention and Education services, supporting middle and high school students and their families, and facilitates critical trainings throughout Fairfield County, including QPR su***de prevention, SBIRT screening and intervention, and Naloxone/Narcan overdose response. Her expertise has reached well beyond Connecticut, including trainings for child welfare professionals, Tribal leaders, and court support services in Alaska.
Her commitment to service extends far beyond her professional role. Maggie serves on numerous boards and committees at the local and state level, including the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), and was appointed by the Governor to the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, helping guide the responsible use of settlement funds statewide. She was instrumental in launching Stamford HER Time, a program supporting women reentering the community after incarceration, and volunteers weekly with Stamford Health’s mental health program, in addition to co-teaching community anti-violence classes with Domus & SPD and facilitating youth prevention workshops in Stamford schools and throughout the community. She is a proud member of the recovery community for more than three decades and Great 8’er through the CT Hall of Change.
Beyond her professional leadership, Maggie is also a proud mom and grandmother, roles that reflect the deep commitment to family and connection that guide her work every day.
Being named Stamford Citizen of the Year is a fitting recognition of Maggie’s leadership, service, and unwavering belief in the power of connection and recovery. We are honored to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and grateful for all that she continues to do.
Congratulations, Maggie. We are so proud of you!
Details for the annual Citizen of the Year Award celebration will be announced soon. We look forward to sharing more information in the coming weeks and hope you will join us for this special event.
Stamford Government Mayor Caroline Simmons Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR)
Stuart Lane Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services /Westchester, Inc. New LifeStyles Fairfield County's Community Foundation Greenwich Together Stamford Prevention Council
