Here’s a snapshot of the presentations made, events hosted, and honors received by the talented and dedicated staff of the Hogg Foundation during the month of June 2025.
Alison Mohr Boleware, director of policy, Jason Castillo, policy specialist, and Maddie Garza, policy fellow, presented a legislative session summary and advocacy action training to community leaders and board members of the Texoma Community Foundation (TCF) highlighting issues related to rural mental health policy, in the capacity of a rural mental health policy grant from TCF.
Alison also began teaching a graduate level course addressing Social Policy Analysis and Social Problems in her capacity as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the UT Austin School of Social Work.
Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., senior association vice president and executive director, presented at a workshop hosted by the National Academies Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders focusing on advancing the social determinants of mental health. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (The National Academies) provide independent, objective advice to inform policy with evidence, spark progress and innovation, and confront challenging issues for the benefit of society.
Dr. Martinez also accepted a proclamation on behalf of the Hogg Foundation from the City of Pflugerville in recognition of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. The proclamation highlighted the foundation’s continued efforts to advance mental health and well-being for all Texans, with a growing focus on addressing the unique challenges that men face in accessing mental health care.
Elizabeth Stauber, archivist and records manager, hosted two virtual meetings as part of the Dialogues on Mental Health Records Project, a series of nationwide convenings providing a platform to address the challenges of managing historical public mental health records. The first meeting brought together archivists, librarians, and preservation professionals, while the second meeting hosted researchers, historians, genealogists, and descendants of former patients.
Elizabeth also presented a training on the Fluxx Exporter tool for the Fluxx grants management system to the Technology Association of Grantmakers, a non-profit membership organization that promotes the power of technology to advance the goals of the philanthropic sector.