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    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

     
    The Office of the Governor

    Behavioral Health Council

    In October 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro established the Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Council through an executive order. The purpose of this action and development of the Council is to address any gaps in access, affordability, and delivery of mental health and substance use disorder services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

    Management Directive 720.05 Amended
    Press Release

    About the Behavioral Health Council

    Behavioral Health Council

    Meeting Schedule - The Behavioral Health Council will meet on the third Tuesday of the month. 

    Meeting Date & TimeAgendaMinutesLocation
    12/19/2023 - 1:00 PMAgenda LinkMinutes LinkIn-Person
    1/16/2024 - 1:00 PM  Virtual
    2/20/2024 - 1:00 PM  Virtual
    3/19/2024 - 1:00 PM  In-Person
    4/16/2024 - 1:00 PM  Virtual

    Meet the Behavioral Health Council

    The Council is comprised of 33 members, and it includes a diverse array of stakeholders with representation from state, county, and local governments, the provider community, advocacy groups, and individuals with lived experiences. All will seek to create a more holistic healthcare delivery system in Pennsylvania.

    Akbar Hossain

    Secretary of Policy and Planning

    Dr. Valerie Arkoosh

    Secretary of the Department of Human Services

    Dr. Debra Bogen

    Acting Secretary of the Department of Health

    Michael Humphreys

    Commission of Pennsylvania Insurance Department

    Jason Kavulich

    Secretary of the Department of Aging

    Dr. Latika Davis-Jones

    Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

    Dr. Khalid Mumin

    Secretary of the Department of Education

    Maj. Gen. Mark J. Schindler

    Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

    Colonel Christopher Paris

    Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police

    Dr. Laurel Harry

    Secretary of the Department of Corrections

    Al Schmidt

    Secretary of the Department of State

    Russell Redding

    Secretary of the Department of Agriculture

    Michael Pennington 

    Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

    Nancy Walker

    Secretary of the Department of Labor

    Annie Newman

    Director of Digital Strategy at the Governor's Office

    Brittney Kline

    Pennsylvania Attorney General's Safe2Say Something Program Director

    		  

    Robert Hamilton, MPPM

    Westmoreland DHS Director; Formerly homeless veteran and person in long-term recovery

    Kate Favata

    Community Engagement Manager, Crossroads Treatment Advocate

    Jennifer Wilt

    Parent of a loved one with mental illness, President NAMI of Cumberland, and Perry Counties

    Tina Clymer

    County Mental Health Office representing Carbon, Monroe, and Pike counties

    Dr. Tamra Williams

    County Mental Health Office from Montgomery County

    Ryan Hogan

    Single County Authority from Luzerne County

    Kristin Varner

    Single County Authority from Dauphin County

    Laurie Greco

    Area Agency on Aging from Northampton County

    Dr. Shannah Gillman

    Area Agency on Aging from Allegheny County

    Dr. Amy Kim

    An expert in child and family behavioral healthcare

     

    Dr. Margaret Jarvis

    An expert in addiction medicine and substance use disorder treatments

     

    Dr. Jack Todd Wahrenberger

    An expert in primary healthcare

     

    Dr. Wendy Ross

    An expert in treating individuals with co-occurring intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism with mental illness

     

     

     

    		 

    Representative
    Mike Schlossberg (D) 

    Representative
    Jim Struzzi (R)

     

    Senator
    Maria Collett (D)

     

    Senator
    Michele Brooks (R)

     

     

    Advisory Committee of the Behavioral Health Council 

    The Advisory Committee of the Behavioral Health Council will meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month. 

    Schedule coming soon. 

     

    Meet the Advisory Committee of the Behavioral Health Council

    The Advisory Committee of the Behavioral Health Council is comprised of members who bring together industry knowledge, expertise, reports, findings, and feedback from the communities they serve to assist the Behavioral Health Council with its purposes. 

    Robert J. Tomassini

    Representative from the Juvenile Court Judges Commission

     

    Eric Kiehl

    Representative from the community-based healthcare services

    Matthew Hurford, MD

    Representative from a Managed Core Organziation

    John Alunni

    Representative from a rural county government that provides behavioral health and child welfare services

    Marquita Williams, PhD

    Representative from an urban county government that provides behavioral health and child welfare services

     

    Commissioner George Hartwick

    Representative from an organization representing statewide County Commissioners

    Suzanne Estrella, Esq

    Representative from the Office of Victim Advocate

    Michele Denk

    Representative from an organization representing county drug and alcohol administrators

     

    Laurie Friedman, PhD, MPA, LCSW

    Representative from an organization representing statewide social workers

     

    Michael Harper, Esq

    Representative from the Pennsylvania courts who is a behavioral health administrator

    Erich Curnow

    Representative from a provider association and community members from the Southwest region of Pennsylvania 

     

    Richard Edley, PhD

    Representative from a provider association and community member from the Northwest region of Pennsylvania 

     

    Molly Cowan, PsyD

    Representative from a provider association and community member from the Central region of Pennsylvania 

     

    Jennifer Passaniti

    Representative from a provider association and community member from the Northeast region of Pennsylvania

    Jessica Fenchel

    Representative from a provider association and community member from the Southeast region of Pennsylvania 

     

    Roxanne Elizabeth Epperson

    Representative from an organization representing domestic violence victims

     

    Joyce Lukima

    Representative from an organization representing sexual assault victims

     

    Lynn Cooper

    Representative from an organization representing statewide Area Agencies on Aging

    Mitch Crawford, DO 

    Representative from a community-based organization that provides services for independent living for individuals with disabilities

     

    Sandy Swogger

    Representative from an organziation advocating for services to older adults

     

    Amanda Kingston, MD

    Representative from community behavioral health care services

     

    Jennifer Jordan

    Representative from the hospital and health system association of the state

    Frederick Ramirez

    Representative from community behavioral health care services that serves indigent and diverse populations

    Sally Walker

    Representative from a county level managed care organization

    Matthew Wintersteen, PhD

    Representative who is an expert in Suicide Prevention