“I’ve heard from students, parents, providers, and so many others who have told me about the growing challenges of dealing with mental health challenges and substance use disorder, which are so often intertwined. For the first time, our Commonwealth [has] a senior leader in the Governor’s Office whose full-time job is to focus on this specific work and reach across all levels of government to improve our mental health and recovery services.”
-Governor Josh Shapiro
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.
If you are currently in crisis,
contact 988.
For more information on the 988 crisis line, please visit www.dhs.pa.gov
I've heard from Pennsylvanians who are dealing with mental health and substance use disorder issues.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) October 18, 2023
It's why I took action.
I signed an Executive Order to streamline processes, break down the silos, and deliver better services for those asking for help. pic.twitter.com/l9IvGkToLZ
Behavioral Health Council Meeting Schedule
The Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Council will meet on the third Tuesday of the month.
| Meeting Date & Time | Agenda | Minutes | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/19/2023 – 1:00 PM | 12.19.2023-Agenda | Meeting Minutes 12 19 2023 | In-Person |
| 1/16/2024 – 1:00 PM | 01.16.24 – Agenda | Meeting Minutes 01 16 2024 | Virtual |
| 2/20/2024 | 02.20.2024 – Agenda | Meeting Minutes 02 20 2024 | Virtual |
| 3/19/2024 | 03.19.2024 – Agenda | In-Person | |
| 4/16/2024 | Virtual |
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 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.
Commonwealth Representatives
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
Commissioner 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
Representatives with lived or living experiences and family members
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
County Representatives
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 Gillam
Area Agency on Aging from Allegheny County
Clinical Representatives
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
Legislative Representatives from the General Assembly
Representative Mike Schlossberg (D)
Representative Jim Struzzi (R)
Senator Maria Collett (D)
Senator Michele Brooks (R)
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.
Meet the Representatives
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 Care Organization
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 member 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 organization 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