About the Behavioral Health Council
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 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 |
Angela Fitterer Interim Acting Secretary of the Department of Education | Brigadier General John R. Pippy Acting 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 | Lynn Deardorff, CDP, CMDCP Adams County Office for Aging, Inc. | 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. Wendy Ross An expert in treating individuals with co-occurring intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism with mental illness | Dr. Jack Todd Wahrenberger An expert in primary healthcare |
| Senator Michele Brooks (R) | Senator Maria Collett (D) | Representative Mike Schlossberg (D) | Representative Jim Struzzi (R) |
Meet the Advisory Committee
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 |
Annie Strite, MA 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 |
Behavioral Health Council Meetings
2024 Meeting Schedule
The Behavioral Health Council will meet on the third Tuesday of the month.
| Meeting Date & Time | Agenda | Location | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/16/2024 - 1:00 PM | January Agenda | Virtual | January Minutes |
| 2/20/2024 - 1:00 PM | February Agenda | Virtual | February Minutes |
| 3/19/2024 - 1:00 PM | March Agenda | In-Person | March Minutes |
| 4/16/2024 - 1:00 PM | April Agenda | Virtual | April Minutes |
| 5/21/2024 - 1:00 PM | May Agenda | Virtual | May Minutes |
| 6/18/2024 - 1:00 PM | June Agenda | In-Person | June Minutes |
| 7/16/2024 - 1:00 PM | July Agenda | Virtual | July Minutes |
| 8/20/2024 - 1:00 PM | August Agenda | Virtual | August Minutes |
| 9/17/2024 - 1:00 PM | September Agenda | In-Person | September Minutes |
| 10/15/2024 - 1:00 PM | October Agenda | Virtual | October Minutes |
| 11/19/2024 - 1:00 PM | November Agenda | Virtual | November Minutes |
| 12/10/2024 - 9:00 AM | December Agenda | In-Person | December Minutes |