Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council

Policy
May 1, 2026
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Linkedin

Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council develops, updates and oversees implementation of the Texas Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan, which outlines a coordinated effort to address behavioral health gaps in services and systems.

Members:

Courtney Harvey, Ph.D. (Chair)
Mental Health Statewide Coordinator and Associate Commissioner
Health and Human Services Commission, Office of Mental Health Coordination

Brooke Boston
Director of Programs
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Benjamin Geiger
Grant Attorney and Administrator
Court of Criminal Appeals

Nagla Elerian
Executive Director
Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium

Hillary England
Deputy Director, Victim Services and Prevention Programs
Office of the Governor

Shann Turner
Director, State Office of Rural Health
Texas Department of Agriculture

Daniel Doyle, M.D.
Chief Operating Officer, UT Health Behavioral Sciences Campus
University of Texas Health Science Center – Houston

Brenda Kelley
Director, Veterans Mental Health Department
Texas Veterans Commission

LaTrenda Watson, Ed.D
Director of Mental and Behavioral Health
Texas Education Agency

Elizabeth Mayer
Assistant Commissioner, Academic Quality and Health Affairs
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Kristin Meeks
Policy Analyst, Oversight and Improvement
Office of Court Administration/Texas Indigent Defense Commission

Jordan Baker
Injury Prevention Section Director
Department of State Health Services

John Monk
Director, Health Professions Council
(Representing the State Board of Dental Examiners, Texas State Board of Pharmacy, State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, Texas Optometry Board, Texas Board of Nursing and Texas Medical Board)

 

 Brittney Nichols, LPC-S
Administrative Director, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
University of Texas Health Science Center – Tyler

Evan Norton, Psy.D
Director of Integrated Treatment and Support
Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Amy Odin
Director of Psychological Health, Office of the State Surgeon
Texas Military Department

Rene Olvera, MD
Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio

Ashley O’Niell
School Based Mental Health Wellness Coordinator
Texas School for the Deaf

Andy Rangel
Special Projects Coordinator
Texas Civil Commitment Office

Jonas Schwartz
Program Manager, Vocational Rehabilitation Division
Texas Workforce Commission

Luanne Southern
Chief Strategist for Behavioral Health
Department of Family and Protective Services

Kristi Taylor
Executive Director, Judicial Commission on Mental Health
Supreme Court of Texas

Nancy Trevino, PhD.
Director, Texas Tech Mental Health Initiative
Texas Tech University System

Chris Varady
Peer to Peer Liaison
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Ricky Armstrong
Interim Executive Director
Texas Commission on Jail Standards

April Zamora
Director of Reentry and Integration Division
Texas Department of Criminal Justice/Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments

 

 

  1. Welcome, opening remarks, and introductions .The meeting was convened by Louanne Southern. A quorum was not immediately present.
  2. Consideration of February 25, 2026, draft meeting minutes. The minutes were approved as drafted after a quorum was established.
  3. Presentation: Mental Health Grant Program for Justice-Involved Individuals. Jennifer DeShaw, Forensic and Jail Diversion Program Specialist Behavioral Health Services Texas Health and Human Services

Click HERE to download the full report.