The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health staff has been quite busy lately. We are proud of our top-notch colleagues who positively represent the foundation throughout the state and nationally as leaders in mental health.
Here is some of what we’ve been up to lately…
- Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director, presented at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Psychiatry Grand Rounds on “Current Interest and Trends in Behavioral Health Funding from a Philanthropic Perspective” at the Harris County Psychiatric Center. He also accepted a second three-year term as a member of The University of Texas-University Charter School Advisory Board. Dr. Martinez also participated as a panelist for the inaugural Healthcare Quality and Equity Action Forum hosted by the Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital on oral health and mental health disparities.
- Tammy Heinz, program officer and consumer & family liaison, participated in an interview for the Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS) to develop a resource for states, communities and other systems that are making or are planning to make systems change efforts toward a recovery-oriented system of care.
- Dr. Lynda Frost, director of planning and programs, spoke on “Promoting Integrated Health in Texas: The Role of Philanthropy” at a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association-sponsored meeting in Dallas for the Region VI Primary Behavioral Health Care Integration State Teams.
- Stephany Bryan, program officer and consumer & family liaison, presented on Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) for the members of the Austin Area African American Behavioral Health Network.
- Rick Ybarra, program officer, co-presented on “Transforming Mental Health/Behavioral Health Services to Hispanic Communities: Building Cultural and Linguistic Competency in the U.S. Behavioral Health Workforce” at the Latino Behavioral Health Institute annual conference in Los Angeles. He also presented at the Mental Health Nursing Conference on “Improving Health Disparities for Racial and Ethnic Minorities through Integrated Health Care.”
- Vicky Coffee-Fletcher, program officer, co-presented “Mental Health Matters: An Important Community Wellness Topic” to the Environmental Health Services Division of Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department and to the Austin Resource Recovery with the City of Austin.
- Peter McGraw, mental health policy fellow, testified at the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Legislative Budget Board hearing on the DSHS legislative appropriations request.
- Colleen Horton, program officer, testified at the Texas Department of Aging and Disabilities Services (DADS) Legislative Budget Board hearing on the DADS legislative appropriations request.
- Colleen Horton and Meagan Longley, mental health policy fellow, hosted and facilitated a stakeholders meeting to discuss the renewal the Youth Empowerment Services Waiver.